Team
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Helen Parker
Helen has worked in the not-for-profit sector since 2002 and has extensive experience with grant-making Trusts and Foundations and corporate philanthropy.
Formerly Director of the DHL UK Foundation and the founder Head of the Wimbledon Foundation at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, she has been leading the John Laing Charitable Trust since April 2021.
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Alex Finkenrath
Alex has been involved with JLCT since he joined John Laing Group in 1998.
Having trained as a journalist, he was brought in initially to manage and edit nternal and external Company publications including the annual report and accounts. He set up new retirees’ magazine, that took over from the famous Team Spirit in-house publication which ran for more than 60 years.
His role now extends to management of archives, events, IT and the retirement clubs.
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Wai Chan
Wai joined the JLCT management team in 2022 and supports our charity partners working in communities across the UK and worldwide.
She brings over 15 years' experience in the not-for-profit sector and worked as a project manager at disability equality charity CAE, before specialising in grants management at City Bridge Foundation and the Wimbledon Foundation.
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Heather Aldridge
Heather has been involved with the John Laing Group since the mid 1990s and brought her extensive HR and training knowledge to the important role of managing the welfare team who look after around 2,000 John Laing retirees.
Heather manages the Welfare Officers – all former JLG employees of retirement age – who provide support for long serving former staff members including hardship payments where necessary.
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Teresa Pettican
After joining Laing Group Insurance in 1979, Teresa worked in project teams across the Group.
As Senior CSR Coordinator for John Laing Teresa helped staff with their personal fund-raising activities, working closely with JLCT.
In 2012 Teresa transferred to the Trust where she is the main contact for Make a Difference and Matched donations for JLG staff and retired staff.
Welfare Officers
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Ian Dawson
Ian joined Laing in the mid 80's, based mainly in the North-East of England but also worked in Cumbria, Scotland and Yorkshire. He started working life as a Joiner before moving into supervisory roles and enjoyed over 20 years as a Project Manager.
Ian took early retirement to care for his wife in 2018 and two years later I was very fortunate to be offered the role as Welfare Officer for the North-east, Cumbria and Scotland.
He is a keen Motor homer and has travelled extensively in the UK and Europe.
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Rob Pugh
Rob started at John Laing in 1988 as Regional Marketing Manager later re named Business Development Manager. His role was to find out about what was going on in the North West Region then the work-winning team to try to secure the best and most profitable construction projects.
Highlights include the Bridgewater Hall, Urbis, the City of Manchester Stadium, later called the Etihad and the Preston Temple Complex built in Chorley.
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Phil Biginton
Phil spent 18 years with John Laing, mainly in the Bury St Edmunds office as Senior Purchasing Manager.
He left the company in around 2000 straight after the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital contract, one of the first big PFI hospital projects.”
Phil trained with a London construction company, but was always determined to join one of the big three and chose John Laing.
Phil and his wife Carol have four children and five grandchildren. Phil’s hobbies include outdoor activities, photography, astronomy and rugby.
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Steve Hobbs
Steve started his career with Laing as a Production Controller in 1972. His first project was the Wellington Hospital in St John’s Wood. He became the London Region Labour Officer in the early 80’s, progressed into Industrial Relations a few years later and then moved into Personnel.
He left Laing as part of the HWA buy-out, operating as their HR Manager, at the end of 2002.