Children with disabilities cheering and wearing medals after disability sports event at CORSU hospital in Uganda.

Leadership

Meet our Leadership Team

CBM UK employs about 45 people in the UK, with expertise in international development and disability, programme management, fundraising, communications, administration, finance and governance.

Our team provides the highest level of commitment, expertise and skills to achieve our vision of an inclusive world in which all people with disabilities enjoy their human rights and achieve their full potential.

The members of the leadership team are the directors of each department within CBM UK.

 

Kirsty SmithKirsty Smith, Chief Executive

Kirsty joined CBM UK as Chief Executive in 2012 and is part of the leadership of CBM Global, the international Federation of which CBM UK is a member.

In addition to her strategic leadership of the organisation, Kirsty leads on CBM UK’s advisory work, promoting broader, systemic change and supporting others to put inclusion into practice. She is currently a member of the UK Government Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office’s External challenge board for disability inclusion.

Kirsty has a Master’s degree in International Development and long background in equity and social justice work.

Her previous roles include Chief Executive for All We Can (formerly Methodist Relief and Development Fund); Advocacy and Campaigns Director for World Action, a pioneering programme empowering young people to take action on global injustice and Vice Chair of INGO network BOND.

 

Matthew Hanning headshotMatthew Hanning, Director of International Programmes 

Matthew joined CBM UK as Director of International Programmes in June 2018, bringing over 20 years of experience of disability inclusive development. He has been passionate about creating opportunities for people with disabilities since volunteering at a school for deaf and deafblind children in Jordan as a gap year student.

Since 2002, Matthew has worked for CBM in the Middle East, Australia and as Country Director for Indonesia from 2012-2018. He has a Masters in Disability and Development Studies from the University of Leeds.

 

Ian Barker

Ian Barker, Director of Finance & Operations

Ian joined CBM UK as Director of Finance and Operations in July 2021, with responsibility for overseeing the charity’s finances and maximising organisational efficiency, effectiveness and innovation. He brings over 15 years of experience within the charity sector, most recently with Cambridgeshire-based disability charity Papworth Trust, where he was the Head of Finance.

Ian is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and holds a degree in economics.

 

Nick Marsh.Nick Marsh, Director of Fundraising & Communications

Nick joined CBM UK as Director of Fundraising in October 2023, with a responsibility of maximising income and partnering with supporters to help transform the lives of people with disability in the world's poorest communities. Nick brings over 20 years of experience working in senior roles in the charity sector in the UK and internationally, including WWF, Shelter, Christian Aid and Amnesty International.

Over the last few years, Nick has worked as a consultant supporting charities like The Samaritans and Y Care and has set up his own community based organisations in Cambodia and Bolivia. 


Keep up to date! Sign up to our e-news here