As Chief Executive, Anna will be responsible for delivering grant funding programmes that make a real difference to Armed Forces communities in the UK.

Anna Wright, incoming Chief Executive of the Trust, said:

“’I’m really honoured and delighted to be joining this amazing team who perform such an important role in support of our Servicemen and women, veterans, the bereaved, and their families.  I look forward to building on the very strong foundations laid by Melloney Poole and the privilege of leading the Trust in its exciting and vital future work”

Anna takes up the role after serving as the Chief Executive of the Naval Families Federation for over six years.

Her appointment follows an open and competitive recruitment process by the Trust Board and Public Appointments service.

Helen Helliwell, Chair of the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust said:

“I am absolutely thrilled to have Anna join the Fund Trust as Chief Executive and Accounting Officer; Anna brings a wealth of experience and inspiring leadership to the role and I look forward to continuing to work with her in this new guise

“On behalf of the Board and Executive, I would also like to pay tribute to Melloney Poole, who has led the Armed Forces Covenant Fund when it was in-house in MOD and thereafter as an independent charity from 2018.  Melloney’s unfaltering commitment has enabled the Trust to deliver at remarkable pace and progression – in its most recent year, the Trust has awarded over £25M to more than over 700 projects.

“Under Melloney’s leadership, the Trust has managed complex programmes to support veterans, Armed Forces families and serving personnel that have delivered tangible and long lasting impact; and delivered £9.1M in targeted funding to specifically support veterans and families that were impacted by the Covid pandemic.”

Melloney Poole, outgoing Chief Executive of the Trust said:

“It has been a great privilege and an enormous pleasure to be able to be part of the Trust’s development to date and to work with the exceptional staff now with the Trust and a large range of partners, wider organisations and grant holders in order to have made effective grants that have had a tangible impact for our Armed Forces communities.

“I am absolutely delighted that Anna is to become the Chief Executive and continue to lead the Trust forward under Helen’s outstanding chairmanship, making grants to the Armed Forces community across the United Kingdom.”

Melloney will continue her extensive contribution to public life; serving as the Chair of Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust; the Chair of the Isle of Wight NHS Trust and as a Governor at the Health Foundation.

Anna has served in the Royal Navy, and as a reservist. She also served in the Territorial Army as an officer cadet whilst at university.

As a naval wife, and having enjoyed a naval career herself, Anna has a deep understanding of the challenges and joys of the military lifestyle.

During her time as Chief Executive Officer of the Naval Families Federation, she has led ground-breaking research into the unique dynamics of the Royal Navy’s lifestyle focusing on non-operational separation; conducted a full strategic review of the organisation; and led projects in important areas such as childcare, devolved administration responsibilities, health, education, and a two-year study into understanding transition for families leaving the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.  Anna became a Clore Leadership Fellow in 2019.