The Committee

Eleanor Laing - Patron

Epping Forest Chamber of Commerce plays an extremely important role in our local community. It is vital that we have a forum where local businesses can come together to discuss the issues that matter. It has been a great honour for me to be patron of the Chamber of Commerce and I greatly enjoy working with all the members.

I would encourage everyone who runs a business locally to become involved. It’s very positive!

Heather Thirtle F. R. I. C. S. - President

I am a Chartered Valuation Surveyor and Estate Agent working in Buckhurst Hill.

I have been a member of the Epping Forest Chamber of Commerce for many years and have served as Chairman for a long period and now as President. My other duties are as Assistant to the Treasurer and Social Events.

Carol Byatt - Chair

Carol has worked for many different companies over her working life – from large blue-chip companies to smaller SMEs although has worked for herself since 2005 with Office Wizards – specialising in bookkeeping and payroll with clients still retained from when she first set up her business. She enjoys spending time with her grandchildren – having just been made a great grandmother! Reading, travelling to different countries, good food and friends. Carol is Chair of the Epping Forest Chamber of Commerce and is passionate about the chamber having seen first-hand the support it can offer to businesses – its role today is the same as it was over 70 years ago – to be there offering support and advice to businesses. Carol also spends a lot of time of her time working on behalf of the Chamber- setting up networking events, business fairs and forums and running quiz nights.

Seamus Setterfield - Vice Chair

For over 40 years I have worked in the Funeral Profession. I have worked 27 years at Daniel Robinson & Sons Ltd, Independent Family Funeral Directors and Monumental Masons, covering all aspects of the job and being part of the Management Team. I’m usually based at our Epping and Loughton offices. I have been involved with the chamber as a member and part of the executive committee, and also a member of the Epping Rotary Club for over 20 years.

Julian Pye

Having worked for almost 35 years as a Civil Servant I am now semi-retired, but still do some cleaning work. I also volunteer for the Epping Forest Foodbank (where I am Health and Safety Officer) as well as for Epping Forest Chamber of Commerce where I have been involved for over 5 years.

Paul Violet

Paul had operated in various areas of Financial Services throughout his 55 years working life. This was combined with internal training and development over many of those years. He established himself as an acknowledged source of personal development guidance. Paul has, for some years, been chairman of the Waltham Abbey Town Partnership, working alongside local business and the Town Council. He also leads the local Community Networking group, Waltham Abbey LINK. He is actively involved in various other local initiatives aimed at improving the ‘Waltham Abbey Experience’.

Pesh Kapasiawala

For over 15 years Pesh Kapasiawala has been volunteering to bring the community together, working with local schools, frontline agencies, churches, local authorities, and community groups, building long-term sustainable solutions to issues that affect vulnerable people in the community.

In 2020 Pesh founded 3Food4U, a charity group of community surplus hubs, offering free groceries, clothing and essentials without assessment or referral. Its ethos is ‘supporting and treating people humanely, with dignity and respect.’ It is now the largest emergency food agency in Essex and North London, supporting over 1500 families & individuals seven days a week. 3Food4U’s holistic approach to the needs of the community has seen it expand its offering to include FREE counselling, NHS health checks, job club, numeracy support and Memory Cafés for those with dementia and mental health concerns.
Pesh is also the chairman and driving force of charity Youth Employment Strategy (YES) which deliver motivating, inspiring and mentoring Conferences to 13-16-year-olds and provides them with life skills and career options. Pesh leads a team to support the community of over 300 volunteers, who are inspired by his infectious enthusiasm and tireless energy.

He was honoured with The British Citizen Award 2023 (BCA)
He was honoured with the BBC Essex ‘Make a Difference Award’ in 2022
Awarded The High Sheriff of Essex Award in 2021 & 2022
Awarded The Loughton Town Citizen of the Year 2021

Mitch Herber

Mitchell has 30 years of cross-disciplinary experience in the audio-visual, education and management fields. He organised and founded a centralised print and media unit, introducing cutting-edge desktop publishing systems for several Inner London colleges.

Since 1990 Mitchell has founded and directed three marketing & advertising, graphics design and print enterprises with clientele including such names as Jordan Grand Prix F1 Team, FA Premier league, Oki Europe, Xerox and many others.

Mitchell plays for Heathcote Table Tennis Club in the West Essex League. He is also a keen scuba diver and has dived extensively around the world.

Stephen Silver - Insolvency Expert

IStephen Silver has dedicated over 40 years to the insolvency profession, providing invaluable support to individuals and business owners facing financial challenges. With his extensive experience, Stephen has become a trusted advisor for those confronting seemingly insurmountable difficulties. His deep understanding of insolvency law and compassionate approach make him the go-to person when financial issues arise.

Stephen’s expertise lies in guiding clients through complex financial problems, offering tailored solutions to alleviate stress and restore stability. His commitment to helping others navigate their financial crises has earned him a reputation for reliability and effectiveness.

Whether you’re an individual struggling with personal debt or a business owner facing insolvency, Stephen Silver’s wealth of knowledge and empathetic support can help you find a path forward.

Matthew Southgate - CTO, 39D IT Support

Matthew Southgate brings over 20 years of IT expertise to the Epping Forest Chamber of Commerce. As the Chief Technology Officer at 39D IT Support, Matthew specializes in delivering comprehensive managed IT support services, ensuring that businesses operate smoothly, securely, and efficiently. His leadership and vision have consistently driven technological advancements, helping our members stay competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

In addition to his professional role, Matthew is an avid yacht sailor and dragon racer. These pursuits highlight his dedication, strategic thinking, and ability to lead under pressure—qualities that are invaluable to his IT career. Matthew’s competitive spirit and commitment to excellence resonate throughout his work, making him a significant asset to our Chamber.

We are proud to have Matthew Southgate on board, leveraging his extensive experience and innovative approach to support and enhance the businesses within our community.

Maxym Powroznyk ACA CTA BSc (Hons)

I am a Chartered Accountant (ICAEW) & Chartered Tax Adviser (CIOT), I typically work with small / medium owner managed businesses on their compliance and advisory matters. My specialisms include inheritance tax, capital gains tax, trusts & death estates which means I am regularly involved in succession planning with businesses and exit strategies (such as purchase of own shares by companies).

I work at Cooper Paul Chartered Accountants which is a firm based in Loughton, Essex that has been serving the local community for close to 60 years. The firm offers services from bookkeeping/payroll to statutory filings (such as accounts and tax returns) through to advisory services such as with tax planning.

A particular area of interest for me professionally is working with new corporations to be able to get them on the right tracks from the beginning as to accounts and corporation tax compliance needs. This allows for more time to be spent on planning over rectifying mistakes.

In my free time I can most likely be found on my allotment.

Rita Green

After spending 10 years focusing on Investment Banking and IT management, in 2016 Rita made a pivotal decision to shift her career towards the healthcare sector. Rita’s primary aim became providing personalised programs and lifestyle activities to improve the live of individuals in a residential setting.

Since 2023, Rita has worked for and supported companies based in London and in Essex utilising her skills and expertise.

Rita continually works hard to develop strong relationships within the community, in both the professional and charity industries. Rita has a genuine passion for making a positive impact on the community and giving back through her work.

With her extensive experience, diverse skill sets, and unwavering commitment, Rita continues to thrive in any role she undertakes.

Rita is thrilled to be a member of the Executive Committee for the Epping Forest Chamber of Commerce. She is looking forward to being an integral part of the committee and utilising her skills and experience in this role.