Trustees and Governance

"I am Managing Director of Zurich Municipal, the specialist public sector division of Zurich in the UK. Zurich Municipal insures local authorities, housing associations, all types of educational establishments and charities and social organisations in the UK. There is an obvious synergy with the great work of the Zurich Community Trust (ZCT) and when the opportunity arose to become a trustee, I jumped at the chance.

Charities change lives and this is certainly the case with ZCT. When you look at the range of organisations supported by ZCT over many years and the manner of that support which goes well beyond just financial, you can see the far reaching impact.

There is real passion and commitment amongst the employees of the Trust which is great to see. Beyond this, however, the Trust holds a special place in the hearts of the employees of Zurich in the UK based on the difference it makes to peoples lives."

"Outside of my role as a Trustee for Zurich Community Trust (ZCT) I live in Bath with my wife Joanna and four children (aged 3, 8, 13, 16), love travelling and exploring as a family, playing any sport I can find, and am the UK Chief Compliance Officer for Zurich.

I was motivated to join the ZCT Board as I regularly see first hand the fantastic work that ZCT does and wanted to do everything I could to support this work and ensure the Trust continues to have such a positive impact on so many lives and organisations.

ZCT is important for me because it is a way that we can all have to make a positive impact on the lives of people who are less fortunate than us. Supporting the work of ZCT means supporting something that, in many ways, represents the very heart of everything we do, and why we do it, at Zurich.

I am always so proud to see all of the volunteers who give up their time to support the work of ZCT."

“I’m absolutely delighted to Chair the ZCT Board. Zurich has a longstanding commitment to its communities and the Trust plays such a key part in that. That’s everything from our strategic programmes right through to the gardening and DIY challenges we all know and love! I’ve been involved in ZCT activity for over 20 years, most recently on the Trust executive. I’m really looking forward to ensuring we’re making the most of every opportunity to support deserving causes in our communities.”

"As Chief Executive Officer for Zurich in the UK, I am incredibly proud of the long tradition Zurich Community Trust has in supporting communities the length and breadth of the UK. For almost 50 years, the Zurich Community Trust has played a critical role in helping to tackle a wide range of issues, providing vitally important funding to our charity partners and combining that with the injection of time and skills of Zurich UK employees.

More recently, we have been able to support our charity partners with a broad package of non-financial support, including funded webinars, access to Zurich UK’s training resources and membership to infrastructure organisations – all with the aim of investing in our charity partners’ futures.

The Trust is hugely important to me and it supports Zurich’s broader sustainability commitments, which are vital to the way we do business. I am honoured to lead an organisation of generous people, who dedicate both time and money, to improve the communities in which we operate."

"I retired from Zurich in 2016 after a 34-year career that involved many different roles, took me to amazing places and enabled me to meet, make friends and work with amazing people. The big constant throughout all that was ZCT (which was the Hambro Life Staff Charity Fund when I first became a donor/volunteer in 1983!).

ZCT is amazing. I was inspired back in 1983 by Joel Joffe, who had founded the Trust, and who gently but firmly told me of his vision that we would help those less fortunate than ourselves when I met him on my first day at Hambro Life in 1983. He motivated me to become involved, his role model that led me to join the Trust Board in 2007 and I remain involved, as an ‘independent trustee’, even as I bumble around in ‘retirement’.

I am so proud of the difference that we make to all we help. Making financial donations, which make a huge difference. Giving time and business skills, which make an even bigger one. And through all of that, bringing hope and belief, the biggest difference of all, to those who need it most."

"I am CEO of Migrants Resource Centre, a charity that supports migrants and refugees to integrate in Britain. I am also MD of Twelve Winds Consulting, a firm that supports businesses to develop and implement effective, values-led strategies.

I have focused my career on reducing poverty and helping disadvantaged and vulnerable people around the world. I have done this directly through work in the voluntary sector, but also by encouraging responsible companies to support the communities in which they work. This has given me a good understanding of how to build and maintain effective relationships between charities and the companies (and their employees) that support them. As a Trustee of Zurich Community Trust, I can use my experience to ensure the time and money donated by Zurich and its employees is used effectively to support those in need.

I’m proud to be part of ZCT because it is a remarkable community of people – Zurich leadership, employees across the country, and the charities we support. Everyone in this community is committed to helping others, and it really makes a difference."