Read a letter from our trustees

• Chair - Chris Mathias, Chair, CMG partners
  Chris co-founded CMG Partners and Arbor Ventures – both are private investment management companies. Prior to this, Chris successfully founded several companies, most notably Conduit Communications Ltd, an IT consulting firm and service provider. Chris had previously been the CEO of the Harpur Group. Chris is a trustee or board member of several organizations including Digital Links International, Impetus Trust and Charity Technology Trust. He supported the start up of Basic Needs India and he is also an Ambassador for Action Aid and supporter of and advisor to Oxfam GB. More recently he was a founder of the British Asian Trust and has joined the board of Bioss and the advisory board of Barclays Private Bank.
  
  
• Andrew Cubie, Senior Partner, Fyfe Ireland
  Andrew Cubie is a Consultant to Fyfe Ireland LLP. He has been engaged in education issues throughout his professional career, having been Chairman of Governors of George Watson's College and is currently Chairman of the Court of Napier University. He is also the Chairman of the Committee of University Chairmen for the UK and the Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework. He is the Chairman of Quality Scotland. He serves as a member of the Management Board of HMIE and is a Commissioner of the Northern Lighthouse Board. He is also Chairman in Scotland of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, British
  Council, The Centre for Healthy Working Lives and Scotland's Garden
  Trust. He is a trustee of VSO.
  
  
• Anu Omideyi, Barrister, Furnival Chambers
  
  
• David Bell, Director for People, Pearson Plc
  
  
• Simon Darling, Founder, Quiet Riots
  
  
• Mark Adams, Netcare Healthcare
  Mark has worked in the healthcare for 25 years. Before joining Virgin Healthcare in 2007, he spent two years as Chief Executive of Netcare Healthcare UK. Prior to that he advised Pru Health on market entry as a senior NED. Corporate Services Group, PPP Healthcare, Medacs & Blue Arrow and Denplan are just some of the blue chip businesses he has worked for in executive roles.
  
  
• James Ramsbotham, Chief Executive, NE Chamber of Commerce
  James is Chief Executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce. Previously he was Vice Chairman of the Esh Group – the award winning North East construction group. Prior to that he spent 14 years in Barclays Bank plc (throughout the UK) and, before that, he had 12 years soldiering in the Royal Green Jackets (throughout the world). He is a Deputy Lieutenant for Co. Durham, a non-exec director of Darlington Building Society, Chairman of the LSC in Co. Durham and also gives time to Newcastle University, Durham Cathedral, Auckland Castle, County Durham Development Company, Sunderland AFC Foundation, Tyneside Cyrenians, St John’s Ambulance and the Gillian Dickinson Trust.
  
  
• Kieran McPolin, Financial Controller, Openreach
  
  
• Lucy de Groot, Executive Director, Improvement & Development Agency
  
  
• Vincent McGinlay, Retired Director of Supply Chain and Technology, Marks & Spencer plc
  Vince spent most of his career at Marks and Spencer. He worked
  in the Clothing buying groups till the mid 80's, spent a couple of years as PA to the then Chief Executive Sir Richard Greenbury in the late 80's, ran Brooks Brothers based in the USA for four years in the early 90's and returned to lead the M&S Menswear Division in the late 90's. Vince is currently Non-Exec Chairman of DCK, a fashion jewellery business, a Non-Exec Director of Sofa Brands International, and Chairman of Winston's, an internet jewellery business. Previously he was a non-Executive Director of Lamont Holdings plc.
  
  
• Pam Chesters, Chair, Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust
  Pam spent nearly twenty years with British Petroleum, latterly as Chief Executive of Duckhams Oils. She served on Camden Council for ten years as an elected member. She has chaired the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust since 2001. She also chairs English Churches Housing Group (a registered social landlord specialising in supported and sheltered housing), and is Chair of NCH, the children's charity.
  
  
• Olu Olanrewaju, Managing Director, Urban/Focus Heart Ltd
  Olu Olanrewaju is the Managing Director of Midland Heart (Birmingham). Previously he was the Managing Director of Midland Area Housing Association, part of the Keynote Housing Group. Prior to that, he was the Chief Executive of United Housing Association and before that Development Director of Presentation Housing Association. He is the Vice Chair of East Thames Housing Group and governor of St Michael’s Primary School in Handsworth. He is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
  
  
• Miriam Mulcahy, Independent Media Consultant

Why did they become Common Purpose trustees?

"Leaders need to be dynamic, to be able to lead and connect a diverse range of networks, on many different levels and spheres. Common Purpose helps them do this. The organisation is growing internationally rapidly, which means I am taking up this role at a very interesting time."
- Chris Mathias

“I became a trustee of Common Purpose following my experience as a participant in the Matrix programme. This gave me a unique and very valuable insight into some of the issues facing the people who lived in my city. I believe that Common Purpose promotes healthy and constructive debate, bringing people together to explore differences and to respect diverse views. It is a learning organisation which opens the minds of the participants in its programmes to the complexity and variety of life in our society.” - Kieran McPolin

“I am a trustee of Common Purpose because I passionately share its objectives of developing emerging leaders to lead beyond their boundaries. The embedded approach to encourage leaders from different backgrounds to address shared challenges is exemplary and a model for other institutions to follow. I am inspired by Common Purpose's civic contribution to the betterment of life in the UK.” - Olu Olanrewaju

“I first got involved in the mid-nineties because I supported the Common Purpose aspiration: 'to create positive change in society'. As a trustee I have been able to play a (small) part in the evolution and growth of an organisation dedicated to delivering that aspiration, and seen at first hand how the programmes inspire leaders from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds to make a positive difference in their jobs and communities. For me, Common Purpose epitomises an organisation which is a force for good within a democratic society.” - Vincent McGinlay