Steering group

Marco is PwC UK’s Executive Board Member responsible for Clients and Markets, covering all Lines of Service, Industries and Regions. He is also the Global Relationship Partner for two of PwC’s major priority clients in the Technology industry sector. He has 28 years’ of international experience in Advisory and Assurance services at PwC. His previous leadership roles include Head of Consulting for the UK and EMEA and Global and UK Head of the Risk Assurance Services business.

Qari Asim MBE is Senior Imam at Makkah Mosque in Leeds, and Legal Director at DLA Piper. Qari is Deputy Chair of the Government’s Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group, Chair of Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board, and senior editor of Imams Online. Qari is a trustee of British Future, Peace Matters and Hope not Hate. He is a member of ITV Yorkshire’s Diversity Group, on the Oxfam advisory panel and regional leadership board of Mosaic. Qari is an executive board member of the National Council of Imams & Rabbis, a director of Forum for Promoting Peace, and a faith advisor to Near Neighbours.

Sir Peter Bazalgette was Chair of Arts Council England 2013 – 2017. Previously he chaired ENO, Crossness Engines, and the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation. He is currently Chair of ITV and LoveCrafts, and heads the trustees of the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non‐Fiction. He sits on the board of UK Research & Innovation following his review of the Creative Industries for government in 2017. He’s written a number of books, a food column for the FT, and been TV critic of Prospect. In his 40 years in TV he created internationally successful formats and helped pioneer both reality TV and independent production.

Mark became CEO of The FA on 1 August 2019, heading up the team and taking full responsibility for the National Governing Body. He joined The FA in August 2016 as Chief Commercial and Football Development Officer where he was responsible for the commercial, marketing, digital and participation functions at the organisation. Mark was also responsible for all marketing output across the organisation, including award winning campaigns for the England football teams.

A graduate of Queens University, Belfast, Angila successfully served for 32 years until 2024 as Executive Director of Springboard. In this role Angila built extensive knowledge and experience of working across disadvantaged and divided communities, in N Ireland, building capacity, good relations and community cohesion, with a particular focus on young people. Angila was awarded the N Belfast Leadership Award for Services to Peace & Reconciliation in 2024, the Exceptional Achievement for Peacebuilding Award by the Community Relations Council & NI Executive in 2023, and a MBE for her services to Children & Young People in 2022. She established the Raj Darshna Foundation in 2011 which underlined her personal long-term commitment to charitable giving and became a Beacon Fellow following her award as a Philanthropy Advocate in 2013. She is currently an independent consultant. She also serves on the Board of the International Fund for Ireland and acts as an Ambassador for Community Foundation for N Ireland. Previously she served on the Mary Ann McCracken Foundation, Belfast City Council’s Good Relations Partnership and as Charity Commissioner with the Charity Commission for N Ireland.

Lord Dannatt was a soldier for forty years concluding his military career as Chief of the General Staff – the professional head of the British Army. Since retiring from active duty in 2009, he was Constable of the Tower of London until July 2016, becoming an independent member of the House of Lords in 2011. He is President of Help for Heroes and a trustee of the Normandy Memorial Trust. He is a Deputy Lieutenant for both Greater London and Norfolk. He is married with four children, and eight grandsons. He divides his time between London and his family home in Norfolk where he runs the family arable farm.

Kezia Dugdale is Director of The John Smith Centre. Based at the University of Glasgow, the non-partisan centre exists to make the case for politics and public service through the promotion of civilised debate and high quality research, and supports people with talent, but not means, to access politics and public life. Kezia was previously a Member of the Scottish Parliament for eight years during which she led her party through four national elections and the EU referendum. Beyond her working life, Kezia is on the board of Sistema, a social transformation charity using music to help children across Scotland.

Matthew Elliott was Chief Executive of Vote Leave, and Editor‐at‐Large of Brexitcentral. Matthew has been described by the Financial Times as “one of the most formidable political strategists in Westminster” and by the New Statesman as “one of the most successful – and feared – campaigners in British politics”. Previously, he led the successful NOtoAV campaign in 2011, founded the TaxPayers’ Alliance, and Business for Britain. In 2019 he co‐chaired Sajid Javid’s campaign for the leadership of the Conservative Party and, outside of politics, is a Senior Adviser to Shore Capital.

Lloyd joined Trinity Mirror in 1994 as a Sub-Editor on the Daily Mirror. He held the positions of Deputy Chief Sub-Editor, Assistant Night Editor, Night Editor and Assistant Editor, Editor of the Sunday People, Editor of the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror, before being appointed Editor-in-Chief in 2012. Following Trinity Mirror’s acquisitions and rebrand as Reach Plc in 2018, Lloyd’s is now Group Editor-in-Chief, giving him editorial responsibility for all the national and regional news brands across the Reach Plc platform – one of Britain’s biggest newspaper groups, publishing 240 regional papers in addition to the nationals.

Paul joined Age UK as its Chief Executive in October 2022. Before joining Age UK, Paul was Chief Executive at Mind, the leading mental health charity working in England and Wales, a position he had held since 2006. Paul is a Commissioner at Historic England and a Non-Executive Director for NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board. Paul co-authored ‘Thriving at Work’ for the Government, which led to significant changes in workplace mental health, and co-chaired the 5 Year Forward View for Mental Health, leading to additional funding for NHS mental health services. He has an Honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of East London. He is an Honorary Fellow of St Peter’s College, Oxford and The Royal College of Psychiatrists. In 2016, Paul was awarded a CBE in the New Year’s Honours list for services to mental health. Paul has seen first-hand both the best and the worst of the ways that older people are treated in our society and wants to play his part in changing the experiences of older people.

Katherine Grainger is the current Chair of UK Sport. She is Britain’s most decorated female Olympian and the first British woman to win medals at five successive Olympic Games. Katherine was born and educated in Scotland, she holds a degree in law from Edinburgh University, an MPhil in Medical Law from Glasgow University, and a PhD in the sentencing of homicide from King’s College London. She is the Honorary President of the Scottish Amateur Rowing Association and Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University among many other notable accolades. She became a Dame in 2017 for services to sport and charity.

Melissa is the General Secretary of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes. She has a professional background in the third sector, with senior leadership roles in a number of national membership and volunteer-led organisations and with a focus on children, families and communities. Previous roles include Head of Adult Support at The Scout Association, Interim CEO at Bliss, the special care baby charity, and Director of Operations at The Fostering Network. Melissa lives in East Sussex and enjoys walking on the South Downs and getting involved in her community, including running a Scout Group for young people with additional needs.

Tony Hall is Chairman of The Natural History Museum, The Woodland Trust, the children’s social work charity Frontline, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO), the Local Visitor Economy Partnerships for Liverpool City Region and the film company Harder Than You Think Ltd. Tony is former Chairman of the National Gallery, former Director-General of the BBC, former Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House and former President of the European Broadcasting Union championing public service media across the world. He is a former Trustee of The National Trust, The Paul Hamlyn Foundation and the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra. He was appointed inaugural Chair of the industry-led Creative & Cultural skills, was on the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and was Chair of the Cultural Olympiad Board. He sits on the Advisory Board for Qwilt. He was awarded a CBE in 2006 and was made a life peer in 2010. He sits on the crossbenches in the House of Lords.

Ronan is Managing Director of Google UK & Ireland. Prior to this he was VP of Google EMEA and Head of Google’s operations in Ireland. Ronan joined Google’s EMEA headquarters in Dublin in 2005. Since then he has focused on growing the company’s online advertising sales, and launched several other Google products and initiatives in the region. A graduate in electronic engineering at University College Dublin, Ronan began his career with Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation in Japan. He spent nine years in Japan working in consulting and technology and returned to Ireland in 2001 to work in private equity before joining Google.

Ceylon Andi Hickman is Deputy Chief Executive at the education charity, Football Beyond Borders, who are harnessing the power of football to change young people’s lives through the power of trusted adults. In 2025, she co-founded The Lost Boys Taskforce: a movement of leaders in football and education, united behind a vision of a country where every young person has a trusted adult. She formed part of Lambeth Palace’s chief working group to deliver the Coronation of King Charles II, ensuring young people were meaningfully represented. Alongside her undergraduate at Cambridge, Ceylon was President of the King’s College Student Union, advocating for improved access for state-school students, and played football for the University Blues team. On Sundays, she can be found at Champion Hill Stadium, playing as a centre-back for Dulwich Hamlet FC in the FA Women’s National League.

Charlotte Hill OBE became CEO of the Felix Project in January 2022.  Prior to that Charlotte was the Chief Executive of Step Up To Serve, the organisation that coordinated the #iwill campaign, from 2014 to 2020. From 2010 to 2014 she was the Chief Executive of UK Youth. After studying Political Science & Philosophy at Birmingham University and working part time for Richard Burden MP during her studies, Charlotte started her career working in Parliament for Rt. Hon. Harriet Harman QC MP in a number of roles. After five years with Harriet Harman, Charlotte moved to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) as their Parliamentary Advisor.  After the NSPCC, Charlotte moved to Australia and worked for a Government Relations & Communications Consultancy and for a children’s charity in Sydney. She then worked in Cambodia on her way back to the UK, teaching English. She joined UK Youth in April 2009. Charlotte is an RSA Fellow, a Board member of Westminster House Youth Club in her local area and also sits on the board of the YOTI Foundation. In 2012 Charlotte received the award of “Rising CEO Star” at The Charity Times Awards, in 2016 she became Alumna of the Year at the University of Birmingham, in 2019 she was ordained into the Order of the British Empire for services to young people and in 2024 Charlotte received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Birmingham. 

Tim Hollingsworth has been the Chief Executive of Sport England since 2018, the agency responsible for delivering sport and physical activity at community level across England. Previously, Tim was Chief Executive at the British Paralympic Association, serving as Secretary General for ParalympicsGB at four Paralympic Games. Tim has held senior roles at UK Sport, HBL Media, Granada Media plc, and the CBI. Tim is a Council Member of the University of Bath, a Trustee of the Football Foundation and a Member of the International Paralympic Committee’s Paralympic Games Committee.

Matt Hyde is Chief Executive of the Lloyds Bank Foundation, one of the UK’s largest corporate foundations, funded by the profits of the Lloyds Banking Group. It partners with small, local charities and communities working towards a more just and compassionate society. Until September 2024 Matt was Chief Executive of the Scouts, the UK’s largest youth movement, where he led the organisation during a period of record membership growth, particularly in areas of deprivation, and oversaw the development of a new age range, called Squirrels, opening up Scouts for four and five year olds. Formerly Chief Executive of the National Union of Students (NUS), he’s undertaken a number of leadership roles in the charity sector. Matt is co-Founder of The Big Help Out, an initiative to dramatically increase volunteering numbers across the UK, where 7.2m took part in 2023 and similar numbers participated in 2024. He is Vice-Chair of Comic Relief, a Patron of UNLOCK (the charity for people with convictions) and was previously Vice-Chair of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO). Matt was awarded an OBE in the 2020 New Year Honours List, an Honorary Fellowship from Queen Mary University of London in 2012 and an Honorary Degree from the University of Hertfordshire in 2023.

Sam is the EMEA Partner Director for NetApp. He was born and grew up in London, studying English Literature at Cambridge University. Sam has been a trustee of the Arts Depot, London and led a national student union and served on Trade Union and Anti Racism committees. He has worked in the high technology sector since 1983 working for a Silicon Valley data company for the last 15 years, and has mentored startups. Sam has also worked with a technology which enables internet access for students in developing countries. Sam is a member of the IT livery charity company working on developing skills and enabling youth in London.

Catherine became Chief Executive of Royal Voluntary Service in August 2017. Her key passions are frontline service delivery and enabling the gift of voluntary service which recently saw her leading the development of a number of initiatives to support the NHS and our communities during Covid-19. Before joining Royal Voluntary Service, Catherine was Chief Executive of Samaritans, which provides confidential support to anyone experiencing a tough time in their life.

Sunder Katwala is Director of British Future, an independent and non-partisan think-tank, which works on identity and immigration, integration and opportunity, with a focus on engaging the public constructively in issues which can be polarising and divisive. Recent projects include the National Conversation on Immigration and Remember Together, a project with the Royal British Legion which brings people from different backgrounds together to learn about and commemorate our shared history. Sunder was previously an Observer journalist and General Secretary of the Fabian Society.

Stephen Kelly is a successful serial growth CEO and Board Director – Stephen has an exceptional leadership record from start-ups to the largest organizations in both private and public sectors and in both the USA and Europe. Stephen led the turnarounds as CEO of the UK’s largest tech company Sage, Micro Focus, and grew Chordiant from start-up to $2bn Nasdaq listing. Stephen has created approximately $10bn of market value during his stewardship as a public company CEO. The UK Government appointed Stephen as its first Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the UK Government’s civil service, responsible for the Efficiency & Reform program that delivered £52bn of savings (2010-15) and delivered digital innovations including Gov.uk. The UK was voted by United Nations as the world’s Best Digital Government at the end of Stephen’s tenure. Stephen was appointed as the Prime Minister’s Business Ambassador for technology. Currently, he chairs the Science, Technology & Research Committee and a member of the main Honours committee. Stephen was a senior advisor to Blackrock LTPC, Chair of multiple UK high growth scale-ups, and was Chair of Tech Nation. He is an angel investor in over thirty companies and mentor to women CEO/founders. Stephen was appointed CEO of Cirata as part of the rescue team for a turnaround after its shares had been suspended from the London Stock Exchange. Stephen has campaigned for entrepreneurship, equality, communities, companies paying UK taxes fairly, and compassionate capitalism establishing major company charitable foundations addressing youth homelessness and domestic abuse.

Kwame Kwei-Armah OBE is a British actor, playwright, director and broadcaster. In 2018 he became Artistic Director of the Young Vic Theatre. Previously, he was the Artistic Director of Baltimore Center Stage, Festival of Black arts and Culture in Senegal, Associate Director of the Donmar Warehouse, Chancellor of the University of Art London and Chair of the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting. He serves on the boards of the National Theatre, Tricycle Theatre and Theatre Communications Group, is a patron of Ballet Black and a visiting fellow of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University.

Nicola Mendelsohn is currently Vice President for Europe, Middle East, and Africa at Facebook. She serves on The Mayor of London’s Business Advisory Board, the Industrial Strategy Council, a non-executive director of Diageo and Co-President of the charity Norwood. Previously, Nicola worked in advertising at Bartle Bogle Hegarty, Grey London and Karmarama. She has served as Chair of the UK Creative Industries Council, President of the IPA, Trustee of The White Ribbon Alliance, Chairman of Women’s Aid Development Board, President of the Women in Advertising and Communications London Club and Director of the Women’s Prize for Fiction.

James Mitchinson is Editor Of The Yorkshire Post, recently awarded most trusted newspaper in Britain status by PAMCo. He is the Editorial Director for JPIMedia Yorkshire, as well as a Westminster Correspondent and City Editor, both based in London. The JPIMedia Yorkshire print portfolio for which James is responsible sells around 300,000 copies per week, reaching around 1m people every week across God’s Own County. James is a married father of two boys who – when not at work – can be found in the countryside with his seven-year-old trusty Golden Retriever, Wilf, by his side.

Dame Helena Morrissey is a financier, campaigner and author. Helena was CEO of Newton Investment Management, before joining Legal & General where she launched the Gender in Leadership UK Equity Fund. Helena founded the 30% Club in 2010, a campaign for more gender-balanced UK company boards. Since then, the representation of women on FTSE350 boards has risen from 9.5% to over 30%. Helena chairs the Diversity Project, and was a Commissioner on the IPPR’s Commission on Economic Justice. Her first book ‘A Good Time to be a Girl’ was named one of Forbes’ five most empowering books for women.

Victoria Newton is Editor of the Sun on Sunday. She is an award‐winning journalist with more than 20 years experience in the industry. After graduating from Cambridge, Victoria began her career as a graduate trainee on The Daily Express. For most of the last 15 years Victoria has worked at The Sun, rising from deputy Bizarre editor to Bizarre editor in 2003. Victoria was made Head of Features in 2007 and after an 18 month spell at the News of The World, between 2009 and 2011, she re‐joined The Sun, becoming Editor of The Sun on Sunday.

Maurice is a serial entrepreneur in commercial & charitable spheres, creating companies in fields ranging from gemstones to logistics for the aviation industry. Through his Foundation, he innovates and funds initiatives that support faith communities and those that help entrepreneurs. These include Collaboration House, a shared work space for interfaith charities & Strengthening Faith Institutions which has partnered with UK Governments of different political parties in supporting hundreds of communities across England. He is the Founder Patron of the Faiths Forum for London, Vice-President of the Council of Christians and Jews and has been a leader in the Young Presidents Organisation internationally as well as many UK charities.

Angela has extensive experience of leadership, governance, change management, communication and stakeholder engagement. She is an independent consultant and was previously CEO of Girlguiding; CEO of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation; Director of VSO UK; and Head of Nations and Regions at the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

June became the BBC’s first Director of Creative Diversity in 2019. She has enjoyed a 20-year career which has seen her become one of the most recognizable faces of British television, as well as being one of the UK’s most intelligent and dynamic young hosts. June is Co-Founder of the Women:Inspiration & Enterprise and author of ‘Diversify’ and ‘Power of Women’. She has worked extensively with the Prince’s Trust and also campaigns for The One, Product (RED) and the United Nations. She was awarded her MBE in 2007.

As CEO of the BPA, Mike leads the organisation that selects, funds and manages the British team that competes at the summer and winter Paralympic Games and, through its success at the Games, to positively challenge perceptions of disabled people, with the aim of making a meaningful and sustainable change in society. Previously, Mike was an executive coach, working with leaders from the world of business and sport to support a more conscious form of leadership. This followed a 30 year international business career with BP. Mike is married with one daughter and lives in Oxfordshire.

Michael is a critically acclaimed actor both on stage and screen. His credits include Caligula, Frost/Nixon and Hamlet on stage. On screen he is known for roles in The Queen, Frost/Nixon, Midnight in Paris, The Twilight Saga, Alice in Wonderland, Passengers and recently The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle and Good Omens. Michael is a passionate activist. He is a UNICEF Ambassador, Patron of Social Enterprise UK and President of the Wales Council for Voluntary Action. He created the ‘End High Cost Credit Alliance’, and played an integral role in bringing the Homeless World Cup to Cardiff in 2019.

Julie has 25 years grassroots experience working with faith communities across the UK. She also supports companies and organisations to navigate their way through issues of diversity and inclusion. Julie recently established ‘Together We Thrive’, a network and online platform to train and inspire Muslim women to fully participate in society at every level, challenge patriarchal attitudes and ensure Muslim women are better represented in media. She is Co-founder of ‘Open My Mosque’, a campaign to highlight and speak out about inequalities in UK mosques and to find ways to address these needs. Julie was awarded an MBE in 2020 for Services to Promoting Interfaith Understanding.

Tim is Executive Vice-Chair, and Co-founder of the Eden Project in Cornwall. Born in Holland, Tim studied at Durham University before working for ten years in the music industry. Tim opened the Eden Project in 2000, and since more than 19 million people have visited. Tim is a Trustee, Patron and Board Member of a number of organisations both locally and nationally. He has received a variety of national awards including The Royal Society of Arts Albert Medal. Tim is also Executive Chairman for Eden Project International which aims to have an Eden Project on every habited continent by 2025.

Caroline became MP for Meriden in May 1997. During her career in Parliament, she has held a number of senior roles including as Secretary of State for DEFRA, Chairman of the Conservative Party and the first female Second Church Estates Commissioner. Previously, Caroline was Opposition Whip, front-bench spokeswoman for Health, Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, Shadow Minister for Women, Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Shadow Secretary for Communities and Local Government and on the Joint Committee for the Modern Day Slavery Bill. Caroline also chaired the Parliament Choir. Caroline stood down in the 2019 General Election.

Professor Robert Tombs is a historian, who has spent most of his career teaching at Cambridge, where he is now Emeritus Professor of French History, and a Fellow of St John’s College. His main academic specialism is modern French political history. He has published and lectured on the subject of Franco-British relations, and has served as a member of the Franco-British Council. Since venturing into British history with the publication of The English and their History (2014) he has frequently been asked to comment on contemporary culture and politics, and is a Friend of the Migration Museum.

Appointed in 2013 Amanda leads the Rotary support Centre Team in delivering support services to Rotary Clubs and Districts across Great Britain and Ireland. Over the last 30 years Amanda has run her own specialist consultancy business working with a range of businesses from independent retailers through to major international blue chip companies, so will be bringing a breadth of skills and experience to the role.