Who’s who
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Stephen Robertson
CEO
Stephen has been CEO at the Big Issue Foundation since July 2007. His previous role was Director of Commercial Operations at Shelter, where he had responsibility for a chain of 100 charity Stores, a mail-order business and a Training business primarily focusing on Housing professionals. Stephen was a member of the Senior Management Team with cross organisational responsibility for the strategic management of the Charity. Stephen was at Shelter for 13 years.
Stephen helped found and ultimately chaired the professional body that represents the majority of Charity Retailers in the UK, ‘The Association of Charity Shops’. Stephen is a Trustee of the homeless health care charity, London Pathway, a Trustee of TRAID, a charity committed to protecting the environment and reducing world poverty by recycling and campaigning at home and Chair of the Board of Trustees of Shoreditch Town Hall Trust.
Stephen has recently delivered extremely well received speeches at leading industry events. He has a dynamic and engaging style of presenting through which he brings to life issues relating to homelessness and the role of social enterprise and charities, and specifically The Big Issue and The Big Issue Foundation, in addressing social problems. If you are interested in Stephen speaking at your upcoming event, please complete the form here and we will get back to you with his availability and his cost.
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Alison J Newman
Chair of the Board of Trustees
Alison is a chartered accountant with over 20 years of experience working in senior finance and audit roles within industry. Most recently she has worked as a finance director for British Airways supporting major investment programmes and controlling costs. Her previous roles have included Head of Internal Audit.
“I met Stephen (CEO TBIF) and his team a few years ago and was seriously impressed and inspired by the great work they do with the magazine vendors. Recognising that homelessness is the symptom not the cause is the first step to helping these vulnerable individuals take a step towards a better life. I’m honoured to be a part of such an important and thriving organisation.”
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Patrick Foster
Patrick worked in the City of London from 1981 to 2008, starting as a mining analyst. He spent 10 years with Rothschild Asset Management as a Managing Director, 11 years with ING as a Managing Director in their securities division before moving to ICAP as a Managing Director in their Equities Division. Patrick has worked with mining companies for over 25 years both as a Director and as an advisor on corporate strategy, fund raising and investor relations. He has 30+ years’ experience and is a geology graduate with an MBA from London Business School.
“I have been a supporter of the Big Issue from its inception as it simply appears to be one of those really good ideas that actually work in practice.”
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Harry McAdoo
Harry McAdoo runs a small consultancy specialising in reputation risk. He has over 20 years corporate affairs experience gained at Board level on behalf of the accountancy profession. He first became involved with The Big Issue Foundation having got to know and support a vendor and has run a number of marathons on their behalf.
“The Big Issue Foundation does important work helping people get back on their feet. I am proud to be a trustee.”
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Gisele Ryan
Gisele comes from a background of BBC, CNN, CNBC and advertising and branded content agencies. She has recently started her own agency – ‘G’ which creates high-end commercials and branded content.
She got involved with the Big Issue Foundation during her 5 years at CNN where she created all of our ‘Real Lives, Real Achievements’ films about award winning vendors, pro bono. She has travelled extensively throughout the world filming commercials, branded content and factual documentary stories.
“I first got involved with the Big Issue Foundation when I attended a meeting at the Big Issue offices with CNN where I met Stephen and the team in 2008. When I attended the meeting I was so used to seeing vendors in so many locations in London I had, wrongly, assumed that the team would be vast. What I learnt that day was that the Big Issue Foundation has a small and passionate team who make a big difference to vendor’s lives.
When I then went on to meet a diverse, cross-section of vendors – different ages, different backgrounds and all with different life experiences – I learnt that there was one message that rang true over and over again……..the Big Issue’s Foundation’s work is absolutely vital to so many to tackle both homelessness and self-esteem.”
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Parveen Bird
Parveen started her career in advertising sales for magazine. Since then she has worked as an Assistant Producer of various regional BBC and ITV stations before becoming a reporter and producer for GMTV. More recently Parveen completed an MBA at Anglia Ruskin university and has been Director at The Big Issue; overseeing the London magazine and digital strategy since 2010.
“The combination of formal study through the MBA and informal ‘apprenticeship’ observing John Bird, has given me a great understanding of what can be done.”
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Jonathan Lachmann
Jonathan trained with a major international accountancy firm, before working for Drive For Youth, a motivational training charity, as its development manager for two and a half years. He now works for H W Fisher & Company and specialises primarily in financial consultancy for charities and other not-for-profit organisations.
“Not many charities are able to recognise that they cannot specialise in everything. The Foundation does and is therefore able to work in partnership with a number of excellent organisations to be able to offer the best tailored services to homeless people. This means that our direct costs are as effectively positioned as is possible, which is why I am proud to be associated with such a great organisation and group of people.”
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Mark Dempster
Mark is a former vendor now experienced counsellor treating people with addictions in his Harley Street Practice – Mark Dempster Counselling. He provide individual and group therapies as well as specialist training and professional interventions. Mark has over 16 years personal experience of addictions to drugs and alcohol and over 19 years now of recovery and working in the addictions treatment field. Mark is also a published author of two books about addiction.
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Juliette Foster
Juliette Foster is a TV and radio presenter, interviewer, conference facilitator, public speaker and book reviewer. She has worked in the media for over 30 years.
“I joined the Big Issue Foundation because I believe that homelessness can happen to anyone and that all of us should reach out in whatever way we can to help those who find themselves on the streets.”
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Pete Mills
Pete Mills is the Founder and Managing Director of SmartResponse Media and has formally held Directorships at The Specialist Works and JML.
During his career he has specialised in direct response marketing on TV working with Brands, Multi-Channel Retailers and Travel Companies.
Pete joined The Big Issue Foundation as a Trustee three years ago in the summer of 2016 and is very passionate about the issue of homelessness, commenting:“Having been a Londoner all my life I have always been acutely aware of the plight of homelessness and the need to address this chronic social problem. The Big Issue Foundation works tirelessly to tackle these fundamental issues to give our Vendors the opportunity to transform their lives – I am very proud to be a Trustee of this unique charity”.
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Steve Shirley
Steve is an expert in financial inclusion and is pursuing a portfolio career following retirement from Mastercard. He has over 25 years of payments experience and is a leader in how automation, digital solutions and innovation can ensure all citizens can be included in the financial world.He is also passionate about eradicating the “poverty premium” through including all people in the digital financial world. He has worked with Ministers, parliamentarians, senior civil servants, local authorities and charities to provide payment solutions for all. Steve joined The Big Issue Foundation as a Trustee in the summer of 2016 and is very passionate about the issue of homelessness, commenting:
“I often met people through my job or volunteering that really make a difference to others. I was introduced to the work of The Big Issue Foundation through its previous chairperson, Steve Round, and am impressed by all involved who strive to advance the lives of the Big Issue vendors.”
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Leesa Harwood
Leesa has 30 years’ charity experience. Starting as a fundraiser with The American Cancer Society then returning to the UK to work with charities including Save the Children and Business in the Community.
In 2009 Leesa joined the RNLI, becoming Director of Lifesaving and Fundraising, leading the RNLI’s lifeboat and lifeguard operation and overseeing the generation of multi-million income budgets.
Now Leesa runs her own consultancy, advising on charity leadership. Leesa says,‘I have always been an avid reader of the Big Issue, so I jumped at the chance to become a Trustee of such an innovative organisation.’