Chief Executive – Andrew Copson OBE
Andrew has been Chief Executive of Humanists UK since 2010, prior to which he had coordinated the organisation’s education and public affairs work since 2005.
Andrew is a leading public advocate for humanism and secularism. He is the author of Secularism: Politics, Religion, and Freedom (Oxford University Press, 2017), with Alice Roberts, The Little Book of Humanism (Hachette, 2020), a Sunday Times best-seller, followed by The Little Book of Humanist Weddings (2021) and The Little Book of Humanist Funerals (2023). With A. C. Grayling, he co-edited The Wiley Blackwell Handbook of Humanism (2015). Later books include What I Believe (Hachette, 2024), based on the Humanists UK podcast of the same name. He has written widely for national newspapers and journals, including the Guardian, Independent, Times, and New Statesman, and is a regular commentator on national television and radio.
He has represented the humanist movement at the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, and UK civic functions, and has held senior advisory and governance roles across education, equality, and public policy. These include serving as a director or trustee of the Religious Education Council, the Values Education Council, and the National Council for Faiths and Beliefs in Further Education; advising UK public bodies such as the BBC, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Home Office, and the Office for National Statistics; and chairing the Westminster Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education. He is also Ambassador, and formerly President, of Humanists International. In 2025, he became the first person to be awarded an OBE for services to the non-religious.
Chief Operations Officer – Catriona McLellan
Catriona is responsible for Humanists UK’s operational effectiveness, including the people, systems, and processes that support delivery of the charity’s aims. Her role covers oversight of administration, finance, HR, training, and organisational planning, ensuring the organisation operates efficiently, sustainably, and in line with good governance.
Before joining Humanists UK, Catriona spent nearly a decade working in the money advice sector. She holds postgraduate qualifications in charity management and finance and in European politics, and brings extensive experience in developing policies, procedures, and operational systems that support long-term organisational resilience.
Director of Human Rights and Advocacy – Richy Thompson
Richy leads the directorate responsible for Humanists UK’s work to advance universal human rights, particularly freedom of thought, expression, and choice. This includes providing support, advice, and advocacy for individuals whose rights have been infringed, alongside policy, legal, campaigning, public affairs, and media work to secure change at a societal level.
Previously, Richy served as Director of Public Affairs and Policy from 2017 to 2025, following earlier roles with us in campaigning and education policy going back to 2011. He brings extensive experience in human rights, equality, and public affairs. Richy is a member of the Faith & Belief Policy Collective and the Religion and Belief Literacy Standard Advisory Group, and was formerly Treasurer of the Religious Education Council of England and Wales and Vice Chair of Lambeth SACRE. He has also served on advisory groups for the Sex Education Forum, Voice for Choice, the Assisted Dying Coalition, and the Accord Coalition for Inclusive Education.
Responsible for
Head of Policy Unit
Head of Press & Campaign Communications
Faith to Faithless
Director of Advancing Humanism – Liam Whitton
Liam leads a multi-disciplinary directorate with responsibility for all Humanists UK’s work to promote better understanding of the humanist approach to life, including through books, digital resources, social media, magazines, courses, education resources, humanist speakers, and traditional advertising, and by growing the community of people who support us as members, supporters, and donors.
Liam leads a multi-disciplinary directorate responsible for Humanists UK’s work to promote better understanding of the humanist approach to life. This includes public education and engagement through books, digital resources, social media, magazines, courses, education programmes, humanist speakers, and advertising, as well as growing and sustaining the community of members, supporters, and donors who enable this work.
Previously, Liam served as Director of Communications and Development from 2019 to 2025, following earlier roles in communications and fundraising. He led the modernisation of Humanists UK’s communications, publishing, and engagement functions, played a central role in the charity’s rebrand as Humanists UK, and delivered rapid organisational growth through new digital channels and tactics.
Responsible for
Head of Fundraising
Head of Education
Head of Communications & Marketing
Editor of New Humanist
Director of Humanist Care – Clare Elcombe Webber
Clare leads the directorate responsible for Humanists UK’s services and activities supporting non-religious people to live happier, more confident, and more ethical lives. This includes Humanist Ceremonies, the Non-Religious Pastoral Support Network, and the provision of community through Local Groups and community sections.
From 2021 to 2025, Clare served as Director of Humanist Care, overseeing Humanists UK’s provision of emotional support through institutional settings such as hospitals, prisons, the armed forces, and our direct support services for people leaving high-control religious environments. During this period, she led the development and expansion of our specialist, trauma-informed support services, including the creation of the Faith to Faithless helpline. She brings deep expertise in trauma-informed practice and service design, supported by an MSc in applied positive psychology, and by nearly two decades’ experience in the violence against women and girls sector, including work with local government and national criminal justice institutions.
Responsible for
Humanist Ceremonies
Head of Pastoral Support
Head of Local Groups
Director of People and Culture – Ann‑Michelle Burton
Ann-Michelle leads Humanists UK’s people and culture work, with responsibility for staff and volunteer happiness and productivity across the organisation. Her role covers people strategy, recruitment, engagement, leadership, learning and development, and HR, and she works closely with colleagues across Operations to ensure Humanists UK is an inclusive, supportive, and effective place to work and volunteer.
Before joining Humanists UK in 2022, Ann-Michelle built experience across learning and development, organisational development, and HR in sectors including finance, healthcare, major events, and the voluntary sector. She holds a Master’s degree in Organisational Development and Training and brings a strategic focus on enabling both people and organisations to reach their full potential.
Director of IT – Andrew West
Andrew leads Humanists UK’s IT and digital infrastructure within the Operations directorate. His team’s responsibilities include information security, digital systems, databases and websites, hardware and office technology, coding and software development, and providing IT support and training to staff and volunteers across the organisation.
Andrew joined Humanists UK in 2011 after running his own IT company and previously volunteering with the charity. He brings long-standing technical expertise alongside deep institutional knowledge of the organisation’s systems and digital development.
Wales Humanists Coordinator – Kathy Riddick
Kathy leads Humanists UK’s work in Wales as Coordinator of Wales Humanists, bringing together members and supporters across the nation. Her role focuses on representing humanists in Wales in public life, supporting a wide volunteer network, and seeing non-religious perspectives reflected in Welsh policy, public debate, and the media. She represents Humanists UK on multiple Welsh Government and civil society groups that promote equality and human rights.
Before joining Humanists UK, Kathy built a career in business consulting and communications experience in stakeholder engagement. She brings this experience to the development of Wales Humanists’ campaigns, services, and community activity. In the world of education, Kathy serves both as Company Secretary of the Religious Education Council of England and Wales and as an executive member for the Welsh Association of SAC(RVE)s. The latter appointment followed a successful legal challenge against her local SACRE to admit humanist representatives.
Northern Ireland Humanists Coordinator – Boyd Sleator
Boyd leads Humanists UK’s work in Northern Ireland as Coordinator of Northern Ireland Humanists, supporting and representing members and supporters across the region. His role focuses on building the organisation’s public profile, campaigns, services, and community activity, and advancing the rights and interests of non-religious people in Northern Ireland.
Before joining Humanists UK, Boyd was active in science engagement and secular campaigning, including as founding chair of AtheistNI. He brings extensive experience in public advocacy, education reform, and media engagement, and has played a central role in Northern Ireland Humanists’ work on marriage equality, reproductive rights, education reform, and the legal recognition of humanist marriages.