Trustee and governance

At Central YMCA we are governed by a board of trustees made up of successful figures in the fields of health, education, finance, media and communications. Each member brings with them expertise that helps us achieve our goal of making people healthier, happier and more fulfilled.

Andrew Beal

Chair

Andrew Beal is a seasoned senior executive with 28 years financial services experience. He reported at board level for many years and led diverse teams of highly skilled individuals in Asia, Europe and the US, working for blue chip companies including Schroders, Janus Henderson, Allianz and Deutsche Bank. Andrew left financial services in 2017 and now runs his own company providing coaching, mentoring and consulting services to senior executives.

 

Adam Whale

Trustee

Adam Whale is a Chartered Member of CIPD and is Director of People and Culture at Greenhouse Sports, one of the UK’s leading Sport for Development charities, where he leads the HR, Health and Safety, Facilities Management and Operational Support teams. Previously he spent 15 years working across Europe in the ski industry, both in HR and as a ski coach. He is passionate about the role sport plays in a fulfilling life and making this accessible to everyone. A lover of both the outdoors and a challenge, he now working his way through his bucket list of ultramarathons.

 

Melissa Bryant

Trustee

Melissa Bryant is the Communications Lead for Sustainable Development at the World Bank, advising senior leadership on strategic communications and reputation management tactics to promote its climate portfolio. She has led media engagement at major global events such as the United Nations' COP climate summits, and previously worked as a journalist and in the NGO sector. Originally from the Caribbean, Melissa has worked with migrant and diaspora communities in her spare time to provide mentoring and advice on adapting to life in the UK.

 

Glenn Dunn

Trustee

Glenn Dunn is a commercial real estate partner at the Mayfair law firm, Forsters LLP where he has worked for over 20 years. In addition to his trusteeship with Central YMCA, Glenn is a member of the PCC of his local church in Camden Town. Glenn's interests outside his professional and charitable work include directing the London Gay Big Band, theatre and genealogy

 

Professor Ian John Govendir MA FRSA MinstF

Trustee

Ian has worked in the voluntary sector since 1992 he has a master’s degree from Lancaster University which majored in Marketing. He has worked for the British Red Cross, The National Deaf Children’s Society, he was the CEO of the British Lung Foundation, in 2009 he founded Aids Orphan UK Trust. He has advised the UN Democracy Fund and has worked for Queens’ College Cambridge. Before the voluntary sector, he worked in marketing for Sony UK and Honeywell computers. In 2016 he was made an Honorary Visiting Professor at London Metropolitan University. Ian had been interested in the middle east political scene from a young age, he is an amateur photographer and likes to visit historic buildings.

 

Anne-Marie Laing

Trustee

Anne-Marie Laing is a Fellow at the ICAEW and is a Partner at Deloitte Consulting leading the Private Equity Practice. She is passionate about ESG and whilst a Partner at Zolfo Cooper LLP and AlixPartners LLP created a charitable foundation which supported local small charities grow. She has previously served on the Charity’s Finance and Audit committee and is chair of the Resources Committee. Her professional career has covered multiple sectors, and she has acted for and advised a broad range of stakeholders to help transform businesses. Anne-Marie is a wife and mother to four boys and enjoys spending leisure time together with her family in their house in France and at various sporting events.

 

Tim Lissimore

Trustee

Tim Lissimore is Senior Deputy Head at Wilson’s School, one of the oldest state schools in the UK, which was recently awarded London State Secondary School of the Decade by the Sunday Times. Having trained and taught at a number of schools in London and Essex, he has been responsible for teaching, pupil wellbeing, Special Educational Needs (SEN), professional development and safeguarding. As a pianist, he has performed, accompanied and examined widely alongside his roles in education.

 

Yusuf Nurbhai

Trustee

Yusuf is a managing director at State Street in the financial services sector, where he has worked for over 14 years in a variety of roles within trading, fintech, governance and strategy. He has reported at board level for many years and led diverse teams in Europe, Asia and the US. In addition to his trusteeship with Central YMCA, Yusuf works closely with the charity Street League, which uses the power of sport to tackle poverty and give young people the opportunities they need to succeed in life and the workplace.

 

Dr. Cheryl Turner

Trustee

Cheryl is a Senior Research Fellow at the Learning and Work Institute who brings a wealth of relevant experience to our post 16 offer having worked in higher, further, and adult and community education for over 40 years, and in support of Third Sector providers.
She has worked for key sector bodies such as the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education, and government departments, with her experience ranging from teaching and community outreach to research and policy development. She has also served on a number of Boards, most recently as Chair at a residential adult education college.  

 

Peter Wright

Trustee

Peter is an experienced commercial executive with a focus on the technology and consumer leisure sector, and is currently serving as Managing Director of the Fitness vertical for Evercommerce, a NASDAQ quoted North American technology company.
Over the past 20 years Peter has held senior executive positions across multiple private equity backed large health club operators including Virgin Active and Xercise4less.
Having started his fitness career at the YMCA in Sheffield he is passionate about making health & fitness accessible to more people.

 

Stephen Varma

Trustee

Stephen is a senior risk management professional with over 20 years of international, strategic and front-line experience within FTSE 100/250 businesses.
His experience spans the Infrastructure, Transportation, Energy & Utilities, Mining, Commodities Sales and Trading sectors and he has been involved in providing support to governmental bodies and non-profits around the world on issues as diverse as public infrastructure, ESG and social mobility.

 

Trustees and Impact Reports

Learn more about our charity's achievements and performance, including the annual financial review.

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