We are governed by Trustees who are engaged in the delivery of our strategy and who give their time to review grant applications, visit grantholders and grow our networks. They bring a wide range of knowledge and expertise across the not-for-profit sector and to supporting our committed staff team who manage the Foundation’s day-to-day operations.
Chair
Mark is a member of the funding family and Chairman of Samworth Brothers (Holdings) Limited, a leading food producer based in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. He has a personal interest in ecology, habitat restoration and the environment and is proud to continue the family’s support for those who suffer exploitation at the hands of others.
Trustee
Daniela has been working in the charitable sector since 2005, focusing on international development. Prior to that she worked for IFAD, a specialised agency of the UN. She is the Director of JAC Trust, a small family foundation that funds communities at the frontline of climate change, specifically forcibly displaced people and the communities that host them. Daniela is a former convenor of the Association of Charitable Foundation’s (ACF) Smaller Funder Network and was elected to the Board of ACF in 2022. A life-long learner, Daniela completed a MSc in Grantmaking and Philanthropy at Bayes Business School in 2020, she also has a PhD in Agricultural Economics.
Trustee
Sarah is a policy consultant in the areas of modern slavery and international development, with an academic background in policies that relate to poverty and wealth in the UK. Her particular interests are in the structural causes of poverty, wealth and inequality, the particular ways in which women are impacted by inequality, and the ways in which we understand and measure social change and development.
Trustee
Belinda is a freelance environmental strategy and policy consultant. Until recently Belinda was Strategy Director at environmental think-tank Green Alliance where she was responsible for developing and executing the organisation’s strategy, and maximising impact on environmental policy and politics. In her four years at the organisation it almost doubled in size. Prior to joining Green Alliance, Belinda worked as Head of Government and Rural Affairs at CPRE, the countryside charity. Before that, she worked in the Science Policy Centre of The Royal Society and at Defra, where she focused on issues ranging from waste to noise and agriculture.
Foundation Director
Nathalie joined the Foundation in January 2022. She works closely with the Trustees, the team and grant holders to ensure all aspects of the Foundation’s strategy, governance and grantmaking are delivered effectively. Nathalie has been involved in the not-for-profit sector for over 20 years, as an employee, volunteer and trustee. She joined the Foundation from her previous role as Head of Operations with the Rights Lab – a leading research unit working to end modern slavery – at the University of Nottingham. Prior to this, she spent seven years as Chief Executive with Safe and Sound Group, a charity working with children and young people affected by exploitation.
Grants Manager
Jennie joined the Foundation in August 2022. She assists with all aspects of the Foundation’s grant making by managing the application process through to the assessment and monitoring. Prior to this Jennie has been involved in the environment and water sector for the last 11 years and has experience working with a wide variety of groups. Jennie joined the Foundation from the water industry where she was working on nature-based solutions in the agricultural and water environments, promoting biodiversity and improved water quality.
Grants Manager
Sam joined the Foundation in November 2021. Sam assists with all aspects of the Foundation’s grant making by managing the application process through to the assessment and monitoring. Before joining the Foundation, Sam worked within the voluntary sector with a wide range of charities and social enterprises as a Fundraiser, most recently specialising in fundraising from Trusts and Foundations and continues to provide support to small charities with their fundraising.