Deputy Lieutenants (DLs) are appointed by the Lord-Lieutenant, at his discretion, to assist him in his duties. They must live within Greater London, or within seven miles of the boundary. Their appointment does not terminate with the changing of the Lord-Lieutenant, but by statute they retire at age 75. DLs are distinguished residents who either have served the local community, or have a history of service in other fields. In particular, DLs should be people well-known in their locality for the service they have or are giving through public life, charitable activity, voluntary service or the uniformed services. It is axiomatic that, having been chosen on the basis of service already given, a DL is expected to continue to serve the community both within and outside the framework of the Lieutenancy. To underline their willingness to serve DLs must, before their commissions are signed, give the Lord-Lieutenant a written assurance that they will “to the best of their ability, assist in the performance of any public duty which may be laid upon the Lord-Lieutenant”.

The Lord-Lieutenant appoints people so that they are able to undertake duties on his behalf and has specific qualifications in mind, including:

• shares the Lieutenancy’s values;
• can evidence a personal commitment to social inclusion and a willingness to contribute to the delivery of the Lieutenancy Strategy, ‘Building Bridges for a Fairer London’;
• has talents currently missing from the Lieutenancy cadre;
• a person’s merit as displayed in significant service given to their country, their area or their county: in this sense appointment as a DL and the local recognition it brings may be regarded as a form of honour;
• a continuing commitment to service within the Lieutenancy, whether or not requested by the Lord-Lieutenant;
• geographical location to help with the coverage of Greater London;
• particular expertise which can contribute to the Lieutenancy’s understanding of affairs within London;
• probity, honesty and the ability to gain the respect of his neighbourhood.

Potential candidates are normally nominated by a third party. The overall aim is that within Greater London, DLs are widely representative of the area’s life in social range, gender, community background, ethnic mix and service to the community. At present there are some 100 DLs in the Greater London Lieutenancy.

The Lord-Lieutenant wishes to use the process of DL appointment and retirement positively. Appointing the right people, having few inactive DLs and involving all DLs in the work of the Lieutenancy.

It should be noted that the Lord-Lieutenant, Vice Lord-Lieutenant and Deputy Lieutenants are all voluntary, unpaid positions and no expenses are received to cover uniforms, travel etc.

The Deputy Lieutenants of Greater London

Dr Tariq Abbasi MBE DL

Tariq Abbasi has worked as an Investment Banker and as a real estate developer for the past twenty five years. In addition to running his own business, he has been serving as a trustee for several national and International charitable organisations, supporting and advocating peace and justice. In addition he has also assisted in educating young children from under privileged backgrounds.

Received his MBE in 2011 for his community cohesion work in the Royal Borough of Greenwich and Bexley.

Tariq is a Freeman of the Royal Borough of Greenwich and the recipient of a lifetime achievement award for his services to community.

Tariq is also recipient of personal commendation from the Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nicholas Houghton CDS GCB CBE ADC Gen for services to the British Armed Forces. Founder member Armed Forces Muslim Forum.

Tariq is married to Zalina with three grown up children

Sir William Atkinson DL

William Atkinson spent 42 years teaching in secondary schools mainly in Inner London, including 27 years as Headteacher of four different schools.

William has extensive experience of working with the voluntary sector. He is currently Chair of the Canal & River Trust, London & SouthEast Advisory Board.  William has contributed to a wide range of TV and Radio broadcasts. In 2008 William was Knighted for services to Education and the Community.

William is married to Jacquie and they have four adult children.

Captain Peter Baker RD DL RNR

Following a short career in the Royal Navy, Peter joined the Royal Naval Reserve. He was based onboard HMS President in London and served for over 30 years. In his civilian career, he worked in Information Technology with the Department of Health, retiring after 35 years service. He is married to Jacqueline and lives in Essex. He enjoys hill walking, music and military history.

Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari MBE

Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari is an educationalist and parenting consultant who has also authored several books focusing on a range of contemporary social issues, including his own memoirs “A Long Jihad: My Quest for the Middle Way”.

He started his career as a Bangladesh Air Force officer in the late 1970s. After completing his PhD in Physics from King’s College London in 1986, he worked as Physics researcher, Secondary Science teacher and Behavioural Specialist teacher before taking an early retirement in 2011. Since then, he has focused on writing, working with civil society bodies, developing and delivering parenting courses and mentoring young people. He is also a regulator contributor at local and international conferences and media outlets.

Dr Bari has a long involvement with several large voluntary organisations including the East London Mosque, Muslim Council of Britain, Citizens UK and Muslim Aid. He also served as a board member of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (London 2012). He is an Honorary Fellow of Queen Mary University of London and holds an Honorary Doctorate of Education from the University of East London.

Ian Barlow Esq DL

Ian currently serves as a Non-Executive Director for Goodwood Estate Ltd. He previously held non-executive or Chairman roles on the boards of several public companies after retiring from KPMG as Senior Partner, London, in 2008. In the public and not for profit sectors he chaired the Board of HM Revenue and Customs (2012-2016) and was a board member of the China-Britain Business Council (2008-2016). In London he was a board member of the London Development Agency (2008-12), Chairman of Think London, the former inward investment agency, (2003-11) and a Trustee of Historic Royal Palaces (2008-13).

He has a keen interest in Horseracing, chairing The Racecourse Association, the trade body for Britain’s racecourses, (2009-15), and The Racing Foundation, Racing’s charitable endowment, (2015-21).

Ian is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser. He holds an MA in Engineering Science from Cambridge University.

Deirdre Barr BEM TD DL

Deirdre Barr, MStJ,BEM,TD,DL,VR,RN(A), was born in Northern Ireland, and trained in Adult Nursing at St James Hospital, London qualifying in 1979. She then joined the Queen Alexandra Royal Army Nursing Corps(V), serving 28 years as a Reserve Officer and was awarded a Territorial Decoration, Golden Jubilee Medal and Volunteer Reserve Service medal.

Deirdre’s career in the NHS specialised in Intensive Care (training at Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast) holding posts in transplantation (Kings Liver Unit) and improving A&E pathways, with expertise in bed management and patient flow. During her career, Deirdre has held a number of senior roles in both nursing, general hospital and operational management in the NHS (acting as Director of Operations in Newham and South London hospitals) and spent a period of time as a management consultant. After a brief retirement Deirdre took on the role of Director of Operations at NHS Nightingale London where she was responsible for the hospital build and operational. In recognition of her contribution at NHS Nightingale during the pandemic, Deirdre was awarded a British Empire Medal in the 2020 New Year Honours list.

Deirdre has a long association with St John Ambulance, volunteering as a Cadet in 1969. After retiring from army reserve, Deirdre joined St John Ambulance in 2010 and was appointed Regional Clinical Manager for London in 2015. She was awarded Order of St John and St John Service medal in 2019 in recognition of contribution to St John Ambulance. In 2022 Deirdre was the Clinical Lead for St John Ambulance where she was responsible for the planning and delivery of medical cover to the public for the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth Funeral and the Kings’ Coronation.

Deirdre joined the Company of Nurses in 2016 and became a Trustee of Company of Nurses Charitable Trust, acting as support to Scholars in Pre Hospital Care with London Air Ambulance.

in 2022 Deirdre was awarded Freedom of the City of London and in 2023 became a Liveryman of the now Worshipful Company of Nurses. Appointed Military Liaison Officer in April 2023.

Deirdre enjoys volunteering with St John Ambulance, walking and travelling.

Baroness Floella Benjamin OM DBE DL

Baroness Benjamin, was born in Trinidad and moved to England with her family in 1960 as a Windrush child. She became an actress, presenter, writer, independent producer, politician, philanthropist and advocate for children throughout the world. She has received numerous awards, including an OBE, a BAFTA Lifetime Award, the Women In Film & Television Lifetime Award and the JM Barrie Award, for her legacy to children’s creative arts. She has written over 30 books and in 2016 the 20th anniversary edition of ‘Coming to England’ which is studied in schools across the country, was selected as a ‘Guardian Children’s Book of the Year’

From 2006 to 2016 she was Chancellor of the University of Exeter. In 2008, she was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London and in 2010 she entered the House of Lords, where she speaks on diversity, equality and children’s issues. In 2018 she was granted Honorary Freedom of the City of London and the Prime Minister appointed her Chair of the Windrush Commemoration Committee, charged with creating a National Windrush Monument which was unveiled at Waterloo Station on Windrush Day, June 2022.

In 2020 she was honoured with a DBE for her charitable work.

She was chosen by The Queen to receive the Order of Merit, one of Her Majesty’s last wishes. She received the Order from King Charles in November 2022.

Rej Bhumbra PhD FRCS  MA DL

Rej has been working as an NHS Consultant Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon in London since 2012. He trained at St. Mary’s Hospital medical school (now Imperial College) and has undergone orthopaedic surgical training both domestically and abroad. He has authored multiple papers and books in the field of Global Health, Orthopaedics and Trauma. He was an editor at the British Medical Journal and has an interest in Health Technology and Artificial Intelligence for the benefit of patients and scientific applications.

Additionally, he has been a device specialist for the MHRA and works as an Associate Medical Director for DePuy Synthes specialising in Medical Device Regulation. He has completed an MA in International Relations and Affairs and is passionate about philanthropy and education, from both within and outside the City of London. Along with a number of City Livery companies, and as a liveryman of the Drapers’ Company, he was part of the team that delivered 175,000 meals to front line staff at Barts Health during the Covid-19 pandemic. He heads the Orthopaedic Department as part of his role as Orthopaedic Clinical Network Director at Barts Health. Rej has an on-going passion for patient safety and optimising professional performance.

In his spare time, he plays the drums, golf, as well as cycles, skis and enjoys time outdoors with his wife and two, not so young, children.

The Lord Bilimoria CBE DL

Karan Bilimoria is the founder of Cobra Beer, Chairman of the Cobra Beer Partnership Limited, a Joint Venture with Molson Coors, and Chairman of Molson Coors Cobra India.

Lord Bilimoria is the Founding Chairman of the UK India Business Council, a former Chancellor of Thames Valley University (now the University of West London); he was the youngest University Chancellor in the UK when appointed. Karan is Senior Non-Executive Director of the Booker Group PLC; he is one of the first two visiting entrepreneurs at the University of Cambridge; he is a founding member of the Prime Minister of India’s Global Advisory Council. In 2006, Karan Bilimoria was appointed the Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea, making him the first ever Zoroastrian Parsi to sit in the House of Lords.  He is an honorary fellow of Sidney Sussex College Cambridge and Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Judge Business School, Cambridge University.  He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young and graduated in law from the University of Cambridge.  In July 2014, he was installed as the seventh Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, making him the first Indian-born Chancellor of a Russell Group University in Great Britain, and he is the President of the UK Council for International Students Affairs (UKCISA).

Pablo Blackwood DL

Pablo Blackwood has an established background in both sport and youth & community work. He is a highly respected community leader, qualified tutor, mentor, award winning coach, youth worker and a champion of racialised and marginalised people and communities. Pablo is passionate about helping create change for those historically excluded.

Pablo has worked for over a decade at Queens Park Rangers Football Club, in a variety of roles, and his current main responsibilities are as Race & Ethnicity lead (within their Equality, Diversity and Inclusion department), managing the Community Trust’s Prison programmes and mentoring offer. Pablo is also involved with supporting the holistic development of Academy footballers.

Working both nationally and internationally, Pablo has been invited to share his knowledge and best practices at The Premier League, Downing Street, House of Commons, Ministry of Justice, London Youth and the European Football for Development Network to name a few. He has featured on top tier media outlets including BBC, Channel 4 and Sky discussing topical issues such as Mental Health, Race and Racism, Youth Work and Parenting. As both an accredited trauma informed and mental health practitioner, Pablo works with some of the most vulnerable and at risk individuals as a mentor. He works in a freelance capacity for Player Voice CIC

As a consultant his areas of specialism are utilising Sport for social change alongside coach education; developing and delivering rehabilitative personal development programmes for those in the criminal justice system; working with and supporting local, national and international organisations; utilising sport and physical activity as an intervention and delivering impactful personal development workshops for young people across all sections of society.

Pablo is a Trustee of the charity Football Journeys and sits on the Black Adoption Project steering committee.

Pablo enjoys spending time with his family, reading, traveling and listening to music.

Professor Henrietta Bowden-Jones OBE DL

Professor Henrietta Bowden-Jones OBE, DL is a Consultant Psychiatrist specialising in Addiction Psychiatry, as well as having a research background in Neuroscience. She has been employed by the same NHS Trust (CNWL NHS Trust) for the past twenty-five years and is the Founder and Director of two national clinics, which she leads clinically in parallel with her research and advisory roles. Henrietta is the current Vice President of the Royal Society of Medicine having been previously Trustee and President of Psychiatry of the Society.

As well as pursuing a clinical career in medicine and psychiatry Henrietta has led a parallel academic career obtaining her Medical Doctorate (MD Res) in the field of Neuroscience from Imperial College researching the role of Executive Function as a predictor of outcome in the treatment of alcohol and drug abuse. She leads on Behavioural Addictions in her role as Visiting Senior Research Fellow at Cambridge University in the Department of Psychiatry and is Honorary Professor at UCL in the Faculty of Brain Science.

Henrietta is founder and Director of two national NHS clinics: the National Problem Gambling Clinic and the National Centre for Gaming Disorders. A regular advisor to the UK government on matters relating to gambling disorder, gaming disorder and mental health, Henrietta was appointed NHS England’s first ever National Clinical Advisor on Gambling Harms in September 2022. Henrietta is a member of the World Health Organisation Expert Group on Gaming Disorders and a Distinguished Fellow of the International Society of Addiction Medicine.

In 2019 Henrietta was awarded an OBE for services to addiction treatment and to research. She is the recipient of several other national and international awards, including Psychiatrist of the Year 2020 Award from the Royal College of Psychiatrists and was made Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (the highest honour the College can award to individuals in society who have made an impact to mental health nationally). She is a Past-President of the Medical Women’s Federation and is the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ spokesperson on Behavioural Addictions as well as being an elected member of the BMA’s Board of Science and has an extensive publication list of both peer reviewed papers and of textbooks. For an in depth bio please refer to www.henriettabowdenjones.com

Henrietta was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London In November 2023.

Mike Brace Esq CBE

Born in Hackney in 1950 Mike was blinded aged ten, by a firework concealed in a bottle. Mike has had 2 parallel careers – one in sport and the other in social work/voluntary sector.  Mike regards his greatest sporting moments as, representing his country at cross-country Skiing in the Paralympics and being a Board Member of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Bid Team and then the Organising Committee.

Mike’s working highlights have been, working as a social worker and manager in four London Boroughs and setting up VISION 2020 UK, which was an umbrella charity in the sight loss sector.

Having retired in 2012 Mike now undertakes speaking engagements to challenge perceptions of disability, and to raise funds for his many charities.

Mike was appointed as the Representative for Redbridge in August 2024.

Nick Bracken OBE DL

Nick was born in West Ham and has lived in East London all his life. He served 33 years in both the British Transport and Metropolitan Police services rising to the rank of Commander. Upon retiring from the Police in 2011 he joined the London Borough of Newham and he has recently retired as their Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive. His past postings have included being the Borough Commander of Newham in the lead up to the 2012 Olympic games and being the Commander for North East London. He has also being the head of CID for the British Transport Police including counter terrorism. He is a former Chairman of the East London Community Sports Association and currently is the chairman of East London Rugby Club, a Life Vice President of the British Police Rugby Association and committee member for British Transport Police rugby.

He is a liveryman of the Worshipful company of security professionals and a freeman of both the City of London and the London Borough of Newham.

Mrs Kay Brock CBE LVO DL

Kay has worked in both public and private sector: initially a Whitehall civil servant, she moved to management consultancy, particularly in post-communist eastern Europe. She was The Queen’s Assistant Private Secretary 1999-2002, then Chief of Staff to six Lord Mayors of the City of London. Her final employed role was as Chief of Staff to the Archbishop of Canterbury. She is a trustee of the Royal Foundation of St Katharine, an Anglican retreat and community outreach centre in Limehouse, East London. In addition to music and education, her current interests include prisons, history, France and the natural world. She was educated at Somerville College Oxford and London Business School.

YolanDa Brown OBE DL

YolanDa wears many hats, musician, broadcaster, author and philanthropist. She is a double MOBO Award winning artist, her music is a fusion of reggae, jazz and soul. She is currently composing music for the iconic Sesame Street and an animated series called Bea’s Block due for release in August 2022. She recently released her debut children’s album to rave reviews. She has toured with The Temptations, Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, Billy Ocean.

YolanDa is also chair of Youth Music, a trustee of the PRS Foundation, an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust and London Music Fund and sits on the advisory board of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2018 along with James JP Drake, she launched the “Drake YolanDa Award” offering grants to emerging musicians between the ages of 16 – 30. In 2021, she was invited by the Department of Education to sit on the advisory panel of the National Plan for Music Education. During the pandemic with Sony Music and Twinkl, YolanDa rolled out her bespoke online music lesson plans for teachers, parents and pupils in primary schools nationwide, an estimated 30 000 children have used the resources.

YolanDa graduated with a first-class degree in Operations management from the University of Kent, followed by 2 Masters Degrees and studied a PhD for four years, before taking a hiatus from her thesis to pursue her music career. She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts by the University of East London. She is a broadcaster working across TV and Radio, including her eponymous series for CBeebies, “YolanDa’s Band Jam”, which won the RTSNW award as Best Children’s Programme. For the BBC Proms she hosted the Ella and Dizzy Centenary, as well as Last night of the Proms, Gospel Choir of the Year for BBC 1 and BBC Young Jazz Musician of the year. Host of the London Philharmonic Orchestra podcast Offstage, YolanDa presents a 12-episode series talking to a range of musicians within the LPO about their experiences as orchestral musicians.

YolanDa was awarded an OBE in the 2023 New Year’s Honours List for services to Music, Music Education and to Broadcasting.

Sir Steve Bullock DL

Sir Steve retired as Lewisham’s directly-elected mayor in May 2018 after serving four terms. Since 2010 he had been serving as the London Councils’ Executive lead on Housing and the Mayor of London’s Homes for Londoners Board. He also as Deputy Chair of the Local Government Association.  He now works as an independent housing consultant and chairs both the Sutton Housing Partnership which looks after that Borough’s social housing and Sutton Living Limit which is developing new affordable housing.

Sir Steve’s local government career started as an officer at the Greater London Council (GLC) in 1976.  In 1982 he was elected on to Lewisham Council, where he served as Leader for five years between 1988 and 1993.  He also ran a local Community Health Council and was later Chair of University Hospital Lewisham NHS Trust.

Steve is a former Chair of the London Boroughs Grants Committee and continues to work closely with a number of community organisations. His interests include theatre, country walks and traditional music.  He is a patron of the Saltburn Festival of Folk Music, Dance and Song which takes place in North Yorkshire each August.

Further information about the London Borough of Lewisham can be found at http://www.lewisham.gov.uk Sir Steve’s personal blog can be found at http://www.stevebullock.org

Matt Burrow Esq DL

Appointed: July 2022

Matt joined the Honourable Company of Master Mariners in 2009 becoming a liveryman in 2014 and served on the Finance & Risk Committee, taking over as Chairman in 2017. He trained at HMS Conway before joining Canadian Pacific as a marine engineer cadet. His career changed course when he joined Railway, Mine and Plantation Ltd where he learned sales and marketing and adapted to railways and mining. His role entailed extensive travel in Africa. He is now the proprietor and chairman of the Holdtrade Group of Companies which carries on the business of trading in Africa and provides engineering for light, narrow gauge, industrial and heritage railways.

As an Old Conway he chairs the Conway Merchant Navy Trust which provides scholarships for MN officer Cadetships. He is also a Trustee of the HMS Conway Trust which is a benevolent charity. Additionally, he is the chair of Greenwich, Deptford and Rotherhithe Sea Cadets.

His areas of interests and memberships include: Member of Nautical Institute; Anchorites; TSS; Propeller Club; Naval Club; Conway Club; London Rowing Club and RAC. I am also a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights.

Matt was appointed Representative Deputy Lieutenant in February 2023.

Mrs Ann Cable MBE DL

Ann’s professional life was as a primary headteacher and educationalist. Having been a volunteer in St John Ambulance for over 40 years, she’s held a variety of posts and was the first female Commissioner of London St John. She currently has
responsibility for major events and resilience and is also an adviser on volunteering for the national headquarters. When her spare time permits, she enjoys reading, cooking and walking.

Mr Bruce Carnegie-Brown DL

Bruce became a Deputy Lieutenant in February 2015.  With the exception of three years living in Japan, Bruce has lived and worked in London in the banking, insurance and asset management industries for more than 40 years. He is passionate about theatre and history and served for nine years as a Trustee of Shakespeare’s Globe Trust and for five years as a Trustee of Historic Royal Palaces. He is currently Chairman of the Lloyd’s of London insurance market, Deputy Chairman of the Santander Banking Group and Chairman of the MCC.

Bruce is a graduate of Oxford University and lives in South West London

Mrs Sandy Cahill DL

Following her time as a drama teacher and then theatre Stage Manager, Sandy began her 30 year career in television. She started in Production, working on a variety of shows ranging from major entertainment and comedies to classic dramas. She moved to broadcasting, was a Member of the Channel Four launch team before returning to the BBC in charge of Transmission. Amongst her other responsibilities was  management of the Weather Centre  and Childrens’ BBC presentation. Finally she became the Controller of TV Operations.

Sandy is a former Chairman of the Hurlingham Club, a Friend of Wandsworth Prison and  a Trustee of the Arts Educational School in SW London. Theatre, Bridge and Cornwall are her passions.

Colonel Ewen Cameron TD DL

Ewen is a former regular and Territorial Army officer. A solicitor, he is on the board of two property companies. He is the chairman of the Greater London Reserve Forces and Cadets Association and holds various trusteeships, including a pension fund and a heritage agricultural estate. He is a member of Her Majesty’s Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms.

The Earl Cadogan DL

After leaving school, the Earl Cadogan joined the Royal Air Force in 1987 and served for 12 years in the RAF Regiment. In 2002 he joined his local Territorial Army regiment (51 Highland), becoming Commanding Officer of 7 SCOTS in February 2010. He handed over command at the end of 2012 but has remained an active member of the Army Reserve for the past 22 years, fulfilling a variety of roles.

Since 2016 he has been an Honorary Colonel with 6 Regiment Army Air Corps, with whom he got his Army Air Corps Wings, having already gained his fixed wing Private Pilot’s Licence at the age of 19. In January 2020, he became Honorary Group Captain, 601 Squadron.

In 2015, he joined the Queen’s Bodyguard for Scotland (now the King’s Bodyguard for Scotland), Royal Company of Archers. He is Vice Patron: Blind Veterans UK, Vice Patron: Ulysses Trust, Vice President of the Chelsea Society and an active supporter of The Prince’s Trust.

Having been made a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London in October 2012, in October 2022 he became the Representative Deputy Lieutenant for Kensington & Chelsea.

He is Chairman of the family company, Cadogan Estates Limited, and also enjoys spending time on the family’s Scottish estate in Perthshire. His other involvements include Cadogan Hall Limited (Chair), The Royal Hospital Chelsea Appeal Limited (Volunteer Fundraiser), The Committee of the Friends of the Royal Hospital (Chair), The Turquoise Mountain Trust (Trustee) and the Natural History Museum (formerly a Trustee and now a volunteer fundraiser).

He divides his time between London and Scotland. He spends his spare time keeping fit, engaging in country pursuits, skiing and leading an outdoor, active life.

Mrs Lynn Cooper DL

The Chair of the Council on Occupation

Lynn Cooper is a former Under Sheriff of Greater London. She became High Sheriff of Greater London in 2021-2022, His Majesty’s representative for the justice system in Greater London, supporting the work of the judiciary, the Metropolitan Police, the prison and probation services as well as charities and volunteers whose work underpins the justice system and those affected by crime. This included victims of domestic violence, those supporting building community cohesion to combat crime and knife crime in particular and providing support for families of prisoners and prisoner literacy and rehabilitation.

Lynn is a former partner of Clifford Chance; with responsibility for graduate recruitment,focussing on diversity and inclusion

Chris Cotton Esq DL

Chris a practicing Architect for over 30 years has had a lifelong interest in music and the Royal Albert Hall. He was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Hall in 2009 retiring in 2017. This was a period of major growth for the charity and development of a significant outreach programme supporting the wider community. He is currently Chair of Jerwood Space, part of the Jerwood Foundation family of organisations committed to supporting and nurturing excellence in the arts; a Trustee of the Foundling museum, a Trustee of Julie’s Bicycle assisting the creative community to embed environmental sustainability into their operations, creative work and business practice. Retaining his interest in live performance he is a Director of Cadogan Hall, one of London’s more intimate venues offering a rich and varied programme of live events. Chris and his wife Mel have 5 grandchildren.

General The Lord Dannatt GCB CBE MC DL

Lord Dannatt (Richard) was a soldier for forty years concluding his military career as Chief of the General Staff – the professional head of the British Army. Since retiring from active duty in 2009, he has been Constable of the Tower of London and in 2011 became an independent member of the House of Lords. He is a frequent commentator on defence and security issues in the media.  Lord Dannatt has wide experience at Board level in the private, public and charitable sectors and is currently Chair of both the National Emergencies Trust and the Normandy Memorial Trust.  He is also a member of the International Advisory Board of Teledyne/FLIR/.

Married with four children, Lord Dannatt divides his time between London and his family home in Norfolk where he runs the family arable farm.  He is also a Deputy Lieutenant of Norfolk and is involved with various county organisations, including acting as Chair of the Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance and as President of the Norfolk Churches Trust, YMCA Norfolk and Veterans Norfolk. He published his autobiography: “Leading from the Front” in 2010, and a second book: “Boots on the Ground – Britain and her Army since 1945” in October 2016. His third book: “A Cautionary Tale – Britain and her Army, 1918 – 1940” is due to be published in October 2023.

Brigadier Patrick Davidson-Houston CBE DL

Patrick is a senior operations adviser in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, having previously worked for the Department for International Development and in the British Embassy, Kabul. Prior to this he served 35 years in the British Army. His last appointments were Chief of Staff AU-UN Force in Darfur, Force Commander UN Mission in Ethiopia & Eritrea, and finally Principal Military Advisor to the UN Special Representative for Somalia. He has also deployed on operational tours to Northern Ireland, Oman, Bosnia, Sierra Leone and Iraq, as well as serving in Hong Kong, Germany, Cyprus and MOD London.

He is a graduate of the Royal College of Defence Studies, the Army Staff College and the Royal Military College of Science. From RMA Sandhurst he was commissioned into what is now The Rifles. He is President of The Rifles & Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regimental Association and Chairman of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity (Norfolk).

Patrick was born in Westminster and lives in Fulham with his wife Angelina, a shipping lawyer. They have three children who all work in London. They are slowly restoring a house in Norfolk.

Colonel Jane Davis OBE QVRM TD DL

Colonel Jane Davis trained as a nurse at St Stephen’s Hospital London, qualifying in 1976. She has spent her nursing career in the NHS mainly at London hospitals, within in A&E and Critical Care, and most recently (until April 2020) as the Secondary Care Nurse on the board of the Governing Body of NHS Camden Clinical Commissioning Group. Until 2021 she was also a registrant panel member with the UK Nursing and Midwifery Council, where she sat as a Chair on panels of the conduct and competence hearings. She is also on the Board of The HALO Trust and sits on the Lord Mayor’s Big Curry Lunch Committee.

Colonel Davis was commissioned as a Lieutenant into the Territorial Army in 1981, joining 217 London General Hospital (Volunteers). She remained with the London Field Hospital until 2003 when she was promoted to Colonel and took command of 306 Field Hospital. In 2006 she was appointed as TA Col Nursing at 2nd Med Bde and in 2009 as Deputy Commander of 2nd Med Bde, the post she held until her retirement in Sept 2015. Colonel Davis was deployed to Afghanistan in 2011 as the Senior Nurse for the Role 3 Hospital at Camp Bastion. She was the Colonel Commandant of the QARANC from 2014 to 2020.

She was awarded the Territorial Decoration in 1994, the Queens Volunteer Reserve Medal in the New Year’s Honours in 2000, the OBE in the New Year’s Honours in 2012 and as an Officer of Saint John OStJ in 2021.

She served from 2005 to 2009 as the Queens Honorary Nurse.

Colonel Davis travels widely with The HALO Trust an International NGO that she has supported for 30 years and has had the honour of visiting Angola, Mozambique, Somaliland, Kosovo, Abkhazia, Georgia, Nagorno Karabakh, Cambodia, Lebanon, Ivory Coast, Sri Lanka, The West Bank, Columbia, Zimbabwe, Myanmar, Afghanistan and Ukraine; where her involvement includes development of training programmes for the minefield paramedics, procurement of medical equipment and the training and validation of minefield.

Jane is a Liveryman of The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths since 2012 and was elected to the Court in 2018. She is also a Freeman of the Guild of Nurses. In 2008 Colonel Davis was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant for Greater London and was the Representative DL for the London Borough of Lewisham and in May 2018 was appointed as the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Greater London.

Colonel Davis’ other interests when she has time include skiing, walking, and gardening.

Robert Davis MA MBE DL 

Educated at both Caius College Cambridge and Wolfson College Cambridge, Robert Davis trained as a solicitor and was a partner at Freeman Box (West End firm of lawyers) for 32 years, retiring in April 2015.

Robert has also served a variety of public offices.  He was a Councillor on Westminster City Council for over thirty-six years. Between 2008-2018 he was Deputy Leader of the Council and previous to that he was Chief Whip. He also chaired the Council’s Planning Committee for seventeen years.

He served as Lord Mayor of Westminster in 1996-1997 and was Chairman of the London Mayors’ Association for 18 years.

Now widowed, Robert entered a civil partnership with the late Sir Simon Milton, former Deputy Mayor of London & Chief of Staff to Boris Johnson.   Robert is currently Deputy Chairman of the Sir Simon Milton Foundation set up in Simon’s memory. He is a Trustee of the Savoy Educational Trust and of Mousetrap Theatre Projects and for ten years (2009-2019) Robert was Chairman of Open Air Theatre in Regents Park.

Robert was awarded an MBE for service to local government and planning and in June 2022, he published his autobiography ‘UNPLANNED – the snakes and ladders of a life in the City of Westminster’

Colonel Duckworth OBE DL

Simon is a Cambridge graduate who has a range of non-executive roles in the public and private sectors. A former Chairman of the City of London Police Authority, Simon chaired the National Olympics Security Oversight Group from 2009-12, and helped establish the Association of Police & Crime Commissioners, where he served as a Board Member until 2021. He helped establish the National Crime Agency and was the senior non-executive Director at the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) until 2019.

Simon served with the HAC in the early 1980s but was appointed as Deputy Hon. Colonel of the Royal Military Police in 2012, an unexpected promotion! He was commissioned into the Engineering and Logistic Staff Corps, Army Reserve, where he has been Director Strategy and Deputy Commander. He was appointed as Hon. Colonel of the newly formed 1 MP Brigade in 2015 and is also Vice-Chairman of the City’s RFCA. Simon has served at the UK’s Standing Joint Command, and as the Colonel, Specialist Reserves, in the Army’s Special Operations Brigade.

Simon has been a member of the City’s Court of Common Council since 2000 and acted as Deputy Leader for the City Corporation from 2017-20, until mobilising as an Army Reservist for Operation RESCRIPT. He returned to the City to take up the historic role of Chief Commoner for 2022/23 overseeing the City’s involvement with the Platinum Jubilee and the events marking the demise of Her late Majesty and His Majesty’s Accession.

He was appointed a DL in 2008, and as one of HM’s Lieutenants for the City of London in 2010. Married to Caroline, they live in Southwark, a stone’s throw from the IWM.

Ian Dyson Esq QPM DL

Ian retired in 2022 from a 38-year career in policing, the last 6 as the Commissioner of the City of London police. In that role he was the National Police lead for Fraud, Economic Crime, Cyber Crime, Financial Investigation, and Business Crime. He was also the National Police lead on Technology and Information Management, and for 6 years was the National Police Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO). He is now trustee of a number of charities, and sits as a NED or Advisor to a number of companies in the crime, tech or cyber security sectors. He was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in 2016, is a Distinguished Fellow of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) and in 2022 became a Deputy Lieutenant (DL) for Greater London.

David Easton Esq JP DL

David Easton was appointed as the Borough’s Representative Deputy Lieutenant in 2020, having been a Greater London DL since 2016.

David, or Dave as he is more well known, was born in Lewisham, SE London and has worked in the capital throughout his entire career, some 54 years to date. He served in the London Fire Brigade, as a uniformed officer, for 27 years, across all parts of London, including a number of years at Erith and Bexley fire stations, attending many of the major incidents that occurred in the capital during that period.

In 2000, David joined the London Borough of Bexley, and during his 22 years-service there, he held full responsibility for a number of departments, including the organisation and management of election events, the promotion of the Mayoralty and the work of local Councillors. For a number of years through that period, Dave was also responsible to the Council for the work of the Borough’s Registration Service, where he oversaw the transfer of the Births, Deaths and Marriages work from the Manor House at Sidcup, over to the beautiful setting of Danson House. Dave now regularly visits the House, when officiating at Borough Citizenship ceremonies.

Dave is passionate about the role of Civic and Ceremonial Mayoralty in local authority areas and, along with the work of the Lieutenancy and the role of the Royal Family, he meets groups of local residents to help them learn and understand more about these historical aspects of London’s and Bexley’s heritage. He has served, and continues to do so, as a Magistrate on the SE London Bench, since April 2006 and over recent years, as a Presiding Justice on that Bench. Dave really enjoys working with and mentoring new Magistrates, to help them settle into their chosen field of voluntary work.

Dave is really proud to have been appointed as a Trustee of the East Wickham and Welling War Memorial Trust and is passionate to learn more about both great wars, in particular, the 1914/1918 war and the role of local, Bexley men and women, who were called away to deal with that conflict, many of whom did not come home to their families.

Dave and his wife, Janet, have four children and eight grandchildren.

Pat Edwards Esq DL

Pat is currently a senior construction management trainer and the former Chief Executive of a London-based charity, engaged in the delivery of employment-related programmes for young people, adults and employers.  His previous roles have included Executive Director within a national homeless housing association – providing job opportunities to a range of excluded individuals.

Pat started his teaching career as a Lecturer in Design and Construction Technology, and then as Vice Principal at a large North London further education college. Pat also worked for two large London-based local authorities as a Building Surveyor and Building Engineer.  His early career was as a Designer at a medium-sized construction company, providing design solutions to blue chip companies, after completing his apprenticeship in Architectural Metal work.

Pat is a product of the Further Education sector and has an MBA and an MA in Management Practice.  He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building, a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Building Engineers, and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Further Education. In addition, Pat is a monitor with the Considerate Constructor scheme, combined with carrying out End Point Assessments.  He is passionate about providing innovative learning solutions to engage the most disadvantaged individuals in society to inspire desire.

Pat is married, with two children and is kept fully occupied with his two grandchildren. 

Major Jeremy Fern TD DL 

Jeremy Fern has been Representative Deputy Lieutenant for Waltham Forest since 2007.

He is a consultant on public affairs, infrastructure investment and renewable energy. Previously he was Head of City Affairs at the City of London Corporation and before that worked in asset management and compliance.

Jeremy served in the Army Reserve for 35 years as a sub-unit commander and staff officer and maintains close links with his former units. He is a secondary school governor in South London, has been Master of the Farriers Company and is a trustee of several charities.

Jeremy’s interests include the history of London and its people, education, defence and the natural world.

Colonel Stephen Foakes TD DL

Stephen is a retired private banker who spent his working life with Coutts & Co in various appointments, mainly in the City of London.

He was a member of the Army Reserve for 30 years and was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant in 1996. He served as the Representative Deputy Lieutenant for Barking and Dagenham between 1997 and 2004.

He is a Past Master of the Drapers Company, Chairman of Drapers’ Brookside Junior School and a Director of the Drapers’ Multi Academy Trust.

His voluntary appointments include President of Barking and Dagenham Scout District, Vice-President of NE County of London Scouts, Honorary Colonel of 71st (City of London) Yeomanry Signal Regiment and  Honorary Steward at Westminster Abbey.

The Reverend Lesley Goldsmith DL

Before ordination Lesley spent 30 years in local government, working in inner city London, in Housing and Environmental Health. She helped introduce appraisals and mentoring across the organisation, and in later years her role involved performance review together with setting targets for development. Lesley has retained an interest in regeneration, particularly as it affects the communities where she lives and ministers in east London.

Lesley was a chaplain to the local night shelter in the multi cultural and multi faith area of East Ham, and since June 2008 has been the vicar at St Edmund’s Chingford, also a very diverse area, in terms of culture, faith and levels of deprivation.

She enjoys walking around London, finding new and varied ways to travel on the River Thames and maintaining her large garden, which is a haven for wildlife

Rupert Goodman DL

Rupert was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge. He is Founder and Chairman of FIRST (a double winner of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise). Chairman of World Petroleum, Chairman of World Energy Insight, Founder Director (with General The Lord Richards) of Equilibrium, Chairman of Elmbridge Partners, Chairman of the British Kazakh Society, Vice President of Fauna and Flora International and Fellow of The Royal Geographical Society.  He was a Trustee of the National Botanic Garden of Wales (2005-2008) and a PPA Award winner in 1993. He was appointed a DL of Greater London in 2012, is the recipient of a London Metropolitan Police Commissioner’s Commendation and is a Freeman of the City of London. He founded the Responsible Capitalism Initiative in 2000, co-editing (with Lord Cormack) the book Responsible Capitalism.  He is a Trustee and Deputy Chair of Prince’s Trust International.  Rupert is married to Pamela (a Travel Editor) and they have three children (Felix, Polly and Lucy).

Major Christopher Goodwin TD DL

Christopher Goodwin is a former army officer, serving in England, Northern
Ireland, Cyprus and Germany, after which he had a career in international
banking at Commerzbank, in England, Germany and Hungary. He then moved
on to International Financial Services, London and was responsible for
promoting UK Financial Services to Central and Eastern Europe, countries of the
former Soviet Union and Latin America. He later worked as a Consultant for
Official Monetary Financial Institutions, an economic ThinkTank and was a
Board Member of British Croatian Chamber of Commerce. Most recently he has been a Diplomatic Consultant at The Royal Garden Hotel and The Langham. He has developed close contacts with a number of West London hotels. On the diplomatic front he is connected with almost all the embassies and High Commissions in London. He is fluent in German, a linguist in French and some colloquial Hungarian.

Nitesh Gor DL

Nitesh is Chief Executive of Avanti Schools Trust. His experience encompasses CEO and director roles across the exploration, management consultancy and investment banking industries. He is a published author (Dharma of Capitalism, Kogan Page 2011) and a contributor to publications such as Forbes. Nitesh has a broad business strategy background gained as a result of working for two leading corporate strategy consultancies and as an independent advisor to corporate boards. His primary corporate focus is on leadership, strategy and entrepreneurship. Nitesh has an MBA from London Business School and an undergraduate degree from the University of London.

Sir Paul Grant DL

Sir Paul Grant has been Headteacher at Robert Clack School of Science in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham since April 1997.  Robert Clack School of Science is a mixed, maintained comprehensive school, 11-18, which has risen from 1,200 pupils to over 2,000 pupils on three sites.

Sir Paul is a National Leader in Education.  He was knighted for services to local and national education, appointed Deputy Lieutenant for Greater London and was bestowed the Freedom of Barking and Dagenham in 2009.  Sir Paul is a Trustee of the Robert Clack School Alumni and in 2012 he was appointed Honorary Fellow of the Faculty of Education at the University of Hull, and Visiting Professor of the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education at Anglia Ruskin University.  In 2013 he was appointed to the FA Premier League’s National Advisory Committee on Education.

Martin Griffiths DL

Born in South-east London to Jamaican parents, Martin is a consultant vascular and trauma surgeon at Barts Health NHS Trust where he is the Lead for Trauma Surgery, Educational Lead for Surgery, and the Trauma Network lead for violence reduction. He had the privilege of training at the Medical School of St Bartholomew’s Hospital where he graduated with a distinction in Surgery and has lived and worked in London most of his life. He teaches undergraduate medical students at Barts, as well as Brighton & Sussex Medical School, and is part of the teaching faculty of numerous courses at the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Martin has an active interest in humanitarian work and is a member of the community of practice of UK-Med, an NGO that deploys to sudden onset disasters worldwide. He has been a passionate advocate of diversity and equality, working in the community to promote fairness for over 15 years. He was recently appointed as the first ambassador to the Mary Seacole Trust, a charity that celebrates the life and achievements of Mary Seacole, a Jamaican born nurse who treated troops in the Crimean war, promoting her as a role model, tackling social challenges and inequality with a focus on youth engagement and the promotion of good citizenship.

He is a patron of St Giles Trust, a charity helping people facing severe disadvantage to find jobs, homes and the right support they need. Additionally, he has been working with schools for 20 years to reduce gun and knife violence and was recently appointed to the Violent Crime Prevention Board, under the leadership of Dr Neville Lawrence. The Board seeks to challenge the attitudes around interpersonal injury in London.

Mr Anthony Griffiths DL

Director of Savills (UK) Ltd the international property consultancy, leading the London Residential Private Client team advising on the valuation of residential property for a variety of purposes. Anthony sits on the Diversity and Inclusion board at Savills and co-chairs the LGBTQ+ group . He has been a Trustee of Central YMCA ( the original and founding YMCA in the world ) for many years and sits on the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee and the Resources committee. He has lived in Clapham for many years and involved in the local community, having been a school governor in the past.

Mrs Colleen Harris MVO DL

Colleen is a communications professional and writer who has spent 30 years developing and managing strategies for Government Ministers, the UK Royal Family and multilateral organisations including as the Press Secretary to HRH The Prince of Wales, PRO to the former PM, Baroness Thatcher and as Communications Consultant at the WHO and the UN. Wishing to spend more time with her family, Colleen built her own PR and coaching consultancy. She serves on not-for-profit boards the YMCA (Central) and Dulwich Picture Gallery and is also a Member of Cancer Research. Colleen studied as a teacher and supports projects that support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to achieve their potential, such as Ebony Horse Club in Brixton and the Tutu Foundation.

Mr Craig Haslam DL

Craig was born in Manchester in 1968, growing up in a loving household with parents devoted to public service. He was educated at Wardley High School, attaining 8 O’Levels, before moving to London in 1986 to join the Metropolitan Police Service, the start of a 32 year career in policing. Serving as a Community Home Beat Constable in Islington he soon grasped the importance of harnessing community trust. As a Sergeant in Hackney, Craig is proud to have established one of Londons first Community Safety Unit, set up to protect the most vulnerable in our society. Craig took these skills to his next post at Hendon Police College where he trained and developed new officers joining the service, equipping them with essential skills to serve our communities.

As an Inspector and Chief Inspector in Central London, Craig developed his leadership skills at the many and varied public order and ceremonial events that take place across the capital. Craig had command roles at demonstrations and protests, football fixtures, Notting Hill Carnival, Trooping the Colour, New Years Eve Celebrations and Remembrance Sunday.

On promotion to Superintendent in 2011 Craig was posted to Newham Borough with responsibility to deliver “business as usual” operational policing in the host borough of the 2012 Olympics. Craig’s greatest achievement at Newham was to vastly improve the levels of satisfaction amongst victims of crime, ensuring the police delivered the highest standards of service to an incredibly diverse community. During this time, Craig was the Police Commander on The Mall and at Buckingham Palace for the Royal Wedding of the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge.

As Chief Superintendent, Craig became Head of Training & Development for The Metropolitan Police Service. He led the project to transform the Hendon Police College Estate, delivering a brand new £90m state of the art training campus. Craig also led the modernisation of all training and development for new officers, detectives and leadership roles, taking a community focused approach to involve Londoners in the training of their police to enhance public trust.

In 2016 Craig returned to an operational leadership role with the MPS Taskforce that included Mounted Branch, Dog Section, Marine Policing Unit and Territorial Support Group. During this appointment Craig led his officers through the 2017 terrorist attacks at Westminster, London Bridge and Borough Market and the tragic events that unfolded at Grenfell Tower. Craig describes his proudest achievement as Gold Commander for the police service funeral of PC Keith Palmer who made the ultimate sacrifice whilst defending parliament in 2017. Craig’s last day of service, his 50th birthday, was as police commander at the cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday in 2018.

Since retirement, Craig has expanded his work as a Toastmaster and Master of Ceremonies, officiating at weddings, awards ceremonies, civic events and charity fund-raising functions using his organisational and planning skills and eye for detail to ensure the success of these incredibly important events.

Craig sits as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of the Metropolitan Police Friendly Society and is passionate about supporting the mental health of the police family, delivering practical help and support to colleagues, particularly around financial well-being. He uses his previous police experience and continued commitment to public service to ensure the welfare of members and the wider police family remains a priority for the society.

Craig leads and coordinates work for the City of London Corporation, developing significant contingency plans for Operation London Bridge. Craig works in partnership with the royal household, military, central and local government, blue light services and other key stakeholders to ensure this significant event can be undertaken with the dignity and success required.

In his spare time Craig enjoys spending time on his narrowboat and has spent the last 16 years as Chairman of the Inland Waterways Association Charity working closely with other agencies, charities and volunteers to promote our inland waterways as a great amenity for all to enjoy.

Mr Paul Herbage MBE KStJ DL

Paul spent 30 years in senior NHS management roles at hospitals in and around West London, before retiring and given his involvement in the City of London, becoming Clerk (Chief Officer) of one of the City’s newer Livery Companies, finally retiring in 2017.

A lifelong volunteer with St John Ambulance, since 2020 he has been Priory Hospitaller for England of the Order of St John, promoting the work of the charity’s Eye Hospital Group based in Jerusalem, Gaza and the Palestinian Territories, among other roles with St John.

A family man, Paul retains a keen interest in the City of London, its history and charitable endeavours, and enjoys history, travel, walking and wine tasting by way of relaxation. He is keen to encourage young people into volunteering as part of their personal development.

Commander John Herriman DL RN

John is a passionate advocate for the not-for-profit sector and the role it plays helping communities and individuals, especially the most vulnerable. He delivers this through his work as Chief Executive of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, a professional body with members who work to protect consumers and ensure business confidence. He is on the board of a number of national and London based organisations, and is particularly focused on how building community cohesion can tackle some of society’s most challenging issues.  Prior to moving to the not-for-profit world John had a varied and highly rewarding career in the Royal Navy, the private and public sector. He remains a committed Reservist.

Louise Ireland DL

Louise spent three decades as a Reuters correspondent and editor covering politics, war and natural disasters as well as finance and economics.

She co-founded and ran Reuters Peer Network, a global initiative to combat trauma- and stress-related injury. She continues to advocate for journalists’ physical safety and mental well-being and to mentor and coach young journalists.

Louise now works in the corporate intelligence sector. She has two sons. One is a Metropolitan Police officer and the other is serving with the Household Cavalry.

Himanshu Jain DL

Himanshu is a London-based technology professional, consultant and an academic. He is the Managing Director of Thought Agile Ltd, a company specializing in software development and project management consulting. His professional contributions extend to being a board member of the Project Management Institute, UK, and Vice President of Newham Chamber of Commerce, the fastest-growing business district in the UK. He’s also the founder and convener of National Project Awards, which recognize outstanding UK projects and project professionals, and co-convenor of The PM Book Club, a 400-strong online professional community established during the pandemic.

Himanshu’s philanthropic endeavors fall into three broad categories: faith, professional, and community. For faith, he serves as a trustee and Director of Technology for the Institute of Jainology, managing Jainpedia – a repository of ancient Jain manuscripts. He chairs the Barking & Dagenham Faith Forum and has established the Barking & Dagenham Faith & Community Awards to acknowledge local faith and community groups’ efforts.

In the community domain, Himanshu is the Charter President of the Rotary Club of Stratford, a former two-time Assistant Governor for Rotary in London, and the upcoming district governor elect for Rotary in London district 1130. His community service includes establishing a network of food banks at the pandemic’s onset in Barking & Dagenham, earning him a special commendation from the local Mayor. He is also the founder of the Bharat Cricket Community, a charity promoting healthy living among over 1000 South Asian men through cricket, and another charity that serves 400 homeless people in East London weekly.

Additionally, Himanshu chairs the trustees of the 400-year-old Barking & Ilford United (Alms-houses) Charity. He also convenes the East London Community Heroes Awards. Himanshu is a member of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists and serves on the charity fund raising committee.

Internationally, Himanshu serves as the Vice Chair of the Institute of Water Conservation in India, promoting optimal water use and conservation. He is championing a Leprosy control program in India via advocacy and fundraising, and his philanthropic contributions were recognized by the King of UK with an invitation to Windsor Castle for the coronation concert.

Himanshu resides in London with his wife and two children, and in his free time, enjoys reading, networking, traveling, and engaging in various sports, including badminton and cricket.

Vice Admiral Sir Adrian Johns KCB CBE DL

Adrian served for 35 years in the Royal Navy specialising as a helicopter pilot and flying instructor but also commanding five times at sea ranging from a minesweeper to HMS OCEAN, then Britain’s largest warship. He was Head of the Fleet Air Arm for 5 years and retired from the Navy as Second Sea Lord and Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command in 2008. He was Governor and Commander-in-Chief, Gibraltar from 2009 to 2013. Amongst a variety of charitable interests, he is a trustee and Deputy Chairman of the Greenwich Foundation for the Old Royal Naval College, a Patron of the London Taxi Charity for Military Veterans and President of the Twickenham Sea Cadets. 

Colonel Neil Johnson OBE TD DL

Neil Commanded 4th Battalion The Royal Green Jackets [now Rifles] in London from 1985 to 1989 in 12 Armoured Brigade in Germany. He was later promoted to Colonel and was Deputy Commander of 160 [Welsh] Infantry Brigade in Brecon. He was appointed Territorial ADC to the Queen and served terms as Honorary Colonel of both the Royal Green Jackets and the Pembroke Yeomanry.

Outside Military and Lieutenancy life, Neil followed a career in engineering and automotive industries with Jaguar, Land Rover and British Aerospace. He is currently Chair of global defence and security firm QinetiQ Plc. He also Chairs Unbound Group Plc and is Deputy Chair of the Business Growth Fund.

Neil has previously been an advisor to Prime Ministers on the Citizen’s Charter, a member of a Ministry of Defence Advisory Board and an Independent Member of the Metropolitan Police Authority.

Neil currently Chairs the London Rifles Volunteer Trust, is a member of the Royal Hospital Chelsea fundraising committee, Senior Trustee of the Army and Navy Club, and an Advisory Council Member of the Cavalry and Guards Club.

Neil lives in London and is married with 7 daughters.

David Jones Esq DL

David worked in international investments for over 40 years in San Francisco, Chicago, New York and London. He has pioneered excellent but affordable independent education in east and west London at New Model School Company. Independently rated excellent in all nine categories, the schools have much lower fees than most others. He is a member of the court of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers. He was High Sheriff of Greater London 2013-14.

He lives in Chiswick. Married with three children, interests include gardens, walking, wine, food and the arts.

Lt Colonel David EJ Kemmis Betty MBE DL

David ‘KB’ had a rather unique globetrotting career in the Regular Army until 2013.  He then worked in the commercial risk-management sector, including 5 years with the oil industry in Pakistan and 2 years back home in London helping British business to trade in complex frontier markets.  He joined the Army Reserve in 2020 and is currently the Army’s subject matter expert and policy lead on ‘Human Security’.

David served on operations in Northern Ireland for 8 yrs then Kosovo (2000 & 2001), Iraq (2003), Afghanistan (2006 & 2010) and Libya during the Arab Spring (2011).  In 2008/9 he worked in Islamabad as a counter-terrorist liaison officer and attended Pakistan’s Army Command & Staff College in Quetta. He then spent 3 years as a roving Attaché working in troubled spots across South Asia, Africa, the Middle East, South America and the Caucasus.  He left the Regular Army from a post in Whitehall supporting HMG’s counter-terrorism strategy.  David has an MSc from the University of Balochistan and an MA from King’s College London. He is an active member of The Pakistan Society, Royal Society for Asian Affairs and St Paul’s Church, Knightsbridge. He has lived in Pimlico, Chelsea, Earl’s Court and since 2016 in West Putney.  He is interested in global conflict analysis, resilience & risk management, British culture and heritage, community integration, life-long learning and the Armed Forces.

Mrs Bibi Khan MBE DL

Bibi Rabbiyah Khan is President of the London Islamic Cultural Society 

Bibi worked in Haringey Council for 34 years as a Housing Manager and later a Project Manager. It was in Haringey that LICS established the first Purpose-built Mosque/Cultural Centre in the borough in 1983.

In December 2018, Bibi was appointed as the first female President of the charity LICS following the passing of her late father, much respected community leader Abdool Alli.

In accepting the appointment, Bibi saw the need to continue her father’s legacy built and established over several years. She has been involved and leading in the community for over 40 years and initially served as Trustee Secretary of the charity.

The appointment of a woman as the head of a Mosque was very welcomed by most users and members and a significant step forward for women, in addition to facing challenges this role brings. LICS partnered by working with communities countrywide to provide essential services to users and the local community.

Bibi continues to represent many in her diverse community not just Muslims. Most recently Bibi was nominated and became a member of the Independent Advisory Group, Metropolitan Police and in which she has taken the opportunity to represent all communities.

Bibi is a firm believer that the future of our community rests in the hands of our youths, they need guidance and support to understand and shape the future. Bibi and LICS are committed to working for peace, safety and harmony with all communities and she feels very privileged to lead on this.

Mr Alastair King DL

Of Scottish heritage, Alastair is Founder and Chairman of Naisbitt King Asset Management Limited (NKAML), an independent, FCA-regulated fund management firm and family office, headquartered in the City of London. NKAML is a noted specialist in London’s global fixed income markets and runs a number of fixed income funds. Previously, Alastair was Founder and Chairman of Glendevon King Limited, another fund management company (2006-2016). He was also the Founder and Chief Executive of Eredene, a quoted infrastructure investment fund. Alastair started his career as a lawyer in the City of London and in Asia and spent some time investing in early stage companies.

Alastair is the elected Alderman of the Ward of Queenhithe in the City of London. He has represented that Ward – first as Common Council member then, then as Deputy and then as Alderman – continually since 1999. He served as Sheriff of London in 2022/23 – an office which is said to date from the 8th Century. He is a long term City resident as well as having his offices there. He sits as Governor or Trustee of several schools and charities, including serving as Chair of the British Liver Trust – the national charity for people affected by liver cancer and liver disease. Alastair is Chair of the Institute of Directors (IoD) London Region and a member of the Young Presidents’ Organisation (YPO). His recreations are hill climbing with his Italian Greyhound (Florence) and boxing.

Mr Richard Kornicki CBE DL

Appointed Representative Deputy Lieutenant in March 2016 Richard Kornicki is a retired Senior Civil Servant. After an early career working with antiquarian books, he joined the Home Office where he was responsible at different times for civil emergencies, police reform, counter-terrorism, and setting up the Serious Organised Crime Agency. He also served on secondment in the Cabinet Office and the Department of Health. His final post in the Home Office was as Director of Serious Crime.

Living in West London, he is Chairman of the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee, Trustee of No. 11 Group Operations Rooms (the Battle of Britain Bunker), Chairman of the Captain Cook Memorial Museum, Whitby, and Hon. President 342 (Ealing and Brentford) Squadron ATC.

He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2000, and in 2011 he was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Polish Republic. In 2014 he was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London.

Miss Mei Sim Lai OBE DL

Of Malaysian Chinese origin, Mei Sim has lived in the UK since 1970. She is the Founder & Principal of LaiPeters & Co, Chartered Accountants based in the City of London. Since the 1990s Mei Sim has held and currently holds a number of Board appointments in the private, public, City and charity & voluntary sectors. In 2011-2012 she was Master of the Worshipful Company of World Traders, the first Chinese person in the history of the City of London to be Master of a Livery Company. In 2012 Mei Sim won the Asian Women of Achievement of Awards for Public Service in 2012.

Mr Randeep Singh Lall DL

Randeep Singh Lall is the co-founder and CEO of NishkamSWAT, a 100% voluntary international humanitarian-aid organisation based in West London.

After working in the IT field for several large blue-chip companies, in 2005, Randeep took a break from work to serve humanity and soon after NishkamSWAT was formed. He decided to work a zero-hour contract supporting young people in care in order to continue his mission to serve the most vulnerable of our society.

One of NishkamSWAT’s projects concentrates on making sure the homeless and those in need either living below the poverty line or seeking refuge are fed, clothed, and have their basic medical requirements addressed.

Randeep is proud to say that NishkamSWAT is officially the first Sikh organisation to take the concept of Langar (free community kitchen) out to the streets of the UK.

A big part of what the organisation do now is to try and minimise food wastage in UK working to minimise food wastage by engaging with large food suppliers to make sure food does not end up as waste. The team have a vision to ensure no one in the UK goes hungry, whether it’s the homeless, school children, families in poverty or anyone in need.

Working in the field now for over 10 years, NishkamSWAT has gone from serving from one area in the UK to 22 locations, 36 times a week, as well as serving in 3 international locations (Buenos Aires, New Delhi, and Ukraine) with further scope to expand within the UK and Internationally.

Randeep is also very passionate about interfaith dialogue and sits on various forums and delivers talks in schools and universities.

Randeep is a very keen classic car enthusiast, constantly updating or changing his modest collection.

Every minute spent on this blessed work is totally Nishkam (selfless) without taking any reward or a salary. Randeep’s biggest influence on this service comes through the teachings and values of Guru Nanak Dev Ji (Sikh Faith).

‘As citizens, we have a joint responsibility to look after our planet and everything on it. I believe my mission in life is to serve and protect.’

Ms Pinky Lilani CBE DL

Pinky Lilani is founder and chair of a number of awards which attempt to recognise influential women and leaders: Asian Women of Achievement Awards;the Women of the Future Award; and, the Global Empowerment Award. She is an Indian cookery specialist, consultant and owner of Spice Magic Ltd

Surgeon Commodore Robin McNeill Love OStJ DL RN

Dr Robin McNeill Love is a Consultant Occupational Physician working in the City of London since January 2015.  Prior to this, he served in the Royal Navy between 1981 and 2014.  Serving in the UK and internationally, appointments have included: Principal Medical Officer (PMO) of HM Yacht BRITANNIA (1992-94); PMO of the Aircraft Carrier HMS ILLUSTRIOUS (1995-97); Staff Medical Officer (SMO) for the “OCEAN WAVE 97” Global Carrier Task Group; Commanding Officer of the Royal Naval Hospital (RNH) Gibraltar (2002-6); President of the Naval Service Medical Board of Survey (2006-9); Defence Postgraduate Medical Dean (2009-10).  He attended the prestigious Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS), London, in 2011.  As Assistant Head of Medical Policy for the Surgeon General (2011-13), he was also the UK Delegate to the NATO Military Healthcare Committee.  In 2013, Surgeon Captain McNeill Love was privileged to be appointed an Honorary Physician to HM The Queen (QHP) and then promoted to Surgeon Commodore RN and appointed Head of the Royal Naval Medical Service.  Surgeon Commodore Robin McNeill Love QHP RN left the Royal Navy in December 2014.

Dr Robin McNeill Love commenced working as a Consultant Occupational Physician in the City of London in January 2015.  Since November 2019, he has also worked as a Medical Assessor for the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).  Between 2015-18 he served as a trustee of the UK military charity, the Officers’ Association, with particular emphasis on the benevolence area of operations.  In 2017, as a result of the UK’s national nomination, Dr McNeill Love was elected to be a Vice-President of the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission (Bern, Switzerland).  Since 2017, he has served as a member of the Medical Board (previously the Medical Group) of the international demining charity, The HALO Trust, and the following year he was elected as the 2018 Prime Warden of the City of London’s Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths.  In January 2019, Dr McNeill Love was honoured to be commissioned as a Deputy Lieutenant (“DL”) for the Greater London Lieutenancy.  In connection with his DL role he is a representative for the Lord-Lieutenant on the Order of St John’s Greater London County Priory Group.

Robin is married to Penelope (known as “Poppy”) and they have four adult children.  He is a member of “Chatham House”, a Regional Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and his interests include international affairs, travel, music, tennis and skiing.

Dame Kathryn McDowell DBE DL

Kathryn McDowell joined the London Symphony Orchestra as Managing Director in 2005.  She was brought up in Northern Ireland and read Music at Edinburgh University. After a post-graduate course in teacher training, she spent a year in Vienna as a volunteer working with political refugees in a UN camp.

In the mid-eighties Kathryn became one of the first education and community managers with orchestras, creating an extensive programme with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and leading the ABO’s first national education project. She also worked with Welsh National Opera and the Ulster Orchestra, before becoming Music Director of the Arts Council of England in the nineties. Since then, she led the bid for the creation of the Wales Millennium Centre and directed the City of London Festival.

Kathryn is Chair of the London Lieutenancy Council for Cultural Heritage and a member of the St. Paul’s Cathedral Council. She was Chair of the Association of British Orchestras (2014-2017); Chair of the ABO’s Sustainable Touring Review (2007-2010); Chair of the Family Friendly Arts Campaign (2011-2015); a Trustee of the Leeds International Piano Competition (2016-2022); a Trustee of the Royal Philharmonic Society (1999-2006); and a Governor of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (2007-2016). She holds honorary awards from Trinity College, the Royal College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London in 2009, awarded a CBE in the 2011 Queen’s Birthday Honours, and in 2017 she was made Musician of the Year by the ISM and awarded Freeman (by Special Nomination) of the City of London.  Kathryn received a DBE for services to Music in the 2023 King’s  Birthday Honours List.

Mr Kevin McGrath MRICS OBE DL

Kevin was appointed as a Rep DL in 2016 and was The High Sheriff of Greater London 2014/15.

He was awarded an Honorary Degree of the Doctor of the University from the University of Surrey in 2017 in recognition of an outstanding contribution to the Arts and an Honorary Degree of the Doctor of Letters from the London South Bank University 2022 in recognition of an outstanding contribution to business and charity.

Kevin is Principal of The McGrath Family Office and Chairman of Regional REIT Plc. He is a Chartered Surveyor who has worked in the property industry for nearly 40 years and is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors; the Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors and is a Freeman of the City of London.

He is Chair of the McGrath Charitable Trust: Vice Chair of The Clink Prison Restaurant; Vice Chair of the QPR Sport in the Community Trust; Trustee of Moorfields Eye Charity; and Chair of QPR Women’s Football Club.

Ms Manju Malhi BEM DL

Appointed DL in 2022

Manju Malhi is a TV chef and a food writer who has been awarded the British Empire Medal by Her Majesty the Queen for her outstanding food services to the community during the Covid 19 crisis.  She carries on teaching people how to cook healthily emphasising on accessible ingredients with charities such as Open Age, C-Change West London and the Uxbridge Centre.

Her simple and straightforward approach to healthy scratch cooking has won her many fans globally and through her 10 thousand followers on social media. She even had a food series broadcast to 80 million viewers where she cooked British food for an Indian audience. Her life revolves around using spices and herbs while using less salt and oil and her recipes engage people from eight to eighty years old in her fun cooking sessions. Her published books include Brit Spice, India with Passion, Classic Indian Recipes, Everyday Healthy Indian Cookery and the Easy Indian Cookbook. Her new book The Seasoned Foodie is out now and it’s all about falling in love with food again.

Manju is the Representative Deputy Lieutenant for Hillingdon.

Mr Leslie Morgan OBE DL

Leslie is a pharmacist, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He bought and transformed a retail pharmacy into Durbin PLC, one of the world’s leading specialist Pharmaceutical and medical distributors supplying 23,000 different products to 180 countries.  Leslie sold Durbin to Uniphar PLC in 2019.  He has pioneered the free donation of in date pharmaceuticals exceeding £23m to charities in developing countries. He is a visiting fellow at Bayes Business School (formerly Cass), specialising in lecturing on philanthropic issues and is Chairman of The Morgan Charitable Foundation. He is a Liveryman with The World Traders as well as the Blacksmiths and also The Company of Entrepreneurs.  Leslie was appointed as a Representative Deputy Lieutenant for the Borough of Tower Hamlets in 2016.

Colonel Robert Murfin TD DL

Robert Murfin served for over 30 years in the Territorial Army in a variety of appointments including command of 101 (City of London) Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) (V) and eight years with the ACF as Commandant of
Kent Army Cadet Force.

He was appointed the Representative Deputy Lieutenant for the London Borough of Bromley in 2001. He is the Clerk to a City of London Livery Company.

Simon Murrells DL

Simon Murrells lives in Bexley in Greater London. He is a magistrate on the London South East bench, sitting in courts in Bexley and Bromley. He is a member of the Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Committee for London which plays a key part in the selection process for new magistrates in the Capital.

Simon enjoyed a lengthy career with the City of London Corporation, based at Guildhall, where he was Assistant Town Clerk. Amongst other things, he had responsibility for the City’s democratic services and governance. He was also responsible for Shrieval and Mayoral elections. He chaired the City’s Safer City Partnership and was a member of its Health & Wellbeing Being Board.

As well as his work as a magistrate, Simon has supported his local community in Bexley through his past involvement as chair of a local branch of a national charity and for almost a decade, was chair of governors of a primary school in the Borough.

He enjoys his garden and exploring the UK and overseas.

Mrs Bushra Nasir CBE DL

Mrs. Bushra Nasir is an experienced educationalist. She was the first female Muslim Head Teacher of a state secondary school. She is a trained Head Teacher mentor, School Improvement Partner and Advisor to governors for Head Teacher appraisal.

She is co-author of a book entitled ‘ Breaking stereotypes.’ She has been a keynote speaker at a number on national educational conferences. In 2012, Mrs. Nasir was awarded Head Teacher of the year by the Times Educational Supplement. She has received a number of recognitions and awards including a CBE, Asian Professional woman of the Year, Muslim News award for Faith into Action, Windrush award for Educational High Flier, Honorary Doctorate from University of East London and a Fellowship from QMUL. Currently she mentors 5 Head Teachers and supports a number of schools as a School Improvement Partner. She is a Council member of QMUL, board member of Mosaic (one of the Prince’s charities) and is the Chair of the Education committee of the Migration Museum Project.

Mr Gareth Neame OBE DL

Gareth Neame is a BAFTA, Emmy, and Golden Globe award-winning television and film producer. As one of the UK’s leading drama producers, he has made hundreds of hours of compelling content viewed around the world. Neame is the Executive Producer of the global TV and film phenomenon Downton Abbey, the UK’s biggest scripted television export and was the driving force behind the series and transitioning it to the big screen. Other recent credits include the Netflix series The Last Kingdom, Belgravia on ITV and HBO’s The Gilded Age.

In 2014, Neame was announced by 10 Downing Street as an Ambassador of the GREAT Britain campaign and was appointed OBE in the Queen’s 90th birthday honours list. He has also been listed in the Variety 500 index of most influential business leaders in the global entertainment industry. Neame is a Life Patron of The Landmark Trust and through his charitable foundation supports many causes including Together for Short Lives, music and drama scholarships, cadets and other youth organisations, conservation and the arts and veterans. He is a Freeman of The City of London and a Liveryman of The Worshipful Company of Fishmongers.

Ms Geraldine Norris DL

Appointed DL in 2022

Geraldine spent 20 years of her career as a Corporate Affairs professional with a global real estate company. She then moved into the Third Sector where she has worked at Board Level for 16 years. Geraldine is currently Chair of a school that recovers traumatised children that self-exclude from mainstream education and Chair of a charity that supports retired UK Armed Forces Veterans and retired nurses. Since 2006, Geraldine has been a member of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry. She served on its Board for five years and has held several senior roles. She has been deployed to support numerous major incidents and in 2020 led the Corps’ work at the NHS Nightingale Hospital London.

Geraldine is a Liveryman of The Worshipful Company of Farriers and currently sits on the Membership Committee. She has a wide range of interests including; sailing, riding, winter sports and is currently learning traditional upholstery in Shoreditch.

Mrs Gillian Norton OBE DL

Gillian Norton has been Chairman of St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust since 2017 and Epsom St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust since 2019. She spent her executive career in local government, serving as Chief Executive for a total of 23 years, the last 17 of which were in London Borough of Richmond. She is also Representative Deputy Lieutenant for Richmond and was awarded OBE for services to local government. She is a Member of the Government Commission on COVID Commemoration.

Reverand Nims Obunge MBE DL

Nims is Pastor of Freedoms Ark and CEO of The Peace Alliance which works with faith, community, statutory and business organisations. He chaired the London Criminal Justice Board Advisory Group and has advised the government on social justice issues including crime and inequality. Nims pioneered the Week of Peace, he facilitates the London Leadership and Peace Awards and is a Deputy Lieutenant for Greater London.

Major General Marc Overton TD DL VR

Major General Marc Overton has been an Army Reservist since joining 35 Signal Regiment (V) in 1987 as a private soldier.  Commissioned in 1991 while at Exeter University Officer Training Corps, he then joined The London Regiment, the Capital’s Reserve Infantry Regiment.  Upon completing a number of Regimental appointments, he moved to London University Officer Training Corps as Second in Command before being posted to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) as the staff officer responsible for the Reserve Commissioning Course.  On promotion to Lieutenant Colonel he moved to HQ LONDIST with responsibility for Community Engagement and Recruiting before taking over as Commanding Officer of The London Regiment in 2010.  During his tenure, over half the Regiment (216 Reservists) mobilised for operational duty over four Afghanistan deployments and Op OLYMPIC.  Promoted to Colonel in 2012 he worked in Army HQ, responsible for the Reserve component of the Army 2020 personnel strategy.  In June 2015 he was appointed Commander Commissioning Pipeline, responsible for generating all Regular and Reserve Officers into RMAS and optimising all elements of the commissioning experience through attraction, recruitment, selection and training.  As a result of improved pipeline management RMAS returned to full capacity.  Promoted to Brigadier he was the Deputy of Army Recruiting and Initial Training Command (ARITC) before becoming Head Strategy Reserves responsible for the Army Reserve input into the Integrated Review.  Given his civilian career he was also advisor to the Deputy Chief of the General Staff and the Executive Committee of the Army on the digital transformation of the British Army (Project THEIA).  He is now Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Reserves and Cadets), UK Defence’s senior Reservist.

In his civilian career Major General Overton has run international technology businesses across a variety of industries.  Having been on the Executive team of EE/ Orange in the UK for nearly 10 years, he moved to become the General Manager Europe, Middle East and Africa for First Data, a 5,500 strong organisation which he helped transform from a payment processing to a merchant solutions company.  Following this he ran the telecoms business for Jasper, the world’s largest IoT cloud platform before taking over as the Managing Director for the Cisco IoT business.  After this he was the Chief Solutions Officer running the global business for Sierra Wireless where he built the world’s largest IoT mobile virtual network operator business.  Currently Managing Director of Division X for BT he is responsible for a portfolio of businesses and is tasked with delivering solutions around 5G and IoT that enable businesses to accelerate their digital transformation.

A Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London and a Vice Patron of the Royal British Legion Poppy Factory, he is also the Regimental Lieutenant Colonel of the 1^st Battalion London Guards, the antecedent unit of The London Regiment.  He has two sons and lives in Ascot.

Justin Packshaw Esq MBE DL

Justin is a world class adventurer, philanthropist and entrepreneur. He is the Chairman of the travel company Joro Experiences and the co-founder of the luxury brand, De Roemer. Formally an Army officer, he has sailed for Britain and led expeditions all over the world including both the North & South Poles and summited Mount Everest. He is a strong supporter of youth development, wounded Service personnel and environmental issues. He is an ambassador for the Governments ‘GREAT’ campaign and The Princes Trust. He talks to businesses and schools on the ‘Science of Achievement’ and ‘Human Excellence’

Professor Paul Palmer DL

Professor Paul Palmer is a management educationalist with extensive knowledge and experience in charity, philanthropy and financial planning. He is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, trained as a Chartered Company Secretary and completed his doctorate in Internal Auditing. Within Bayes Business School (formerly Cass), he is the Director of the Centre for Charity Effectiveness, an Associate Dean and Chair of the Research Ethics Committee. His work encompasses both Private and Voluntary Sectors. Paul is the Principal Investigator of an action research project funded by the Portal Trust, where since 2015 undergraduates of Bayes study a course in coaching and mentoring. A number then go on to near peer mentor in local schools with GCSE and A level students on STEM subjects. The course and research were recognised under UN PRME achieving Champion Status for the School. A further three years of funding from the Portal Trust was agreed in 2021.Over the last thirty years he has advised and served on committees of the following professional institutes – CISI, ICAEW, ICSA IIA.UK and in the charity sector CFG, IOF, NCVO and the Charity Commission and acted as an independent consultant on Charities and Philanthropy to UBS Wealth Management, He is currently a NED for Jarrovian Wealth.

Within the Voluntary Sector, Paul is the Founder Trustee of the Honorary Treasurers Forum and the Together Charity Foundation. He has extensive charity trustee experience including being a former President of the Royal Society of Public Health and chair of a grant maker. Internationally, he was a Vice President of the Non-profit Academic Centres Council until 2022 and served on the UN PRME Advisory Committee (2018-2020). Paul has been advisor to the Global Donors Forum since 2012.

In 2010/11 he project managed the Lord Mayor of London’s Integrity and Values Initiative and in 2016 was a Director of the Patron’s Fund which celebrated HM the Queen patronage of six hundred Charities. He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for Greater London in 2018 and serves on the Lord Lieutenant’s Heritage Committee.

Dr Mary-Clare Parker DL

Mary-Clare was born in south east London, and has been an NHS GP in Greenwich for more than 20 years. She has special interests in elderly medicine and end of life care. A firm advocate for the NHS, she is an elected member of the Greenwich LMC (Local Medical Committee), a Trustee of the Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice, and College Doctor at Morden College, a residential care charity in Blackheath.

Mary-Clare became a Deputy Lieutenant for Greater London in 2016. She is a Freeman of the City of London and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries. She is a member and past President of the West Kent Medico-Chirurgical Society. Married to Steven, she has four grown up children and lives in Blackheath.

Wing Commander Ed Partridge CVO OBE DL

Ed taught biology at a comprehensive school in Somerset before joining the RAF as an Education Officer.  She left to have a family and rejoined the service 5 years later as an Intelligence Officer serving for a further 15 years.

She has been a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London since 2003 and in 2005 she became Clerk to the Lieutenancy, eventually retiring in 2016.

Ed is a Freeman of Hillingdon and the City of London, a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Founders and has an Honorary Doctorate from Brunel University.  She has held several patronages and trusteeships and is passionate about charities providing opportunities for young people.

Professor David Phoenix OBE DL

Professor David Andrew Phoenix is the Vice Chancellor of London South Bank University and CEO of LSBU Group. In addition to being the accountable officer for the University, he is the Accountable Officer for South Bank Colleges and Principal Accounting Officer for South Bank Academies. He was elected to Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians (Edinburgh) for his contribution to medical research and education and recognized as an Academician by the Academy of Social Sciences for his work in areas linked to educational policy and the skills agenda.

With over 250 publications, Professor Phoenix has held a range of visiting posts including visiting professor at King’s College London and Sichuan University, China. His research focuses on molecular engineering and soft matter modelling. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering Technology, The Royal Society of Chemistry, The Royal Society of Biology, The Institute of Mathematics and Its Applications, and the Royal Society of Medicine. In 2010 he was made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for services to Science and Higher Education and appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London in 2015.

He has a strong interest in the public engagement with science and engineering. In 2015 the Prime Minister appointed him as a trustee of the Science Museum Group where he is Deputy Chair. He is also a Director of the National Centre for Universities and Business.

Professor Phoenix has worked extensively overseas, developing and leading on an overseas campus in Cyprus and a research institute in China. He was awarded an individual Excellence award by China’s Vice Premier in 2014 and in 2016 was given the national Friendship Award (China) by the Premier for his outstanding contribution to the country’s economic and social development.

Ms Rosi Prescott DL

Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London
Representative DL for LB Lambeth 2009-2022
Representative DL for LB Hounslow 2022 to present day

As a young teenager, Rosi studied piano at Trinity College of Music in London under Professor Alfred Kitchin (a proud ‘grand-pupil’ of Brahms) alongside her traditional schooling. Her passion for music continues today.

Following university and after starting a family, Rosi lived and worked in the USA whilst her husband served on an RAF exchange with USAF on F111 jets. She established a health and well-being club at the start of the ‘movement’ whilst over there in the mid-80s, before launching a second upon her return to the UK some years later.

Having volunteered and worked for the YMCA during her time running the club, Rosi was ultimately appointed the first female Chief Executive of Central YMCA in 2003 (the world’s first YMCA, a charity founded in London in 1844) and served in that capacity for seventeen years. During that time, the charity underwent a period of significant change and growth and provided a wide and imaginative range of services targeted at supporting young people across the UK in their life journey. The YMCA is a global charity (over 60m members in more than 120 countries) and she was Vice-Chair of the World Network of YMCAs and Chair of the U.K. network of YMCAs during that time.

Rosi served on a wide range of charitable and public-sector boards during her time at the YMCA and continues to volunteer in that capacity today. She remains especially committed to supporting young people and has created and run numerous campaigns to highlight the challenges they face in the 21st Century.

Rosi was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant (DL) of Greater London in 2009 and also the Representative DL for the Borough of Lambeth 2009-2022 and subsequently for the Borough of Hounslow in 2022. She was granted the Freedom of the City of London in 2023.

Colonel Hugh Purcell OBE DL

In 2019 Colonel Hugh Purcell OBE DL stepped down after 11 years as CEO of the Reserve Forces’ & Cadets’ Associations for Greater London & the City, supporting 4,500 reservists and 16,000 cadets, building links with civic and business communities and making best use of the Associations’ extensive London estate. He remains a member of the Association.

A passionate supporter of youth participation and social inclusion he is an active chair of YOU London and patron of the Motivational Preparation College for Training (MPCT), and works with London South Bank Group, and other organisations which encourage and enable young people to be all they can be and that there are ‘no barriers to brilliance’

Andrew Ranson Esq VR DL

Andrew is a dedicated public and civil servant who can already demonstrate a life of service and aspires to do more. Andrew has lived in The Royal Borough of Kingston for the last 15 years and is well-established in his community. He has served nationally and locally, supporting the country and community in professional, law enforcement, military and voluntary capacities. As a values-based leader, he is committed to supporting and improving the lives of others and protecting the most vulnerable in our society.

Prior to the Civil Service, Andrew had an 11-year career as an Army Reserve, leaving in 2002 as a Commissioned Officer of the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) in London. He has recently joined the Company of Pikemen & Musketeers for the HAC. One of only six Royally-warranted Ceremonial Bodyguards. Their role is to support the Lord Mayor of London.

Andrew is an Area President for St John Ambulance (SJA) covering the Boroughs of Kingston and Merton and is the Lead for the SJA Float at the Lord Mayor’s Show.

Andrew is married and has three sons.

Rev’d Canon David Reindorp TD DL

David was born in London as was his father and grandfather. David, like both of them, is a London parish priest. Many people remember his father George from his time as Provost of Southwark, Bishop of Guildford and later Salisbury. David started his work life in the City, then trained as a social worker, working for the borough of Westminster, before going to Cambridge to train for the priesthood. David has worked on a housing estate, a county town, two rural villages, a suburb and is now vicar of Chelsea Old Church. For 20 years he served as Chaplain to Honorable Artillery Company and to the Worshipful Company of Fanmakers and Canon of Ely. Currently David is Area Dean of Chelsea. David is married to Suzy and has 3 children.

Martin Russell Esq MBE DL

Martin Russell was a banker and later a corporate treasurer.  Born in Hampstead, he was educated in Barnet, and has lived in the Borough for more than fifty years, so he maintains long-standing associations locally.  He has served with the Regular, Reserve and Cadet Forces. A family man, both of his sons are officers in the Regular Army, and his daughter a member of FANY (PRVC).  He is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Farriers (Master 2022-23).

Martin was awarded a MBE in the 2024 New Years Honours List for services to the community in the London Borough of Barnet.

Babulal Sethia Esq DL

Babulal Sethia (usually known as ‘B’) is a congenital heart surgeon at the Royal Brompton Hospital and the current President of the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) (2014-17). After training in London and Glasgow he was a Consultant in Birmingham for 13 years before returning to London in 1999. He has helped to develop congenital heart programmes in a number of countries on a voluntary basis and has a major interest in global health. As President of the RSM he has promoted new programmes in global health and in widening access to careers in healthcare. He and his wife Nicky have 4 children. His other interests are classical music, sport and wine.

Stuart Shilson LVO DL

Stuart is a Senior Partner of McKinsey & Company. He studied at Oxford and Cambridge Universities and the Inns of Court School of Law in Clerkenwell before being called to the Bar by the Middle Temple. After a number of years in practice, he joined McKinsey’s London office in 1997. From 1999 to 2000 he was a Senior Civil Servant in the Cabinet Office, and from 2001 to 2004 was Assistant Private Secretary to The Queen (for which he was appointed LVO). Throughout his career he has combined a busy professional life with providing extensive support to a number of charities; these include The Order of St John where Stuart has spent more than 20 years, including as President of the Richmond & Watney Mortlake Division of the St John Ambulance and ultimately as a member of The Order’s worldwide governing body. Stuart is a Fellow of Goodenough College, London, and a member of the Court of the Drapers’ Company which focuses its charitable activities on education, the armed forces, social exclusion and mental health in London. He also serves as an Honorary Steward at Westminster Abbey.

Mrs Manjit Kaur Singh DL 

Manjit is a Project Development Officer at Havering Asian Social and Welfare Association (HASWA). HASWA is an Asian community-led charity which provides a wide range of activities to all, regardless of age, gender, religion or background.

Manjit worked for the Ministry of Defence for 20 years in Whitehall and took early retirement.  she then volunteered at the Cancer Research Charity shop in Hornchurch for a year and was then approached by the Havering Asian Social and Welfare Association (HASWA) to develop their community centre. HASWA secured funding for Manjit’s post as a Project Development Office in 2012.  HASWA is thriving and offers a wide range of services which are focused on making difference to people’s quality of life. Manjit enjoys being connected to the local community.

Ms Thelma Stober DL

Thelma is a Solicitor and Mediator with extensive experience in the public sector. She served as Legal Director at public bodies including the GLA where she played a leading role in bringing the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games to London.

Thelma suffered serious life changing injuries on 7th July 2005. Since then, she has immersed herself in advocacy, mentoring, supporting terrorism and the 2017 Grenfell fire victims. She campaigns and lobby nationally and internationally for support for victims of terrorism.

Thelma was invited as keynote speaker at the United Nations conference for victims of terrorism in 2019 and 2021. She has since worked with the UN Counter-terrorism unit to develop an all-member nations legislative victims support template . Thelma is a Non- Executive Director and trustee of several charities and co-chair for Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission.

Thelma is currently Legal Adviser for the Local Government Association.

Colonel Piers Storie-Pugh OBE TD DL

Piers took over the role of Chief Executive of The Not Forgotten Association (NFA) in January 2011. He is also currently a Trustee of The League of Mercy and a Reserve Forces Honorary Colonel. In 1985 Piers set up and ran Remembrance Travel for The Royal British Legion, an operation that specialised in visits to war cemeteries and memorials worldwide. He commanded his Territorial Army Battalion 1991-19923 and was then appointed Deputy Commander 2nd Infantry Brigade and TA Colonel 4th Division 1994-1997 in the rank of Full Colonel. He became the Reserve Forces representative on the Control Board of the Army Benevolent Fund in 1995 and was appointed ADC to HM The Queen in 1996. Piers Storie-Pugh is an MBE (Mil) and an OBE (Civ).

Geoffrey Thompson Esq DL

Educated at Campbell College, Belfast, St Catharine’s College, Cambridge, where he read music, and Southbank University, where he did an MBA, Geoffrey recently retired after 45 years as a secondary school teacher, 22 as Head of two comprehensive schools: the Duchess’s School, Alnwick; and Mill Hill County High School, the latter including leadership of Barnet’s separate provision for children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health difficulties.

His emphases throughout his career were the importance of excellent student behaviour and high quality, mass participation extra-curricular activities and trips.  A keen pianist, he also spent much time conducting choral and operatic societies.

Under Geoffrey’s headship, Mill Hill County High School’s music became acknowledged to be quite exceptional, not only within the comprehensive sector: he established a unique nine-year tradition, still continuing, of joint concerts at school with the full Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Having benefited from his own school Combined Cadet Force experiences and from his membership of the Cambridge University OTC, Geoffrey established a now-thriving Mill Hill County High School CCF contingent, in partnership with Mill Hill School.

Bringing his personal mountain sport enthusiasms to the benefit of his students, Geoffrey also made a major contribution to outdoor education, founding and running, for over a decade, a professionally-guided school alpine mountaineering course in Chamonix and leading a school first ascent Himalayan expedition.

A family man, Geoffrey has been a governor of both state and independent schools and a Trustee of the Barnet Educational Arts Trust.

Dr Yvonne Thompson CBE DL 

Yvonne Thompson,  is a British business leader, who was a founding member of radio station Choice FM, music editor of Root magazine, managing director of marketing and PR company ASAP Communications, president of the European Federation of Black Women Business Owners. Her work has had a focus on women-owned businesses, as well as on diversity and gender equality in the work place. She is frequently referred to as “Britain’s first black self-made woman millionaire”. In February 2018, her appointment as chair of The Radio Academy was announced.

Cyrus Todiwala Esq OBE DL

Cyrus Todiwala OBE DL is a restaurateur, author, educationist and popular media personality. Together with Pervin Todiwala, he runs three London restaurants: Café Spice Namaste, the longest standing recipient of a Michelin BIB Gourmand award; Mr Todiwala’s Kitchen and The Park Café. In 2015, he opened the River Restaurant in Goa and a new restaurant isn planned for late 2017. A recipient of an Education & Training CATEY, the hospitality industry’s Oscars, he is also a Fellow of the Craft Guild of Chefs and a founding member of the Guild of Entrepreneurs. He founded the national competition, Zest Quest Asia, in collaboration with the Master Chefs of Great Britain, to nurture knowledge and skills of Asian cuisine among ‘homegrown’ British chefs. He was invited to cook the first luncheon for HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

Kevin Traverse-Healy Esq DL

David Utting Esq DL

David Utting is currently employed as the Clerk to the Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers, a City Livery Company. Before that he spent six years as the Head of Engagement for the Army in London working on the relationship between the Army and the population of London, including the Councils, employers and schools.

David was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1983, and served in a number of ships and during this time he deployed on the ARMILLA Patrol in the Gulf. When he left the Royal Navy in 1990 he joined Royal Mail, where he worked until 2004 in a wide variety of roles, latterly as the Head of Commercial Management for the Engineering Department. He then worked as a Contracts Manager at the University of Bristol before taking up the role of the Director of Service Relationships for Jisc, an IT organisation supporting Higher Education, in July 2007.  In 2013 he went back in to full-time military service initially in Afghanistan and latterly in London.

In 1991 he joined the Royal Wessex Yeomanry, an Army Reserve unit, and over the next ten years served in a number of posts.  He has deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan, and has been an instructor at Staff College, commanded a University Officer Training Corps and done Army Officer Selection.

He was called to the Bar in 2006, and has an LLM from the University of London.

Brigadier Tony Verey QVRM TD DL

Tony served in the Territorial Army for forty two years. Subsequently he was Chairman of Greater London Reserve Forces and Cadets Association for ten years and is currently Chairman of the Society of Friends of the National Army Museum. He is a building surveyor by profession and spent twenty five years with Brakspear’s Brewery as the property director. He now runs his own planning consultancy. He is curator of the Berkshire Yeomanry Museum.

Christopher Wellbelove DL

Christopher served as an elected councillor in Lambeth for 16 years, serving twice as the boroughs Mayor. Here he campaigned to raise awareness of domestic abuse and mental health, by sharing his own experiences of growing up in a violent household and living with mental ill-health. He also served as Deputy Cabinet Member for housing working to improve social housing in Lambeth. He chaired a number of commissions whilst serving as a councillor, including a commission on digital accessibility of council services where he pulled upon 26 years of experience in web development and digital marketing – and currently works  as a marketing consultant for BT Wholesale. He is the founder of Mixed Heritage Day, which aims to raise awareness of, celebrate and support people of mixed heritage.

Clare Whelan OBE DL

Clare was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant in 2001 and was the Representative Deputy Lieutenant for the London Borough of Merton from 2015-2020. Clare is an independent advisor on local government. She plays an active role in a number of voluntary organisations including The Gloucester (1682) Charitable Trust, Citizens Advice, and organising activities for her local community. Clare is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Freeman of the City of London.

Previously she served as a local councillor in London from 1990-2014. Clare was the Mayor of the London Borough of Lambeth and is the immediate past chair of the London Mayors’ Association. From its formation in 1997-2014, she was active in the national cross-party Local Government Association serving on its main programme boards and developing training for councillors. Her ‘day’ jobs from 1989-2015 were at Westminster working with politicians and the policy world. Clare was appointed an OBE in 2013 for services to local government.

In her spare time, Clare is learning to fly and to play the saxophone.

Mrs Debbie Wilkinson DL

Debbie began her working career in the travel industry before joining the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association for Greater London in 2003, where her responsibilities included employer liaison, marketing and communications, and community engagement. Debbie has worked closely with the Greater London Lieutenancy for over 20 years and was delighted to be commissioned as a Deputy Lieutenant in November 2023.

Debbie joined the Army Reserves whilst at university and served 10 years with 31 (City of London) Signal Regiment, retiring as a Captain. She currently chairs the Princess Louise’s Kensington Regimental Association.

Since 2019, Debbie has been the co-ordinator for YOU London, a partnership of Youth Organisations in Uniform (YOU) working together in the capital to maximise opportunities for young people and raising awareness of the continual need for adult volunteers.

Debbie is married to Stephen, an insurance risk assessor, and has two teenage daughters. In her spare time, Debbie runs the girls section of her local football club and manages her daughter’s girls football team.

 Colonel Ray Wilkinson QVRM TD VR DL

A former Territorial Army and Army Reserve Officer, Ray’s service included the command of 71^st (City of London) Yeomanry Signal Regiment, which has a sub unit based within the Borough of Croydon; he was the regiment’s Honorary Colonel up until February 2022.  He has spent most of his career in the field of operations management and business performance improvement, living and working in the Borough of Croydon for 13 years.

He has served in numerous third sector voluntary appointments for nearly thirty years including being the Chair of Working with Words, a Social Enterprise producing accessible information for people with learning difficulties based in Woolwich, Governor of the Sir William Boreman Trust, a grant making trust for young people in Lewisham and Greenwich, Trustee of MCCH Society, a large social care provider for vulnerable people s based in and around London and the South East, and Vice Chair of Zetetick Housing, a charity providing specialist housing primarily for residents with learning disabilities within the Borough of Croydon and in East Sussex.

Ray is a Freeman of the City of London and Liveryman of The Drapers Company.  He is married to Elizabeth, a retired Hospital Play Therapist, and they have two adult sons and a growing number of grandchildren.

The Rev’d Canon Dr Flora Winfield

The Rev’d Canon Dr Flora Winfield was one of the first women ordained in the Church of England and now serves as the Anglican Communion Representative to the United Nations. Over 26 years in ordained ministry, Flora has been in parish ministry, university chaplaincy and teaching, ecumenical work, international relations, cathedral ministry and most recently, served for seven years as the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Secretary for Anglican Relations. Flora has served as a Chaplain to the Reserve Forces for 18 years and is Chaplain to the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry. Her other voluntary work has been concentrated around issues of homelessness and education for girls and women.

Major Richard Wilson MBE VR DL

Richard’s family roots are in Perthshire, Scotland where he always visits regularly with his family, but he has been a resident of Wandsworth with his family for over thirty years.

Having trained at The School of Agriculture, Aberdeen in general agriculture, Richard has enjoyed a career in the wine and spirits Industry with two large Multinational Companies (Seagram UK and Constellation Europe) prior to establishing his own wine and spirit consultancy in 2007.  Richard is a Warden of the Vintners Company, a City of London Livery Company.

Richard has recently completed service with the Army Reserve having undertaken roles with The Parachute Regiment, Sandhurst Group and HQ London District. Most recently he was mobilised to serve as a Military Liaison Officer to the London local Authorities for the duration of the Covid Pandemic. He is now a Cadet Force Adult Volunteer.

Richard has a wide range of interests, which includes Military history and developing his knowledge of heraldry.  He is currently a Trustee of Merville Battery Museum in Normandy and is Chair of ‘Netherton Church Building Community Group’ – a not for profit community project in Northern Perthshire.  The intent is to deliver social cohesion for ‘all faiths or none’ and restore the relevance and heritage of Netherton Church closed by the Church of Scotland in 2011.  He has also served as a Governor of Tudor Hall School and Chair of Governors of Carrdus School in Oxfordshire.

Trisha Windsor MVO DL

After a short spell working in London, Trisha joined British Airways where she worked for over 28 years, initially as cabin crew.  In August 1990, following the invasion of Kuwait, she worked as part of the airline’s Crisis Management Team and was appointed the Emergency Procedures Manager and subsequently Business Manager for Customer Service & Operations worldwide.

Trisha joined The Royal Household in 2007 as the Diary Manager to the former Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (now TRH King Charles III and the Queen Consort) and occupied that role for 14 years.

She is currently a volunteer with the NHS/RVS and has supported the Covid19 vaccination programme since February 2021. Trisha also volunteers at a foodbank with the Trussell Trust and is a Caseworker for SSAFA the Armed Forces Charity.

In her spare time Trisha is a keen walker and interested in the arts and sport. She was born and brought up in Northern Ireland and has lived in South West London since 1973. 

Dr Charles Winstanley TD JP DL

Appointed to the Lieutenancy in 1997, Charles Winstanley served for ten years as Representative DL for Camden.  A former management consultant, he has been a non-executive director in the NHS and in central government. He now chairs the Military Sub-Committee of the Cabinet Office Honours Decorations and Medals Committee. Charles also chairs the Contact Group, the collaboration for policy, treatment, and research of military mental health in the UK. He is a former regular soldier with active service in the Middle East and Northern Ireland and later commanded TA units in London and Belfast. 

Ms Roxane Zand DL

Harvard and Oxford educated, Roxane Zand began a career in museum and arts administration after three years in UNESCO. She left Iran after the Revolution to resume professional activities in London in the field of education and the arts, and as one of the founding members of the Harvard Club of London. She was an officer of the Iran Heritage Foundation before moving to Asia House, as well as freelance consultancies for numerous projects for the British Museum and elsewhere in the art world before joining Sothebys in 2006 where she is now Deputy Chairman for the Middle East. Currently she sits on the Advisory Council of the Pictet Art Prize, the Development Board of the University of the Arts London, and has been appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant in London. She is also arts editor for the Encyclpoedia Islamica. At Sothebys she has played an instrumental role in developing and contributing to sales of Arab and Iranian art, and has conducted a number of charity auctions to benefit causes in the MENA region.