Q. What is Lasa and how does it fit into the government's Big Society idea?
A. London Advice Services Alliance (Lasa) is a charity: we provide a network of support for advice centres and voluntary agencies in London and the UK. We offer welfare rights advice, IT consultancy and support and help thousands of third sector organisations, such as Age Concern and Citizens Advice.
We're 26 years old but we operate behind-the-scenes so may be perceived as a "Cinderella" within the third sector. The idea of the 'Big Society' could really be in tune with Lasa's activity, but we are threatened with cuts from our funders including London Councils. The coalition government wants to provide more services through the voluntary sector and we are up for the challenge but we can't do this on a sixpence.
Q Today is your first day as new chief executive of Lasa. What's top of your to-do list?
A. First I will meet each of our 25 staff individually and talk about their ambitions for Lasa. Together we need to focus on the funding situation.
We knew funding would be tight in the coming year. On top of this the contracts we've had with London Councils are facing "repatriation". If money goes back into individual boroughs, the pot of charity funding across London shrinks. Our Rightsnet service alone is accessed by 4,000 organisations and we don't want to let them down. I'll be responding to the forthcoming London Councils consultation to explain this.
Q Why did you want this job?
A. I love Lasa and I believe passionately in the work we do. I've worked my way up and as chief executive I'll take Lasa to the next level. We have big exciting ambitions here: we are already sharing expertise with partners in the United States, Australia and Europe. We support Martha Lane-Fox's ambitions for a networked nation. Instead of chasing funding pots we'd prefer to focus on supporting the relief of poverty. We do this by providing charities with welfare rights advice and innovative ICT.
Q What do you think will be your biggest leadership challenges in the next 12 months?
A. Money, without a doubt. We can't get demoralised though, we'll carry each other through the lean times.
Q What skills do you bring to the post?
A. I know and love what I do. I've worked for Lasa since 1998, firstly as project manager of Rightsnet and I've been director of services since 2003. So I've managed and understand both the welfare advice and the IT sides of Lasa. My team tell me that I bring calm and humour to the working day and I'm fearless in moving the organisation forward.
Q What is your leadership style?
A. I have a 'go for it' approach, I'm not afraid of big decisions. We work together at Lasa, sharing ideas, our staff are the most valuable asset we have.
Q What's the best piece of management advice you've been given?
A. "It's kind of fun to do the impossible" is a phrase pinned up on our office wall and we secured some much-needed funding just a few days after pinning it up, so there it stays.
Q What do you like to do when you're not working?
A. My partner, Rupinder, and I have a young daughter and son, Aurora and Eugene. I like to spend time with them and I do all the cooking at home. I'm a big fan of rugby league and like to go to see my home team Wigan Wanderers as often as I can, which is not so often these days!
• Click here for more of the interview on Society Guardian
From Bubb's Blog
From Whitehall Watch
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