Our trustees
J K Rowling, Chair |
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J K Rowling was born in England and raised in Wales. After university, where she studied French and Classics, she worked as a researcher for Amnesty International, working on human rights abuses in Francophone Africa. Her first Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, was published in 1997, and six subsequent Harry Potter novels followed, all of which have achieved record sales. All seven books have been made into films, the last one of which was released in July 2011. J K Rowling has received several honours and awards, including the OBE in 2001, and a Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur, as well as several honorary degrees. She has supported a number of charitable causes over the years, including Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres, Medecins Sans Frontieres and Comic Relief. For nine years she was Patron of Multiple Sclerosis Society Scotland and continues to fund MS research directly. In 2007 J K Rowling auctioned a copy of one of the seven special editions of The Tales of Beedle the Bard which raised £1.95 million for Lumos. In December 2008 the book was widely published in aid of the charity and became the fastest-selling book of that year. In July 2011 J K Rowling announced her plan to launch the free-to-use website Pottermore which will come alive in October 2011 and will provide an exciting online experience around the reading of the Harry Potter books. |
Bryan Ellis, Hon Treasurer |
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Sir Roger Singleton CBE |
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Dr Kazem Behbehani |
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Lucy Smith |
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Neil Blair |
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Rachel Wilson |
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Sandy Loder |
 Sandy Loder is the Founder and Chief Executive of AH Loder Advisers, a specialist family wealth consultancy business that focuses on family businesses, family wealth and financial and entrepreneurial education. Sandy is a 5th generation member of the Fleming family and was a director for the Fleming family trustee company, which manages over 300 trusts. Formerly, he worked for both Robert Fleming and Fleming Family & Partners for over 18 years, assisting in establishing one of Europe’s largest multi-family offices. During his tenure Sandy was also responsible for creating one of Europe’s leading next generation education programmes, with over 300 people attending these programmes since 2002. He has also attended Harvard Business School. |
Rita Dattani |
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Nick Crichton |
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Bryan Ellis was born in 1942 and went on to graduate from Hull University in 1963, where he achieved a BSc (Econ). He spent twenty years working in toy retail, during which time he was Managing Director of Maynards Retail, Director of Woolworths Stores and General Manager of Hasbro Europe. He is currently Chairman of Toy Industries of Europe in addition to being Director of the Advertising Education Forum, a Council Member of the Incorporated Society of Advertisers, a Council Member of the British Toy & Hobby Association, Chairman, Retec-Interface Ltd, Non-Exec Director of Elite Strategies Plc, Corporate Affairs consultant of Hasbro Inc, Chairman of the British Schools Museum, Trustee of the V&A Museum of Childhood and Chairman of Arlesey Town FC (Southern League).
Sir Roger Singleton is a government adviser, a consultant in charity governance and management, a non-executive company director and a trustee of several charities. With a background in education, children's services, policy and management he retired as Chief Executive of Barnardo's in 2005. Whilst there he expanded the organisation significantly and led its change from an association providing residential homes to one principally supporting children and young people within their own families and communities. He has participated in many working parties, study groups and public enquiries. He has been an advisor to the Secretary of State for Children Schools and Families dealing with the statutory barring of people considered unsuitable to work with children. In 2007 he was appointed Chair of the Independent Safeguarding Authority and in April 2009 he became the Government's Chief Advisor on the Safety of Children.
Kazem Behbehani, MSc PhD FRCPath UK) MSc(hon) is from Kuwait, where he was Professor and Vice President of its university. He spent five years as a visiting scholar at Harvard Medical School, and fifteen years at the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Geneva, during which time he was Director of the Division of Control of Tropical Diseases, Assistant Director-General for External Relations and Governing Bodies and in 2005 he was appointed a WHO envoy. In 2009 Kazem returned to Kuwait to become Director-General of the Dasman Institute for Research, Training and Prevention. He is the author or more than 100 scientific publications, is the recipient of several scientific awards, and has a special interest in eHealth and eLearning.
Lucy Smith is Public Health Manager at NHS Lambeth leading the borough's ‘Wellbeing and Happiness Programme' which aims to promote mental wellbeing for all by maximising the strengths and assets of people living and working in Lambeth. She also chairs a regional Measuring Wellbeing Taskforce which has been examining how to create a wellbeing index across London. Prior to working at NHS Lambeth, Lucy worked at Nacro, the crime reduction charity, in national policy development relating to criminal justice and mental health. She carried out mapping and evaluation of criminal justice liaison and diversion schemes and has sat on many groups contributing to policy and legislative change, including the Mental Health Act 2007 and Lord Bradley's Review of offenders with mental health issues. She is author of several policy briefings and articles including, ‘Effective mental healthcare for offenders: the need for a fresh approach'. Lucy holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Forensic Mental Health from St George's, University of London and sits on the Editorial Board of the British Journal of Wellbeing.
Neil Blair is a partner at The Blair Partnership, a strategic agency offering representation and brand management for new and established writers. Previously he was a partner at Christopher Little Literary Agency, where he worked for 10 years. Prior to that he was Head of Business Affairs, Europe for Warner Bros Productions and has also worked as a solicitor for Linklaters & Paines. Neil gained his law degree from Exeter College, Oxford and also received a half-blue in football whilst studying there (he is a West Ham fan!). Neil is a Director for two other charities - UK Friends of the Abraham Fund Initiatives and Gift UK - and is a member of the Funding and Development Committee of London 9 /11 Project.
Rachel has worked with a number of organisations in a variety of roles. Initially a chartered surveyor in private consultancy, she moved to Tesco where she spent 9 years in change and project management. Since leaving Tesco she has run her own consultancy specialising in cultural change and transformation, delivering projects in both the public and private sector. Rachel has worked with many different cultures including Central and Eastern Europe and is currently working globally with key retail clients as a freelance coach. She is qualified to level 2 in British Sign Language and is hoping to use this in the future. Rachel is married and enjoys skiing, rugby and folk music. Rachel is an active member of her local church, singing in the benefice choir, and plays accordion with a couple of local groups, when not walking her black labrador!
Rita Dattani is CEO of Westhill, a real estate investment advisory company who focus on emerging Eastern European markets. Rita has an extensive background in property development and regeneration, having advised local authorities on the regeneration of their inner city housing and successfully managed several regeneration initiatives while maximising the use of resources from Government funding initiatives, private finance and efficient procurement - and empowering residents to make an informed choice about their housing options. Rita is also a Board member of a major community based housing association in East London.
Nick Crichton was a solicitor in private practice for 15 years. He has been a District Judge for 25 years and the Resident District Judge at the Inner London Family Proceedings Court since it opened in April 1997. He is a passionate advocate for children's rights and chairs the Voice of the Child sub-committee of the Family Justice Council. He has been instrumental in setting up the Family Drug and Alcohol Court - a project providing intensive support to families with serious drug and alcohol problems in the hope of enabling them to retain or recover the care of their children. He has worked overseas on various projects in the field of child protection - in Russia, the Ukraine, Georgia, Greece, Ethiopia, Namibia, and most notably in Bulgaria where he has been working for 15 years including spending 5 years working on a project in which he has visited all 28 family courts and visited many specialist institutions. He is currently engaged on a project which seeks to develop a model family court in Bulgaria, linked into support services for families. He is a frequent speaker at conferences, both in the UK and abroad. He has 4 grandchildren. When he can he spends time at his house in Shetland, photographing birds and otters.
