Peter Ayres

Chair, Board of Trustees

Peter joined the Concern Universal Board of Trustees in 2008. He is a professionally qualified civil and structural engineer and worked for 37 years with Arup Group, one of the UK’s largest independent consultants, where he spent time managing projects and people around the world. With a history of international travel across Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe, his return to the UK from Hong Kong brought the desire to give back to the global community.

Sara Howe

Trustee

Sara first met Concern Universal in 2003 through a joint project with the Tetley Group providing water and sanitation for people in the tea growing region of Malawi, and became a trustee in 2012. Working in the tea industry for 32 years she held senior commercial and communication roles before pursuing an interest in sustainable development. She created and directed the Tetley global sustainability programme and acquired a particular interest in opportunities for business to collaborate with the Third and educational sectors to deliver sustainable outcomes. Sara is currently a strategic communication advisor for the Ethical Tea Partnership.

Adam Wynne

Trustee

Adam is a qualified teacher and a management consultant at PwC. He is also an ambassador of the Teach First programme and recently completed a Masters in Educational Leadership. Adam’s initial development experiences came when he supported an education initiative in China as a student at Oxford University. He has since managed community projects in several countries and shares Concern Universal’s belief that large-scale change is best achieved when it is built upon respect for the individual.

Nicola Mushet

Trustee

Nicola has over 15 years of international development experience in programming and managerial roles based overseas, including roles with Save the Children, VSO and Children’s Aid Direct. She first became associated with CU in 1992 as Country Director in Malawi and later as Country Director in Bangladesh. She joined the Board in 2005 and quickly moved to Chair until 2010. She is particularly interested in community based programming and natural resource management.

Chikondi Mpokosa

Trustee

Chikondi has over sixteen years of experience in international development and humanitarian response. Born in Malawi, Chikondi gained a degree in Education from the University of Malawi before going on to study a Masters in Education, Gender and International Development at the Institute of Education, University of London. She is currently studying for a PhD with Oxford Brookes University. She is a Manager for Education at UNICEF South Sudan.

Lucy Weston

Trustee

Lucy’s first contact with Concern Universal was whilst doing research in Malawi as part of her Geography degree at Oxford University. She has followed Concern Universal’s progress ever since. As a chartered accountant, she has worked at senior levels across the business and non-profit sector, including as Operations Director at Virgin Unite and Director of Corporate Services for Crisis. She also has experience in micro-finance from her role with AMK Microfinance Bank. Lucy is now a full-time mum, sits on the audit committee of Oxford Brookes University and is a non-executive director of SOHA housing association.

Robin Todd

Trustee

Robin has over fourteen years’ experience in international development and public service delivery. Robin joined Concern Universal as Nigeria Country Director in 2004 and was Malawi Country Director from 2010-2013. He has also worked in the Prime Ministers Delivery Unit, monitoring and reporting on performance management, and as a Policy Advisor for the Department for Education and Skills. His current role with Mott MacDonald works with governments in low and middle-income countries to improve education and skills delivery systems.

Alan Davies

Trustee

Alan has a degree in Statistics and spent over thirty years in the Civil Service, twenty of which were in senior positions in the Department of Education and Skills and its predecessor bodies. During this time he acquired experience and skills in project management, HR, policy development and analysis. Alan volunteered for Village Aid in Bakewell, Yorkshire, before going on to become Chair of the Board. He has been on the Village Aid Board of Trustees since 2009 and has first-hand experience of both Concern Universal and Village Aid partners and projects across Africa.

Nicholas Briggs

Trustee

Nicholas is a graduate engineer and chartered accountant and the Chief Financial Officer of Megawatt Power, a provider of power generation units to developing countries. He is an experienced board director and has travelled to over 50 countries worldwide, either for business or pleasure. Nicholas’ interests are in the sustainable development of energy and infrastructure (power, drinking water and sanitation) as an enabler towards improving education. He joined Concern Universal as a Trustee in September 2014.