Sally has lived in Sussex for nearly 30 years, first practising as a barrister in Brighton and later in senior leadership roles in the Charity sector. She holds an ILM diploma in strategic leadership and executive management. Sally currently works as the Director of the Sussex-based Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust. She has extensive experience in the environmental and conservation sector and has also sat as a school Governor. Sally enjoys being outside, running, gardening and going to the opera.
Nick was born in Shoreham and has always lived in Sussex. He studied accountancy with Grant Thornton in Brighton before moving to audit client “Panorama Holiday Group” where he was part owner. Nick then became Managing Director and majority owner of Classic Collection Holidays. Following his 37-year career in the travel industry, Nick has focussed on giving back. He was the start up project manager of Red Balloon Educational Trust school in Worthing and is currently a trustee and local Governor. Nick is also a trustee of and delivery driver for Lancing and Sompting Food Bank, as well as a committee member for Friends of Sompting Church. Nick is married to Amanda and has three children.
David is the Deputy Director of the Baring Foundation and leads its Strengthening Civil Society and International Development programmes. He began his career as a lawyer in private practice, training and working at the international law firm Herbert Smith Freehills LLP. He has worked on public interest litigation and human rights at the National Center for Lesbian Rights in San Francisco and as Global Pro Bono Advisor at the law firm Linklaters LLP.
David is Co-Chair of the Global Philanthropy Project.
Kevin recently retired as a business owner, Audit Partner, and Business Advisor at Knill James Chartered Accountants in Lewes. He now devotes his time to non‑executive roles across both the private and voluntary sectors, bringing his financial expertise and strategic insight to organisations that make a difference.
From 2013 to 2024, Kevin served as a Board Member of the UK200 Group, the national membership organisation of Chartered Accountants and Lawyers, and was elected National Chair from 2018 to 2020.
He is currently Governor and Chair of the Finance Committee at Hurstpierpoint College, and a Trustee of Lewes District Citizens Advice. Kevin is passionate about strengthening communities, supporting education, and ensuring that local organisations have the resources they need to thrive. His commitment to service and his professional experience align closely with the Foundation’s mission to create lasting impact across Sussex. He is married with 2 children & a keen sportsman still playing 5 a side football, circuit training, Tennis and golf.
Deirdre trained at St Thomas’ Hospital in London and has been a registered nurse for over 40 years. Most of her nursing career has been spent in general practice in Sussex, which has included working in areas of deprivation. She joined Brighton and Hove CCG in 2010 and worked to commission services for the city. She has been a Trustee of a Sussex Hospice and is currently a Governor at Chailey Heritage Foundation. Deirdre has been involved with Healthwatch and is an active fundraiser for dementia care in Sussex. She lives in Lewes and is married with three children.
Andrew grew up in Sussex and has been directly involved in the finance sector at a very senior level since 1985. Now formally retired, he still acts as an non-executive director of both a medium-sized investment management firm and an investment trust so remains close to developments in the market. Now an active trustee of a number of charities, Andrew also brings his experience of grant giving to the Foundation.
Guy spent 35 years working in the finance sector in London before retiring in 2017. Prior to this, he trained as an accountant. He has been active in the voluntary sector, principally focussed on the provision of youth services. He was treasurer and then chair of a Hackney–based youth club for many years and and was a trustee of London Youth until 2023. Guy was brought up in Kent and has lived in Sussex for 30 years. He is married with two grown-up sons.
Corinne Day has worked in community and economic development for over 20 years. After working in both a paid and voluntary capacity in Sussex for ten years, delivering regeneration programmes aimed at reducing worklessness and barriers to employment, and supporting skills and enterprise, she moved overseas to Thailand, where she supported local NGOs specifically around child protection and community resilience. In that time, she also worked with international NGOs and communities from Myanmar to provide education, food, health care and livelihoods to the communities living in the refugee settlements. Corinne now resides in Shoreham with her young son, working full time in Newhaven and, in her spare time, tending to their allotment and walking the dog.
Originally from Eritrea, Mebrak is the founder and director of two organisations. Vandu Language Services which provides interpreting, translation and health and social care advocacy to public and private sector organisations in and around Sussex. Diversity Resource International is a social enterprise that provides research, executive coaching, business management and leadership training to cross sector organisations in the UK and Africa. Mebrak is the social entrepreneur in residence at the University of Brighton. Mebrak was a member of the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF) from 1978-1994. As a young female independence fighter she was a barefoot doctor and then a Morse code radio operator until Eritrea gained its independence in 1991. Mebrak came to the UK as an international student to study business at Bachelor and Masters Level. She has successfully combined her experience of war and conflict with leadership and business education.
Martin is a solicitor and former partner of Pinsent Masons LLP, a Top 10 UK based international law firm. He specialised in Construction and Infrastructure law and also served as Head of the firm’s London office for 11 years before retiring from the partnership in 2017. He has subsequently worked as a Mediator and Consultant . Martin has been a member of the CBI London Regional Council and CBI Construction Council, President of the City of London Law Society and Master of the City of London Solictors’ Company. He has also served as a Governor/Trustee of Cumnor House School in Danehill, Trustee of the Bart's Hospital Research and Development Trust, Trustee of the Pinsent Masons Foundation and as an Ambassador for Arthritis Research UK. Most recently he has been a member of the Elections Committee of the Royal Automobile Club. Martin has lived in East Sussex for 25 years with his wife, Jane. They have two grown up children.
Mark trained in the City as a Chartered Accountant before joining the family accountancy firm in Sussex. He served as President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales in 2012. Mark spent six years making weekly broadcasts on local BBC Radio on financial matters and has lectured widely on accountancy and regulatory topics, including Charity finance and governance. He spent two years on the Government’s Better Regulation Strategy Group and was appointed to the UK Takeover Panel. He was a member of the Charities SORP Committee that sets the accounting standards for Charities and was a Board member of IFAC, the International Federation of Accountants. He was awarded the OBE in 2014 for services to the accountancy profession. Mark has been Master of two City Livery Companies and served as a school governor, and is currently Chairman of the Thalidomide Trust. He served as High Sheriff for West Sussex for 2016-17.