Biographies of directors

As charity trustees, the Directors receive no remuneration for their services, nor do they have any interest in the company’s contracts. The Board, which meets quarterly, is ultimately responsible for strategic decisions, having regard to advice from the Chief Executive and senior management. Directors normally serve for a maximum of nine years and are subject to re-election every three years.

 


Chair - Mark Sheard

Mark Sheard, Trustee  Mark Sheard has enjoyed a successful career in advertising and marketing, creating one of the UK’s most successful marketing communications businesses before merging it into a multinational group in 2000. He has worked on fundraising strategies with a number of leading voluntary sector organisations and in 2001 Mark founded the Whatnext? Consultancy to provide marketing and corporate development advice to commercial and ethical organisations. 

Mark currently chairs the Board of Uganda Development Services, a Christian charity promoting development in rural communities in East Africa.

Mark joined the Board of World Vision in January 2007 and was appointed Chair of the Board in February 2011. Mark is a member of the Finance Audit and Risk Committee, Public Engagement Committee and Board Development Committee.


Vice Chair - Anna Laszlo

Anna Laszlo, Trustee  Anna Laszlo has extensive experience of international development through her career with the UK government’s Department for International Development.  Previous roles with the Department have included: Deputy Director (Strategy), South Asia Division; Head of the joint FCO/DFID Sudan Unit; Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for International Development and Head of Office in Mozambique.

Anna joined the Board of World Vision UK in May 2008.  Anna serves as Chair of the Board Development Committee and is a member of the Organisational Effectiveness and Remuneration Committee and the Policy and Programmes Committee.


Jennifer Collins

Jennifer Collins photo  Jennifer Collins has held a variety of leadership and management roles in the charitable and public health sectors and in development consultancy in Asia and Africa. Currently, Jennie is working in Afghanistan as the Executive Director of SERVE Afghanistan, a Christian development organisation involved in working with people with disability, focussing on inclusion, community development and preventative public health education.

Previous roles include Executive Director of the United Mission to Nepal, an international Christian development organisation, International Director at Tearfund UK and Director of Therapy Services at Royal Free Hospital, London. Jennifer also acts as Trustee for a number of organisations, including the Micah Network.

Jennifer joined the Board of World Vision UK in February 2011 and is a member of the Policy and Programmes Committee.

 


Valerie Dias

Valerie Dias, Trustee  Valerie Dias is Executive Vice President and Chief Risk and Compliance Officer for Visa Europe with responsibility for corporate risk compliance and a variety of corporate services. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Certified Accountants and a trustee of HTI (Heads, Teachers and Industry).

Valerie joined the Board of World Vision UK in April 2007 and is a member of the Finance Audit and Risk Committee and the Organisational Effectiveness and Remuneration Committee.


Linda Emery

Linda Emery, Trustee  Linda Emery is Diversity and Inclusion Director at BP, responsible for attracting and developing talent, driving diversity and inclusion across all BP businesses in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Her career has included roles as Talent Director, Diversity Director and Strategic Planning Manager with Unilever businesses and Linda has provided Human Resources consultancy to Save the Children.

Linda joined the Board of World Vision UK in February 2011. Linda serves as Chair of the Organisational Effectiveness and Remuneration Committee and is a member of the Board Development Committee.

 


Richard Izard

Richard Izard  Richard Izard is Chief Executive of Organic leadership, a niche Leadership Development and Executive Coaching consultancy. Richard has a passion for individual, team and organisational transformation. Previously Richard has been Managing Director of a retail business and held board positions in sales, marketing, commercial and finance. Richard’s commercial experience spans sectors including banking, retail, music, film, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and engineering.  Richard is also a qualified accountant.

Richard joined the Board of World Vision UK in May 2011. Richard is a member of the Public Engagement Committee and Policy and Programmes Committee.


Kevin Jenkins

Kevin Jenkins  Kevin Jenkins became President and Chief Executive Officer of World Vision International in October 2009, following a successful career in airline, technology and investment businesses. Travelling extensively as WVI President, Kevin spends time in communities with children, families and staff in many of the (97) countries where World Vision works.
 
Kevin is based at World Vision International’s Global Centre Executive Office in Uxbridge, UK. He is a member of a number of global organisations that pursue practical, sustainable health improvements for the world’s most vulnerable women and children, the increased effectiveness of civil society and excellence in governance.

He is an ex officio member of the Board of World Vision UK.


 


Warren Lancaster

Warren Lancaster photo  Warren Lancaster is the International Director and Sector Specialist for Disaster and Conflict Recovery for Geneva Global, one of the world’s leading providers of philanthropic advisory services.

Warren was previously the Director of the Leprosy Mission for England and Chief Executive of international health charity, Merlin. He was involved in the establishing and development of Medair, the Swiss humanitarian agency and held a number of senior positions there. Warren’s commercial background is in risk management within the insurance industry.

Warren joined the Board of World Vision UK in February 2011. Warren serves as Chair of the Policy and Programmes Committee.

 


Keith Malcouronne

Keith Malcouronne, Trustee  Keith Malcouronne is Managing Partner of Financial Professional & Strategy Services LLP, a Christian-led Chartered Accountancy and business consulting group with teams in the UK and India. Keith is a non-executive director on the Boards of other businesses including BC technologies LLP and The Specialist Washing Company Limited.

Keith also serves on the Boards of a number of charities including the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, Guildford Diocesan Board of Finance (Vice Chair) and the Audit Committee of the Church of England Archbishops’ Council (Vice Chair).

Keith joined the Board of World Vision UK in April 2007 and serves as Chair of the Finance Audit and Risk Committee and is a member of the Organisational Effectiveness and Remuneration Committee.

 


Mark Parsons

Stephen Phelps, Chairman of the Board  Mark Parsons is Senior Public Affairs Manager at the Royal Bank of Scotland Group. He has held a number of public affairs roles including Head of Corporate Banking Public Affairs at RBS and Public Affairs Policy Advisor at the London Stock Exchange Plc.
 
Prior to this, Mark was a Parliamentary Adviser to William Hague MP and Head of the Political Section at Conservative Central Office.

He has a background in International development policy having been an adviser to the Shadow Secretary of State for International Development between 1999-2001.

Mark joined the Board of World Vision UK in February 2012 and is a member of the Public Engagement Committee.

 


Stephen Phelps

Stephen Phelps, Chairman of the Board  Stephen Phelps is a Chartered Accountant and worked for 21 years with KPMG, including 10 years as an Audit Partner in their Hong Kong Office with responsibility for auditing a range of multinational and national companies.

Steve has acted as Trustee for a number of charities.  He joined the Board of World Vision UK in 2002 serving as Chair of the Board from 2007 to 2011 and is a member of the Board Development Committee. Steve is also a member of the Board of World Vision International and chairs its Audit and Risk Management Committee.

 


Andy Reed

Stephen Phelps, Chairman of the Board  Andy Reed is the Director of Sajelmpact Limited, a Christian writer and speaker, a Council member of the Evangelical Alliance and a former MP for Loughborough.  Andy has a special interest in sports policy, international development and well-being issues.
 
Andy joined the Board of World Vision UK in February 2012 and is a member of the Policy and Programmes Committee.


Julian Thomas

Julian Thomas  Julian Thomas is a director of Oxford Strategic Marketing, a consultancy specialising in marketing strategy and capability development for global multinationals and social marketing in the public sector.

He has worked as a consultant across a large number of industries, in particular healthcare and pharmaceuticals. Previously he worked in marketing for Procter & Gamble.

Julian joined the Board of World Vision UK in May 2011. Julian serves as Chair of the Public Engagement Committee and is a member of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee.