Lucy Armstrong appointed Drinkaware chair

Alcohol education charity Drinkaware today (October 6) announced the appointment of Lucy Armstrong as the new chair of its Board of Trustees.

Armstrong succeeds Sir Leigh Lewis who is retiring after seven and a half years. She has spent more than 30 years working with businesses and her experience ranges from funding start up and early-stage manufacturing businesses in the North East through to mergers and disposals of international operations.

She is currently chair of the Port of Tyne Authority, chair of the Cumbria based Holker Estate, and a director of the Business Banking Resolution Service.

Educated at Oxford University, Armstrong holds an MBA and an MSc in forensic psychology and criminology. Her early career was in private equity, corporate development and executive recruitment with 3i, Courtaulds Textiles and Tyzack.

“I’m excited to be joining Drinkaware at this time. The Covid pandemic has brought unprecedented changes to our society and has affected people’s relationship with alcohol,” She commented.

“I hope to help Drinkaware adapt to the changed world and ensure the charity is best positioned to respond and play our part as one of the UK’s leading alcohol education charities.”

The board of 12 trustees from a broad range of professional backgrounds is responsible for overseeing the work of the charity.

Drinkaware trustee Vicki Nobles, who led the selection process for Drinkaware’s new chair, said: “The entire Board joins me in thanking Sir Leigh for his enormous contribution to our work over the past seven and a half years and for staying on longer than planned to steer the organisation through an incredibly challenging period over the last year.

“With his long and distinguished career in the public sector he brought significant strategic insight along with a rigorous commitment to Drinkaware’s independence. He is retiring having helped create a far more influential and innovative body with a commitment to reducing harm from alcohol at its heart.

“I’m delighted to welcome Lucy to Drinkaware. She has a huge amount of incredibly valuable experience, and the Board is looking forward to working with her to take the charity through its next era of development and impact.”