Skip to content

Our people

At CBM UK, we want to create a better world for everyone, everywhere. Our team’s commitment, expertise and dedication are helping to create lasting change for people with disabilities, their families and communities living in some of the world’s poorest places.

Our experts

To tackle our work effectively, we believe in listening to the real experts – people with disabilities themselves. We believe that people with disabilities should be central to the decisions and plans that affect their future.

Our partners

We work with experienced local partners to create lasting change. 100 per cent of our staff in the field are from the countries we work in. That way we can have a better understanding of the communities we work with.

Our Board of Trustees

We are governed by our Board of Trustees. The Board meets regularly and is responsible for setting our strategic direction and overall governance, and ensuring the organisation is financially sound and answerable to people with disabilities living in poverty and our supporters.

Tim Morris Chair of Trustees

Tim started his career with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). His years of service included appointments as British Ambassador to Morocco and Mauritania, Head of Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ambassador to South Sudan and as Trade Advisor on Africa.

In 2018, Tim set up a consultancy specialising in advising companies and organisations on investing in Africa. He also works on climate issues – specifically the energy transition in low-income countries and conflict issues.

Tim is a passionate advocate for people with disabilities and, having lived with glaucoma for over 20 years, has a personal appreciation of the vital importance of access to healthcare. Drawn to CBM by its Christian values, its achievements, and its passion for the issues, Tim became Chair of Trustees in October 2023.

Tim Morris, wearing a checked shirt and dark jacket, stands in front of a wooden background and smiles into the camera.
James Rayton

James read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University before spending 10 years (and counting) in the international development sector. Recently based in Kenya as Save the Children’s Director of Innovation and Impact Investing, he saw first-hand the impact organisations like CBM UK have. This motivates him in his role as a trustee and in his work on our Programmes Committee.

James is a serving army reserves officer, a qualified skydiver and fervent real ale enthusiast! He has been a CBM UK Trustee since 2017.

James Raynor has his arms crossed and smiles into the camera.
Rob Dillarstone

Rob graduated with a law degree from University College London in 1983 and qualified as a solicitor at Greenwoods in 1986. He has spent his career as an employment lawyer before becoming Managing Partner at Greenwoods GRM.

Rob is passionate about leadership and the firm’s values of respect, excellence, freedom and fun.

Rob worships at St Peter’s Church, Oundle. He is a keen runner and avid fan of Peterborough United. Rob became a Trustee of CBM UK in 2019.

Rob Dillarstone, wearing a dark jacket and white shirt, smiles into the camera.
Gill Kelly

Gill spent her early career working as a midwife in an Eastern Sudanese refugee camp, following the 1983-5 Ethiopian famine. Following her Masters Degree, Gill held several senior management positions in the NHS.

In 2000, Gill established a management consultancy company to develop a portfolio of NHS and health sector reform work. She has since worked in Africa, Asia and South America.

Throughout her career, Gill has held positions as a charitable trustee and became a CBM UK Trustee in 2019.

Gill Kelly smiles into the camera.
Elizabeth Dun

Elizabeth is an experienced educator. She worked as a headteacher to implement and manage effective change, successfully restructured an independent special school, and mentored school leaders in Rwanda through the British Schools Council.

Acting as an advocate for people with disabilities, she has represented clients in various professional arenas, won cases at tribunals and taken part in the national Disability Rights Campaign.

Charity work includes training with the British Red Cross and providing tribunal helpline support to parents and carers as a Special Education caseworker. Elizabeth has been a CBM UK Trustee since 2019.

Elizabeth Dun smiles into the camera.
Jayne Rowe

Jayne trained as an accountant with a small firm in Hertford, before joining Deloitte in 1999. She worked with a wide range of corporate and charity organisations before deciding to specialise in the charity and not for profit sector.

Jayne currently acts as specialist adviser to charity and not for profit organisations of all sizes, as Partner at Crowe.

In her spare time, Jayne loves travelling and exploring the world. She became a CBM UK Trustee in 2020.

Jayne Rowe smiles into the camera.
Tom Robson

Tom has a background in international development, healthcare management and charitable sector leadership. Since completing a master’s degree in development studies at the University of Cambridge, Tom has worked in India, Tajikistan and Mozambique.

He also works with executive and management teams in a wide range of organisations to improve the effectiveness of their working relationships and management processes.

Tom has been actively involved for two decades in City Church Cambridge. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, tennis, golf and music. Tom has been a CBM UK Trustee since 2021.

Tom Robson, wearing a checked shirt and brown jacket, looks into the camera.
Graham Gordon

Graham has over 25 years’ experience working on global justice and development issues for a variety of faith-based organisations, including Tearfund and Paz y Esperanza, a local human rights organisation in Peru. He is passionate about the role the church can play in transforming the lives of individuals and communities, and in challenging unjust systems and structures that keep people in poverty and perpetuate inequality.

Graham is currently the Head of Global Policy and Advocacy at Christian Aid. He was appointed a CBM UK trustee in 2021.

Graham Gordon smiles into the camera.
Simon Waithaka

Simon has over 18 years’ experience in senior leadership positions in the microfinance and humanitarian sectors. He has a track record of visionary, innovative and transformative leadership, with a PhD in Entrepreneurship (Social) from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, an MBA from Kenya Methodist University, and is a practicing Certified Public Accountant and Certified Secretary.

Simon is currently the Managing Partner of Maina Waithaka & Associates, an Audit and Consultancy firm based in Nairobi, Kenya, and serves as an Auditor for the Geneva based Humanitarian Quality Assurance Initiative (HQAI). Simon became a CBM UK Trustee in 2021.

Simon Waithaka headshot
Antonio Massella

Antonio brings over 25 years’ experience in the international development and humanitarian sector, including 15 years working at a senior management level for agencies of the United Nations across Africa, Asia, the Pacific and the Middle East.

Born and raised in South Africa, Antonio works as a consultant, leading evaluations, designing research studies, managing projects and facilitating capacity-strengthening programmes for international donors, national governments, UN agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO).

Antonio was appointed to the Board of Trustees in 2022.

Antonio headshot
Fingani M’hone

Based in Chipata, Zambia, Fingani is Head of Services at Mary’s Meals International.

A Chartered Accountant, he brings two decades of experience in financial operations, strategic planning, and risk management to the Board having held a variety of roles within commercial and not-for-profit organisations.

Fingani became a CBM UK trustee in 2024.

Fingani, wearing a blue jacket, stands in front of a wppden wall and smiles at the camera.
Jim Ackers

With a PhD in Educational Policy, Jim’s key area of interest is education planning and management. Jim has spent most of his life working in Africa and Asia, most recently as Regional Education Adviser for UNICEF South Asia.

Jim is now working as an Education and Development Consultant in the sector. He brings a wealth of experience and insight around how effective programmes can be taken to scale nationally.

Jim became a CBM UK trustee in 2024.

Jim, wearing a red jumper and blue shirt, stands in front of a wooden wall and smiles at the camera.
Ifunfun Akerejola

A Chartered Accountant with a Master’s in Business Administration, Ifunfun brings extensive financial, logistical and project management expertise to the Board.

Based in Abuja, Nigeria, she has worked in international development for many years at Christian Aid, Oxfam and now Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN).

Ifunfun joined the Board of Trustees in 2024.

Ifunfun, wearing a colourful, stripy jacket and glasses, stands in front of a wooden wall and smiles into the camera.
Amjad Ali

Amjad brings to the Board more than 20 years of strategic leadership and management experience in the INGO sector.

With Master’s degrees in Development Studies and Economics, he has held leadership positions in complex contexts in Asia, Africa and Middle East and North Africa. Based in Islamabad in Pakistan, Amjad is currently working for Oxfam as a Roving Country Director.

He was appointed to CBM UK’s Board in 2024.

Amjad Ali, wearing a blue shirt, stands in front of a wooden wall and looks into the camera.