Directors
Read about our directors and their passion and vision for Action for Blind People.
Stephen Remington, Chief Executive
Stephen Remington came to Action for Blind People in 1994 and since then he has driven a process of steady and significant change. Strategic planning, quality systems, financial stability and management core competence underpin the organisation’s continuing success in providing opportunities and choice for blind and partially sighted people. In 2000 he received Charity Times’ Charity Chief Executive of the Year award.
Stephen is active in developing collaborative working within the visual impairment field and has chaired various umbrella bodies.
Before his move to Action, Stephen worked in the arts for over twenty years, fourteen as Chief Executive of Sadler’s Wells in London where his work in international arts exchange earned him the French honour of Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
John Crowther, Director of Finance and Resources
John joined Action for Blind People in 2003 as Head of Finance and has been a Chartered Accountant since 1975.
His previous career was in the accounting profession, specialising in financial accounting and corporation tax and then a long period in commerce with the C&A Group prior to joining Action for Blind People. He is an active member of the Charity Finance Directors’ Group, as well as being a member of the Management Committee of the Charity Tax Group
John also spent seven years abroad working in the Caribbean and has now discovered a new lease of life within charity finance. He finds working in the sector both rewarding and enjoyable and became the Director of Finance and Resources in January 2008. He believes Yorkshire common sense is a key ingredient of financial management.
Miriam Martin, Director of Development
Miriam Martin is responsible for leading all of Action for Blind People’s services across the UK. Miriam Martin joined Action for Blind People as Deputy Manager at one of the charity’s housing units in 1994, working her way up to manager of the unit before becoming Head of Housing in 2004. As Head of Housing she oversaw both charity residences as well as Action’s independent housing projects, before becoming Director of Services.
Miriam’s vision is simple. She aspires to lead her teams to provide a seamless service so that any visually impaired person can have all their needs met with one phone call. She hopes to inspire colleagues to care for each caller so that they go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that the caller gets all the practical support and advice they need and want.
Steve Vaid, Director of Operations
Steve joined Action for Blind People at the beginning of 2011 as their new Director of Operations.
In 1995 Steve was a Programme Manager for BUPA International and led the start up of BUPA’s private medical insurance operations across Europe and the Middle East. He moved to ITIM Associates in 1998 as a Management Consultant delivering process re-engineering projects for clients such as Specsavers and Getty Images. Steve’s next position was European Programme Manager for Australia Mutual Provident (AMP) International where he managed start up projects across Europe. He moved to Director of Operations for the Design and Artists Copyright Society (DACS) in 2003.
In 2006 he joined King’s College London Students’ Union (KCLSU) as CEO. In 2010 Steve took part in VSO’s professional volunteering programme. He had a one year placement in Rwanda and used the skills he had developed in the UK charity sector to help build capabilities in areas of governance, leadership, planning and strategy. Whilst in Rwanda he has worked with the Rwanda Union of the Blind, the National Disability Federation and advised the Rwandan Government.
