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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.