After 25 years in her role, Amanda Tincknell has announced she will be retiring as Chief Executive of Cranfield Trust.

Cranfield Trust was founded in 1988 when HRH The Princess Royal challenged staff, students and alumni of Cranfield University to use their skills to benefit the voluntary sector.

In May 1989, Cranfield Trust became a registered charity with the vision to build strong and successful charities and Tinknell was appointed as the charity’s first CEO in 2000.

Since then, the Trust has steadily grown and supported almost 3,000 social welfare charities with 6,000 projects. In the last year alone (2024-25), the Trust’s 35th anniversary year, the charity started 527 new pro bono consultancy projects and had over 900 active projects in the year.

The Trust conservatively valued its pro bono services to the third sector at £3.1million during the last year.

Tincknell said: “It’s been an absolute privilege to have been chief executive at Cranfield Trust for such a significant amount of time. As the Trust comes to the end of its 35th anniversary year, I feel the time is right for me pass the baton to a new leader to take the Trust forward.

“I’m enormously proud of how the Trust has developed over the years and that its ethos and vision has always remained the same: to support and empower charities with confidence and capabilities they need, whatever challenges they face.

“It has been an honour to work alongside my exceptional staff team whose dedication and commitment has enabled the Trust to get to where it is today, and our incredible volunteers who so generously give their time and expertise to support charity leaders and managers. I am very grateful for the support and generosity of our funders, donors and partners who have shared the Trust’s vision over the years and enabled the vital support of charities across the sector. I would also like to extend my thanks to our client charities, who invest time and trust in working with Cranfield Trust, and to them and other sector leaders from whom I have learned so much.

“I will forever remain a huge supporter of the Trust and will watch with excitement and great interest as the Trust continues to evolve under new leadership.”

Tinknell will remain at the trust while the Board undertake the recruitment to find her successor, which will begin in March 2025.

Dr Charmaine Griffiths, chair of the board of trustees, added: “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Amanda for her extraordinary leadership and dedication to her role and to Cranfield Trust for the last 25 years. During her time as CEO, Amanda has built an exceptionally strong staff and volunteer team, and the Trust has grown to provide a range of pro bono management support services to thousands of charities across the sector every year.

“Amanda leaves Cranfield Trust with incredibly strong foundations and a successful model of delivering vital services to welfare charities across the sector. We are committed to finding a leader that matches the ethos and values of the Trust, and I am deeply grateful that Amanda will stay as Chief Executive through the journey and to support any transition.

---