Governance - Sudbury & South Suffolk Citizen's Advice

Sudbury and District Citizens Advice is a member of the national Citizens Advice charity. It is a company limited by guarantee, company number 06051096 registered in England and Wales and a registered charity, charity number 1123466. We are also registered with the Financial Conduct Authority.

The role of the trustee board is to provide strategic leadership for the organisation to ensure its continued service excellence and long-term financial sustainability. The annual report and accounts are available here and through Companies House; the most recent Chairman’s statement will help to give a picture of how the organisation is facing its challenges. It can be accessed here.

Good governance is essential to the way we operate. The Board and organisation is governed by our Articles and these were recently updated and simplified by vote of our members. They can be accessed here.

The directors of the company and Trustees of the Charity with their respective portfolios are:

Paul Sweeny (Vice Chair)

Robert brings a wealth of commercial management experience having been Marketing Director or led marketing teams at Nationwide Building Society and Clydesdale Bank and General Manager or Managing Director of diverse businesses including Eastern Energy.

Robert has held senior executive roles in both the UK and Internationally and was appointed a Trustee in 2024.

The Chief Officer of the organisation is Colleen Sweeney.

Robert brings a wealth of commercial management experience having been Marketing Director or led marketing teams at Nationwide Building Society and Clydesdale Bank and General Manager or Managing Director of diverse businesses including Eastern Energy.

Robert has held senior executive roles in both the UK and Internationally and was appointed a Trustee in 2024.

The Chief Officer of the organisation is Colleen Sweeney.

Piers Roberts spent over thirty years as an in-house lawyer in the City of London where he worked at a senior level for a range of UK and international banks. He is delighted to have stopped the daily commute to London and is putting his legal and corporate governance experience to use with Sudbury and South Suffolk Citizens' Advice.

Matt Martin (Lawyer)

Matt Martinbecame a Trustee in 2023. He brings a wealth of legal experience to the Board through working as a lawyer in private practice and currently as inhouse counsel. He focuses on the day-to-day legal and GDPR aspects of our organisation.

Robert Pieczka

Robert brings a wealth of commercial management experience having been Marketing Director or led marketing teams at Nationwide Building Society and Clydesdale Bank and General Manager or Managing Director of diverse businesses including Eastern Energy.

Robert has held senior executive roles in both the UK and Internationally and was appointed a Trustee in 2024.

The Chief Officer of the organisation is Colleen Sweeney.

Piers Roberts spent over thirty years as an in-house lawyer in the City of London where he worked at a senior level for a range of UK and international banks. He is delighted to have stopped the daily commute to London and is putting his legal and corporate governance experience to use with Sudbury and South Suffolk Citizens' Advice.

Matt Martin (Lawyer)

Matt Martinbecame a Trustee in 2023. He brings a wealth of legal experience to the Board through working as a lawyer in private practice and currently as inhouse counsel. He focuses on the day-to-day legal and GDPR aspects of our organisation.

Robert Pieczka

Robert brings a wealth of commercial management experience having been Marketing Director or led marketing teams at Nationwide Building Society and Clydesdale Bank and General Manager or Managing Director of diverse businesses including Eastern Energy.

Robert has held senior executive roles in both the UK and Internationally and was appointed a Trustee in 2024.

The Chief Officer of the organisation is Colleen Sweeney.

Dave Watts has a background in consumer affairs and journalism. His career has included editing Which? and Money Which? magazines and being Assistant Director of Consumers’ Association. He has written a weekly Personal Finance column syndicated to several major regional newspapers and was a member of the Financial Services Authority Consumer Panel. He edited the Daily Mail Ski magazine and published an annual guidebook to ski resorts worldwide for over 20 years. He supports the Research and Campaigns track of our work.

Sarah Bartlett (Treasurer)

Sarah Bartlett has been a Trustee since 2022 when she joined us as Treasurer. A qualified accountant, Sarah began her career in practice before spending nearly two decades in the Insurance industry. As well as her work with our organisation she now runs her own accountancy practice supporting local organisations and small businesses.

Piers Roberts (Fundraising)

Piers Roberts spent over thirty years as an in-house lawyer in the City of London where he worked at a senior level for a range of UK and international banks. He is delighted to have stopped the daily commute to London and is putting his legal and corporate governance experience to use with Sudbury and South Suffolk Citizens' Advice.

Matt Martin (Lawyer)

Matt Martinbecame a Trustee in 2023. He brings a wealth of legal experience to the Board through working as a lawyer in private practice and currently as inhouse counsel. He focuses on the day-to-day legal and GDPR aspects of our organisation.

Robert Pieczka

Robert brings a wealth of commercial management experience having been Marketing Director or led marketing teams at Nationwide Building Society and Clydesdale Bank and General Manager or Managing Director of diverse businesses including Eastern Energy.

Robert has held senior executive roles in both the UK and Internationally and was appointed a Trustee in 2024.

The Chief Officer of the organisation is Colleen Sweeney.

Dave Watts has a background in consumer affairs and journalism. His career has included editing Which? and Money Which? magazines and being Assistant Director of Consumers’ Association. He has written a weekly Personal Finance column syndicated to several major regional newspapers and was a member of the Financial Services Authority Consumer Panel. He edited the Daily Mail Ski magazine and published an annual guidebook to ski resorts worldwide for over 20 years. He supports the Research and Campaigns track of our work.

Sarah Bartlett (Treasurer)

Sarah Bartlett has been a Trustee since 2022 when she joined us as Treasurer. A qualified accountant, Sarah began her career in practice before spending nearly two decades in the Insurance industry. As well as her work with our organisation she now runs her own accountancy practice supporting local organisations and small businesses.

Piers Roberts (Fundraising)

Piers Roberts spent over thirty years as an in-house lawyer in the City of London where he worked at a senior level for a range of UK and international banks. He is delighted to have stopped the daily commute to London and is putting his legal and corporate governance experience to use with Sudbury and South Suffolk Citizens' Advice.

Matt Martin (Lawyer)

Matt Martinbecame a Trustee in 2023. He brings a wealth of legal experience to the Board through working as a lawyer in private practice and currently as inhouse counsel. He focuses on the day-to-day legal and GDPR aspects of our organisation.

Robert Pieczka

Robert brings a wealth of commercial management experience having been Marketing Director or led marketing teams at Nationwide Building Society and Clydesdale Bank and General Manager or Managing Director of diverse businesses including Eastern Energy.

Robert has held senior executive roles in both the UK and Internationally and was appointed a Trustee in 2024.

The Chief Officer of the organisation is Colleen Sweeney.

Paul is a Chartered Financial Planner and a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society, specialising in 'at-retirement' and later life advice. He has a Master’s degree in Financial Planning and Business Management and runs his own regulated advice business, Sweeny Wealth Management Ltd. He has been a Trustee of Sudbury & District Citizens Advice since January 2021. Paul lives in Leavenheath with his wife and daughter.

David Watts (Research and Campaigns)

Dave Watts has a background in consumer affairs and journalism. His career has included editing Which? and Money Which? magazines and being Assistant Director of Consumers’ Association. He has written a weekly Personal Finance column syndicated to several major regional newspapers and was a member of the Financial Services Authority Consumer Panel. He edited the Daily Mail Ski magazine and published an annual guidebook to ski resorts worldwide for over 20 years. He supports the Research and Campaigns track of our work.

Sarah Bartlett (Treasurer)

Sarah Bartlett has been a Trustee since 2022 when she joined us as Treasurer. A qualified accountant, Sarah began her career in practice before spending nearly two decades in the Insurance industry. As well as her work with our organisation she now runs her own accountancy practice supporting local organisations and small businesses.

Piers Roberts (Fundraising)

Piers Roberts spent over thirty years as an in-house lawyer in the City of London where he worked at a senior level for a range of UK and international banks. He is delighted to have stopped the daily commute to London and is putting his legal and corporate governance experience to use with Sudbury and South Suffolk Citizens' Advice.

Matt Martin (Lawyer)

Matt Martinbecame a Trustee in 2023. He brings a wealth of legal experience to the Board through working as a lawyer in private practice and currently as inhouse counsel. He focuses on the day-to-day legal and GDPR aspects of our organisation.

Robert Pieczka

Robert brings a wealth of commercial management experience having been Marketing Director or led marketing teams at Nationwide Building Society and Clydesdale Bank and General Manager or Managing Director of diverse businesses including Eastern Energy.

Robert has held senior executive roles in both the UK and Internationally and was appointed a Trustee in 2024.

The Chief Officer of the organisation is Colleen Sweeney.

Paul is a Chartered Financial Planner and a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society, specialising in 'at-retirement' and later life advice. He has a Master’s degree in Financial Planning and Business Management and runs his own regulated advice business, Sweeny Wealth Management Ltd. He has been a Trustee of Sudbury & District Citizens Advice since January 2021. Paul lives in Leavenheath with his wife and daughter.

David Watts (Research and Campaigns)

Dave Watts has a background in consumer affairs and journalism. His career has included editing Which? and Money Which? magazines and being Assistant Director of Consumers’ Association. He has written a weekly Personal Finance column syndicated to several major regional newspapers and was a member of the Financial Services Authority Consumer Panel. He edited the Daily Mail Ski magazine and published an annual guidebook to ski resorts worldwide for over 20 years. He supports the Research and Campaigns track of our work.

Sarah Bartlett (Treasurer)

Sarah Bartlett has been a Trustee since 2022 when she joined us as Treasurer. A qualified accountant, Sarah began her career in practice before spending nearly two decades in the Insurance industry. As well as her work with our organisation she now runs her own accountancy practice supporting local organisations and small businesses.

Piers Roberts (Fundraising)

Piers Roberts spent over thirty years as an in-house lawyer in the City of London where he worked at a senior level for a range of UK and international banks. He is delighted to have stopped the daily commute to London and is putting his legal and corporate governance experience to use with Sudbury and South Suffolk Citizens' Advice.

Matt Martin (Lawyer)

Matt Martinbecame a Trustee in 2023. He brings a wealth of legal experience to the Board through working as a lawyer in private practice and currently as inhouse counsel. He focuses on the day-to-day legal and GDPR aspects of our organisation.

Robert Pieczka

Robert brings a wealth of commercial management experience having been Marketing Director or led marketing teams at Nationwide Building Society and Clydesdale Bank and General Manager or Managing Director of diverse businesses including Eastern Energy.

Robert has held senior executive roles in both the UK and Internationally and was appointed a Trustee in 2024.

The Chief Officer of the organisation is Colleen Sweeney.