Tamar Ghosh – Chair
Tamar has a strong track record in the voluntary sector. She was Director of the social action campaign ‘Give More’ on behalf of one of the Pears Foundation, promoting increased giving of money and time amongst the UK public. Prior to that, she spent 15 years developing and delivering funding strategies for international NGOs, including ActionAid and VSO. Separately, she founded and continues to run two social enterprises working in global and national healthcare. Tamar has an MBA from Imperial College, London and Masters in Development Studies, following an undergraduate degree in Mathematics at Bristol University. She is also a trustee of Heart UK and BAAG, a consultant on fundraising and strategy development, and a guest speaker at Imperial College Business School on innovation and entrepreneurship as part of its MBA and Masters in Health programmes. |
Ann O’Connell – Vice Chair
Ann is a qualified treasurer and accountant with a particular interest in good governance. She has many years experience in banking, working in audit, finance, treasury, and risk. She has also worked as a non-executive Director of a Credit Union and a Building Society. She is currently working as a Director of Rhino Software Ltd., a company which develops innovative mobile apps for the SME market. Ann is a trustee and treasurer of the Leicestershire and Rutland branch of Emmaus UK, a national charity which works to end homelessness. She is also a Director of Leicester Health Insight (LHI) a not for profit company which aims to facilitate improvements in health and social care for the population of Leicester city. |
John Adams – Treasurer
John was the first Chair and is now the Vice President of the National Governors’ Association, was a founder member of the National Teaching Awards, spent four years on the board of the General Teaching Council, and has been a member of various advisory boards at the Department of Education. John is married with two adult children and lives in North Yorkshire. He is a member of five cricket clubs, including the MCC. John received an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday honours list in 2012 for services to education. |
Iain Deboys
He has had various leadership roles in humanist organisations for 25 years and is currently Chair of Northern Ireland Humanists and is a School Speaking Volunteer and the NI Humanists lead for Community Development. Iain worked closely with Andrew Copson and Boyd Sleator to set up the NI Humanists section in 2016 and is proud of the NI team and the achievements it has had in a short time in the very challenging local environment of sectarian politics and religiosity. |
Ruth Kaufman
She has been President of the OR Society and chair of its ‘Pro Bono OR’ support service; and in 2016 received an OBE for Services to OR. From 2009 to 2014 she chaired Woman’s Trust, a charity helping women affected by domestic violence reclaim their lives. She has been an atheist all her life, a SACRE member since 2010 and is an accredited Humanists UK school speaker. |
Ewan MainEwan qualified first in Linguistics (York) then in Community and Youth Work (Durham). He has worked in various youth, advice, and welfare services and was a founder trustee of two local charities. For twelve years he developed and ran the national online support services – internet communities and email helplines – for unpaid carers for a UK charity, at the same time as freelance design and consultancy work in web, film, print and words. He has been a humanist celebrant since 2012 and served a term on Humanists UK’s Ceremonies Board. As such, much of his year is spent focusing on non-religious ritual and the important role it can play in people’s lives. Ewan lives with his wife in York, his home since 1997. |
Neil McKainNeil is a Head of Religious Studies with over ten years teaching experience. He graduated in Theology and RS from the University of Leeds His work nationally in RE has been extensive. Neil is part of an advisory group to the Rt Hon Charles Clarke and Professor Linda Woodhead Neil is a committed humanist and a firm advocate for RE which is objective, fair and balanced. |
Stephanie NivenStephanie is a portfolio manager of global equities, having spent her career in finance, starting at Goldman Sachs. She is currently based in London and over the last year has become a trustee of COIF Charity Funds, facilitating access to top class investment products to those in the charitable sector. Through her work she has become an Ambassador for the Diversity Project and a keen mentor to broaden access to financial careers. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst and member of the CFA Institute. Stephanie is a History graduate from Merton College, University of Oxford, and is the mother of three young children. She has represented Great Britain in the World Championships for Age Group Long Distance Triathlon. |
Sophy RobinsonSophy has a science degree, and an early career producing science and medical programmes for BBC TV. Over the last 20 years Sophy has been involved in voluntary work: chair of two education charities in London and the New Forest; a business governor of a Further Education College; and is currently on the board of New Forest Business Partnership. She is a mentor to entrepreneurs through a government-backed mentoring scheme; and also involved in various public sector panels, reviewing funding applications for business grants to develop sustainable businesses. In her spare time she sings in a chamber choir, plays the piano and is a keen walker and cyclist. |
Jeremy Rodell
Jeremy is the co-founder and Chair of South West London Humanists, a humanist school speaker, and Humanists UK’s (volunteer) Dialogue Officer. In 2011 he led a high-profile campaign for more inclusive admissions at a new faith school in Twickenham. He thinks humanists can make an important positive contribution to a fair, plural society. |
Imtiaz Shams
In 2012, he began creating ‘underground railroad’ networks for ex-Muslims around the world. In 2015, he co-founded Faith to Faithless, an organisation working to reduce the stigma faced by ‘apostates’ of all religions. It has been featured on the BBC and in Vice, the Guardian, and the Times, and has helped thousands find a place for themselves in a world that often dehumanises the non-religious. Faith to Faithless later became a part of Humanists UK. Imtiaz currently serves as its Chair. Imtiaz believes humanism is vital in the fight to bring happiness to apostates who face discrimination from their families, community, and state. He has a management degree from the London School of Economics and works as a consultant for high-tech solutions to problems including age-care, transport safety, and approaches to countering right-wing and Islamic extremism. He tweets at @imtishams. |
Emma Shepherd
Previously chair of Wales Humanists, Emma has been involved in humanist campaigns in Wales, particularly around education. Passionate about people and community, she regularly runs events to bring people together in her local area, and is a trustee of the local village hall. In her spare time, Emma likes reading, baking, running and being in nature. |
Hamza bin Walayat
|