Our Board of Trustees sets the strategic direction of our charity and is vital to the success of Project Trust.
The Trustees are responsible for ensuring that Project Trust’s operations and governance comply with our charitable aims and regulatory requirements, and are in line with our mission and values.
We are proud to have a passionate and committed Board of Trustees, bringing a wealth of experience and skills to the organisation. Many are Project Trust Returned Volunteers.
Steve Price-Thomas OBE
Interim Chair
Returned Volunteer, Jamaica 1985/86.
Steve worked at Project Trust from 1989 to 1993, first as a Desk Officer then as Senior Desk Officer. He left Coll to work across the Pacific islands as a Programme Officer for VSO, before becoming VSO’s Country Director for Vietnam. He then worked for the World Bank for just over four years before returning to Vietnam as Oxfam’s Country Director. He has worked for Oxfam since then in roles including G20/BRICSAM strategy manager, Deputy Advocacy and Campaigns Director: Southern Influencing and Advocacy and Campaigns Director. Since 2020 Steve has been as Oxfam International’s Advocacy, Campaigns and Engagement Director.
Steve received an OBE for services to development in Vietnam in the 2011 New Year Honours List.
Ingrid Emerson MBE
Chief Executive
Ingrid previously worked with Raleigh International, where, after six years, she was awarded an MBE for her outstanding work in a scheme promoting volunteering opportunities for inner-city young people. Following Raleigh, Ingrid worked at Groundwork in North Wales for eight years until joining Project Trust in 2008.
Rob Beckley
Rob Beckley is an Assistant Commissioner in the Metropolitan Police, leading the criminal and complaint investigations into what happened on the day of the Hillsborough disaster and the events leading up to it. In his 34-year policing career he has had extensive operational and investigative experience, as well as national roles in counter-terrorism, race and faith issues, and third sector and voluntary engagement in policing. He has been a chief officer in two police forces and Chief Operating Officer for the College of Policing, the body responsible for setting professional policy, standards and training requirements across policing in England and Wales. He had a brief period of retirement before being appointed by the Home Secretary to take on the current role.
Before joining the police, Rob worked in Sudan where, as coordinator of volunteer teaching in the Ministry of Education, he was responsible for deploying Project Trust volunteers across the country. Following this he worked at the Centre for International Briefing in Surrey where he ran courses preparing people for deployment overseas. He has maintained an interest in international matters both professionally and personally and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
Louise Bratchie
While on secondment from the Civil Service Fast Stream, Louise spent six months advising Project Trust on communications strategy, and she is delighted to be returning to the organisation as a Youth Board Member. She read Arabic and Spanish at the University of Cambridge, and spent a year volunteering overseas in Jordan as part of her degree.
Louise now works as an adviser on EU issues, having previously held a variety of roles across government, including at Border Force and the Department for International Trade.
Mark Kent CMG
Mark Kent has been Chief Executive of the Scotch Whisky Association since January 2022. Prior to this Mark had a 34 year career in HM Diplomatic Service, where he served in a number of countries across Europe, Latin America and South East Asia. He was ambassador to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (2007-2010), the Kingdom of Thailand (2012-2016) and the Argentine Republic (2016-2021).
Mark was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to British foreign policy.
Richard Hyder
Returned Volunteer, South Africa 1985/86.
After working for the Scottish Executive and Scottish Chamber Orchestra Richard switched to a career in investment working with private individuals, families and charities. Complementing nearly three decades of investment experience, currently with Adam and Company, Richard has been an elected member of the National Trust for Scotland, a member of the Scottish Episcopal Church investment committee and chair of an Edinburgh-based arts charity working with adults with learning difficulties. He is currently also a member of the Finance and Performance Committee for veterans care charity Erskine.
Ayowunmi Nuga
Returned Volunteer, China 2010/11
Ayowunmi is the Head of Expeditions for British Exploring Society, where she oversees strategic operations, programmes, volunteer management and safeguarding. She previously worked globally in the International Development sector, training civil servants to improve non-formal education initiatives. For several years she worked for the World Association for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, where she led teams to develop strategies and support national youth organisations diversify their programmes and respond to the changing needs of young people.
Ayowunmi’s year abroad with Project Trust inspired her to study Development and Peace Studies at the University of Bradford, and go on to volunteer with the International Citizen Service in Honduras and Ghana. In her spare time, Ayowunmi loves cycling, swimming and travelling.
John Kell
Returned Volunteer, Thailand 2001/02
Jon Kell is the Vice President of Marketing at Yoto, an audio platform for kids. With 20 years of experience in marketing, brand strategy, and consumer insights, Jon has driven significant growth at Yoto, including a 66,000% increase in revenue over four years, making it one of the fastest growing tech companies in Europe. He has a strong track record in building brands and driving commercial growth across both start-ups and established global companies.
A Project Trust Volunteer in Thailand from ’01-’02, Jon is deeply committed to the organisation’s mission of empowering young people through international volunteering. As a trustee, he brings his expertise in strategic growth, mentorship, and global brand development to support Project Trust’s continued impact and growth.
John Gibson
Returned Volunteer, Vietnam 2000/01
John has spent 19 years in Asset Management in roles spanning Client Service, Sales Management, Technology, and Change Management. He is currently a Managing Director with JPMorgan Asset Management and has experience leading large organizations, advising executive management, delivering transformative change, and championing diversity, equity and inclusion. John is particularly focused on LGBTQ+ inclusion and has held a variety of roles in relevant employee community groups and DEI initiatives.
Following his year abroad, John spent three Summers working for Project Trust during his University degree.
Darren Fisher
Darren has held a variety of foreign affairs-focused positions in the media and finance sectors, and in the UK Civil Service. His experience spans communications, policy, and analysis, working in the UK and overseas, and extensive business travel. Recent positions include leading a geopolitical intelligence team at Barclays Bank and a policy team at the UK Foreign Office.
His enthusiasm for supporting international volunteering stems from his own gap year experience in Jerusalem. That opportunity led him to study the Middle East at university and shaped the foundation of his career.
Georgia Collins
Returned Volunteer, Zimbabwe, 1999/00
After graduating from the University of Strathclyde with a degree in Political Science and Spanish, Georgia spent three years working for the Scottish Government before moving from Scotland to the Netherlands where she has been based for past 18 years. Georgia’s career moved into marketing where she held various positions in large corporates. For the last nine years, she has worked for the paints and coatings multinational, AkzoNobel, where she led the global marketing organisation within the Automotive & Speciality Coatings business unit followed by an interim role as Commercial Director for South Asia based in Singapore. Georgia’s current role has seen her move into the company’s sustainability group as ESG Program Director leading their social strategy and programs, diversity and inclusion, and Human Rights as well as the integration of sustainability into their businesses.
As a Returned Volunteer from 1999/2000 in Zimbabwe, Georgia’s year abroad fuelled her passion for politics and international relations, as well as her love for travel and working in diverse international organisations. Georgia is married with three children and lives outside of Amsterdam.