for West of England Rural Network (WERN)
Strengthening WERN with a Trustee Appointment that brings actuarial discipline and financial expertise to the board.
West of England Rural Network (WERN) works across Bath & North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, helping local communities tackle the challenges that can come with living outside major towns and cities. From providing advice and support to volunteers running vital village halls and community facilities to developing a network of village agents who help people live independent lives, WERN plays an important role in supporting rural communities.
Moon, having previously supported the recruitment of WERN’s Chief Executive in 2024, were delighted to be re-appointed for the recruitment of a newly created Finance Trustee position. The Board sought an experienced finance professional who could strengthen financial oversight and support their long-term ambitions.
Finding the right fit
As with many trustee appointments requiring specialist financial expertise, one of the key challenges was attracting candidates with both the right skillset and the capacity to commit their time to a voluntary board role.
Through a combined search and advertising campaign, Moon Charity Practice engaged a strong and diverse field of candidates from across the charity and commercial sectors. Focus was placed on identifying individuals who could bring strategic financial leadership and strong governance experience. Moon is experienced in finding trustees with this specific financial skillset, our search expertise and methodologies help us reach these hard-to-find candidates.
Appointing a Trustee with strategic financial expertise
The search culminated in the appointment of Julian Ellacott, who joined WERN's Board as Finance Trustee in July 2026.
Julian brings significant financial leadership experience to the role through his role as Chief Actuary and Financial Officer at National Friendly. Julian also serves as Chairman of the Conservative Party's National Convention, bringing expertise in political governance alongside his financial leadership actuarial background, offering WERN expertise in financial governance and risk oversight.
“WERN’s commitment to supporting rural communities and creating lasting impact really resonated with me. Moon Charity Practice provided excellent support throughout the process and gave me a clear understanding of both the opportunity and the organisation’s ambitions. I’m delighted to be part of the Board and contribute to WERN’s vision.”
“Having worked with Moon on our CEO recruitment we were confident that they were the right choice to help us with our trustee recruitment. Julian brings the financial expertise, governance experience and strategic perspective we were seeking, and we are delighted he has joined us.”
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