Our People

Beccy has extensive experience within the third sector. She has been Chief Executive of SATRO, and most recently Heathrow Community Trust.

In addition to her current role as Board Chair at Headway Surrey, she is also a Trustee of Advanced Humanitarian Operational Solutions CIO, a Non-Executive Director at Providence Row Housing, and an Independent Custody Visitor at the Surrey Police & Crime Commissioner’s Office.

Beccy works closely with the Trustees to drive the Foundation’s development and growth.

Contact Dr. Beccy Bowden

01483 478086 | rebecca.bowden@cfsurrey.org.uk

Kate oversees the Foundation’s Grant Programme and is responsible for maintaining relationships with voluntary and community groups throughout the county. Kate also works closely with many of our Corporate Donors and Charitable Trusts to support their grant-making and manages our delivery of national programmes.

Contact Kate Peters

01483 478088 | kate@cfsurrey.org.uk

Zoe has worked in the charity sector for over 13 years and is passionate about making a positive difference to those experiencing some of society’s most pressing issues.

Contact Zoe Coltart

01483 958307 | zoe@cfsurrey.org.uk

Amy works closely with the Foundation’s Donors to successfully achieve their giving objectives and to ensure the effectiveness of their generosity. Amy is also committed to raising the profile of the Community Foundation and supporting the further development of local philanthropy across Surrey.

Amy is passionate about making a positive difference to those experiencing some of society’s most pressing issues.

Contact Amy Lee

01483 906383 | amy@cfsurrey.org.uk

Hana is the Marketing and Events Manager for Community Foundation for Surrey, and works to ensure that the Foundation’s activities and projects are demonstrated across the website, social media, and through all other comms channels.

Hana trained and worked as a photographer for 16 years, and has previously worked with charities on many projects over her career. As well as being a committed dog fan, Hana loves metal music and community pubs.

Contact Hana Rhodes

| hana@cfsurrey.org.uk

Nicola is a point of contact for grant enquiries and the best person for individuals to speak to about potential applications. She is responsible for assessing grant applications and making grant recommendations, as well as supporting voluntary and community groups throughout the application process. Nicola also works closely with a range of our Donors to support their grant-making and manages our funds supporting individuals.

Contact Nicola Bartlett

01483 478091 | nicola@cfsurrey.org.uk

The Community Foundation for Surrey provides financial support and help to charities and voluntary organisations across Surrey and we award over 400 grants each year. As Grants Administrator, David plays a key role in supporting applicants and ensuring the efficient flow of grant applications through the system.

Contact David McSween

01483 951002 | david@cfsurrey.org.uk

Josephine is a point of contact for grant enquiries and the best person for groups to speak to about potential applications. She is responsible for assessing grant applications, as well as supporting voluntary groups and individuals throughout the application process. Josephine also works closely with a range of our Donors and Area Funds to support their grant-making.

Contact Josephine Larcher

01483 478089 | josephine@cfsurrey.org.uk

Sarah is responsible for providing efficient and effective support to the staff team, Board of Trustees and Working Committees. Sarah is the first point of contact for the office, and is responsible for all aspects of I.T. and administering the Foundation’s data management system.

Contact Sarah Ferguson

01483 478092 | sarah@cfsurrey.org.uk

Sir Denis O’Connor takes up the position as our new Chair having previously supported the Community Foundation for Surrey as a Trustee.

Denis has years of experience as a trustee for a number of charitable organisations, including the Migraine Trust and the Inclusive Educational Trust. He has also supported the Surrey Care Trust from 2015-17, and was appointed as Chair from December 2017 – July 2021.

Denis is a lecturer and advisor and member of the Committee at the Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge. He was Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary between 2009-12. Prior to joining the Inspectorate in 2004, he was Chief Constable of Surrey between 2000 and 2004.

He received the Queens Police Medal for distinguished service in 1996, CBE in 2002, and was knighted in 2010.

Neelam Devesher has lived in Surrey for twenty years, and has worked in public sector organisations at senior management level. Neelam has set up numerous projects focused on improving the quality of life for the most vulnerable in our communities. She is committed to finding solutions to help address inequity, racism and discrimination and is passionate about promoting equality of opportunity, inclusion and fairness for all vulnerable communities.

She currently chairs the Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum and also the Surrey Police Hate Crime Scrutiny Panel. In 2021 Neelam was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for Surrey. Neelam is originally from Yorkshire and is of Indian and Hindu heritage, has two children and four grandchildren. She is honoured and privileged to be a trustee for the Community Foundation for Surrey and use her experience and skills to strengthen our reach within the most vulnerable communities living and working in Surrey.

Paul is a Chartered Accountant who spent 30 years working in banking and private equity. He has lived in Surrey for over 50 years. Paul is currently the Treasurer of the Horsell Common Preservation Society, a charity based in Woking where he lives. Paul is Honorary Treasurer of the Foundation and Chairs the Finance and Investment Committee.

Peter Cluff was until recently Co-Founder and Principal at Europa Capital, an international real estate fund management group based in London that has invested more than €9 billion in over 90 transactions across 18 European countries since 1999. He was a member of the Investment Committee responsible for acquiring and disposing of all assets as well as being the Compliance Officer.

He volunteered for 13 years and was a founding member of the British Venture Capital Association Regulatory Committee. He also established a private equity finance director forum which now has representatives from over 100 firms.

Peter is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and currently sits on the Foundation’s Marketing and Development Committee. Peter is also Chairman of Guildford Philanthropy, our Area Fund for Guildford run in partnership with Guildford Borough Council.

Holly is a Senior Director in Investments Strategy at WTW, based in London.  In this role, Holly develops alternative investment solutions for global institutional asset owners, including Trustee Boards of defined benefit pension funds, charitable endowments and foundations, family offices and wealth managers. Holly Chairs the Governance Committee for CFS.

Holly went to school in Farnham and now lives in Guildford with her husband and two young daughters.

Elaine started her career as a graduate management trainee with the NHS, qualifying as an accountant (CIPFA) and subsequently working in finance within the public sector. After a break from full time employment to look after her family, Elaine moved into adult learning, gaining her PGCE and primarily teaching business studies and accountancy.

In 1999, Elaine joined Surrey Care Trust as their business manager, becoming chief executive two years later, and remained in that role until her retirement in spring 2019. She was awarded the OBE for Services to Adult Learning in the 2020 New Year’s Honours List.

Elaine is currently a member of both the Foundation’s Grants and Governance Committees.

Carolyn started her career in the voluntary sector working for charities such as Barnardo’s and the British Lung Foundation, specialising in fundraising and marketing. She now works as Head of Brand Marketing and Social Responsibility at Allianz Insurance, which is based in Guildford.

Carolyn grew up in Camberley and now lives in Farnham with her husband and two teenage sons.

Carolyn supports the Foundation’s Finance & Investment Committee.

Diana Whittington is the Special Projects Director at the Financial Times, a position she has held for many years.  Prior to this, she was the Managing Director of Financial Times Conferences & Events, establishing it as a profitable global business.   Diana has organised major events all over the world, many involving working with governments and international organisations at the most senior level.

Before joining the FT, Diana worked in public relations for ICFC (now 3i) and Young & Rubicam – the international advertising agency.   She has undertaken consultancy projects for many organisations including Extel, the DTI, the IFC (part of the World Bank) and Chatham House and worked with the UK Government on the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) meeting in London.

Diana has been involved with The Passage – the charity for the homeless in London and SCAS – the Surrey County Agricultural Show. She has lived in Surrey for over 50 years.

Nick is an experienced entrepreneurial P&L Managing Director, Chairman, CEO and NED with an international  track record within renewables, technology, oil/gas/chemicals, B2b, start-ups,  consumer products, agricultural and charities.

Nick Chairs the Surrey Young People’s Fund and the UK Born in Africa charity.

Michael More-Molyneux has lived in the county all his life. His family has been there for five centuries. A businessman, he runs Loseley Park Farms. Michael and his family have kindly supported the Foundation for a number of years including hosting a number of events for us at Loseley Park. We were delighted to receive his patronage on his inauguration as HM Lord Lieutenant of Surrey in 2015.

As an NHS diabetes physician Julie Llewelyn has first hand experience of the very real impact of social deprivation on health in parts of ‘Hidden Surrey’. Her previous role as a Trustee for Whiteley Village in Hersham further confirmed the vital importance of community for the well-being of the elderly population in Surrey. Julie is chair of the Hambledon Community Fund, one of the Foundation’s Area Funds.

Julie served her shrieval year as High Sheriff of Surrey for 2020/2021.

Following a very successful term as Chair since September 2019, Jim becomes a Vice President of the Foundation, continuing to support our strategic growth and development.

Jim has a substantial background in a number of executive and non-executive roles in retail, leisure and service organisations. Jim served his shrieval year as High Sheriff of Surrey during 2018/2019 and has Chaired a number of charities, and also served as Member of the Council and Chair of University of Surrey between 2012 and 2018.

Michael is an entrepreneur, broadcaster, columnist and author and co-founded the campaigns firm Seven Hills. Michael is Chairman of Entrepreneurs at the private bank Coutts and is an Honorary Professor at the University of London. Michael also hosts the TV show The Capital Conversation on London Live. He has interviewed leaders from business, sports, politics and entertainment.

He was awarded an MBE for services to enterprise promotion, entrepreneurship and education, is a Deputy Lieutenant for Surrey and is a Freeman of the City of London.

Michael sits on the Foundation’s Marketing and Development Committee.

Shahid Azeem DL is the current High Sheriff of Surrey (2020-21). Shahid is currently the Managing Director of two IT companies in the digital transformation sector.

Shahid is also chair of Woking Asian Business Forum and chairs Aldershot town football Club.

He has lived in Surrey for over 50 years.

Bridget Biddell previously served her shrieval year as High Sheriff of Surrey for 2019/2020. Bridget has always lived in Surrey and is a partner of her family’s traditional agricultural estate, Hampton Estate Farms. She is heavily involved with the local community as church warden of the United Parish of Seale, Puttenham and Wanborough.

Bridget supports the Foundation as a Vice President, having served her maximum 9 year term as a Trustee.

Formerly Chair, UK Community Foundations, the national body that co-ordinates activities of Community Foundations throughout the UK, Matthew Bowcock is an entrepreneur who has been involved in founding technology and biotechnology companies across the world. Matthew has become increasingly involved in philanthropy with a particular focus on the Arts and continues to support the Foundations development. Matthew is currently a Trustee of Philanthropy Impact and The Philanthropy Workshop.

David Frank spent his professional career in the City. He joined Slaughter and May in 1977, became a partner in 1986, and in 2001 he became the Firm’s first Practice Partner. Since retiring in 2008, David has developed a portfolio of charitable interests in Surrey and is Chairman of the Royal Alexandra and Albert School.
He became Chairman of the Community Foundation in 2013 and played a very active role in the Foundation, sitting on and chairing our Committees. David supports the Foundation as a Vice President, having served his maximum 9 year term as a Trustee.

Peter joined the Foundation as a Trustee after retiring as Director General of the National Criminal Intelligence Service in 2006. He has had a very active role in the Community Foundation supporting the grants process. He was formerly the Chair of the Grants Committee and a member of the Personnel Group, and is currently supporting the Funder plus Program as Chair.

Nigel Gillott retired as Partner and Head of the Worldwide General Insurance Practice at Watson Wyatt LLP in 2006 to pursue his interests in charitable activities. He was instrumental in establishing the Surrey charity, Leatherhead Youth Project, which provides support, activities and training to young people from one of the most socially disadvantaged areas of Surrey.

Having lived in the county all his life, Nigel supports the Foundation as a Vice President, having served his maximum 9 year term as a Trustee.

Sir Stephen is the former Receiver General of Westminster Abbey and Clerk to the Dean and Chapter. Before joining the Abbey, Sir Stephen, was a Group Director of the Royal Bank of Scotland, served at the United Nations, and at the British Embassies in Tehran and Rome. He has been a Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey since 2006 and has used his wealth of experience to support the Foundation since establishing.

Gordon Lee-Steere is a Farmer and Landowner in Surrey and previous Vice Lord Lieutenant of Surrey. In the past as a member of the Mole Valley District Council, President of Country Landowners Association 1987 –1989; Chairman of the Rural Housing Trust and Trustee of the Henry Smith’s Charity Gordon has invested much of his time and resources into Surrey; a legacy he continues as a Vice President.

Jim McAllister is Chief Executive of The Rutland Group, a privately owned property development, investment and management company, which he founded in 1984. Since its inception, The Rutland Group, and Dunsfold Park Ltd. have been closely involved with supporting local communities throughout the UK and have generously supported the Foundation since establishing in 2005.

Lavinia Sealy is heavily committed to working with the voluntary and business sectors and was previously elected as Surrey County Council’s Chairman. She is particularly interested in helping to educate and train young people and disabled young people and has a keen interest in the Arts. Lavinia has generously supported the Foundation since we established and was instrumental in establishing our Surrey Community Arts Fund.

Andrew Wates is former Chairman of Wates Group, one of the UK’s largest private construction companies. For over 100 years the Group has been committed to supporting and improving the communities in which it works through corporate philanthropy. The Wates Group previously hosted the Community Foundation for Surrey within his offices in Leatherhead when it was first established in 2005, and Andrew continues his support of the Foundation as Vice President.

Richard Whittington previously worked for KPMG where he was Partner-in-Charge of the Infrastructure, Government and Healthcare group and simultaneously Global Head of Building and Construction, based in London. He has lived in Surrey for over 30 years and is involved with the community in a number of areas including being a Governor of Gordon’s School and non-executive director of The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Richard supports the Foundation as a Vice President, having served his maximum 9 year term as a Trustee.

Graham Williams spent 15 years in Private equity in both the UK and France before becoming a director of Guildford-based Hays PLC. Now retired, Graham is a Trustee of the Royal Alexandra and Albert School, a governor of The Hawthorns Prep School as well as being a non-executive Director of a listed company. Graham supports the Foundation as a Vice President, having served his maximum 9 year term as a Trustee.