Tearfund Ambassadors
These are a small group of high-profile supporters who use their platform to raise awareness of Tearfund’s work. Our Ambassadors commit to helping us achieve our goals by supporting campaigns, fundraising and events.
About us
Our team
Meet Tearfund’s Chief Executive, our Executive Team, and our volunteer Board of Trustee Directors
Tearfund's Nepal Response Manager, Rajan Ghimire, translates for Nigel Harris, Tearfund CEO, in Basanta village in Nepal. Photo credit: Tom Price/Tearfund
Tearfund Executive Team
These are Tearfund's most senior staff members who provide strategic and operational leadership. They set goals, develop our strategy and ensure it is executed effectively.
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Nigel Harris
Chief Executive
Nigel became Tearfund's chief executive in November 2015. Previously, he was chief executive of Farm Africa, a rural development NGO focused on east Africa. Before that he was chief of staff at Save the Children UK. Nigel is married to Teresa and they have two grown-up children. He is an active member of St Michael's Church, Southfields in London.
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Tim Pilkington
Chief Operating Officer
Tim joined Tearfund as Chief Operating Officer in March 2024 and has a passion for the local church being the hope of the world. Tim brings broad leadership experience, having previously been Chief Executive at World Vision UK and worked in a variety of complex contexts, from major international corporations like Shell to Cambridge University. Tim is married to Gail, has two grown-up children, and loves attending C3 church in Cambridge where he is also a Trustee.
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Stuart Lee
Director of Global Fundraising and Communications
Stuart has been with Tearfund since 2016, where he's played a key role in leading various aspects of our fundraising work. Stuart has a real passion for releasing the potential of the church in the UK and globally. Based in Glasgow, Stuart is married to Cortney, and is a member of Re:Hope Church.
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Veena O'Sullivan
International Director
Veena has worked for Tearfund for over 20 years. Veena is from India and worked in the HIV sector there prior to joining Tearfund. She was leading Tearfund's work in Asia before becoming the head of Tearfund's International Group in 2021 (now known as Global Influencing and Programmes Group since May 2024). Veena is married to Gavan and they have two sons. They are members of the Corrymeela community in Ireland.
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Olutayo Bankole-Bolawole
Director of People and Culture
Olutayo, a global development expert with more than 32 years of experience, currently serves as the Global Director of People and Culture at Tearfund. Throughout her career, she has held senior leadership roles in international NGOs, managing programs across Africa and Eastern Europe. Passionate about women's rights and Africa's development, Olutayo contributes her expertise as part of the community of experts for the World Economic Forum on Water, Africa and Gender. She also sits on the board of Trustees for SIMAVI, a Netherlands-based organisation specializing in Women and girls' rights to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.
Board Of Trustee Directors
Tearfund relies on the counsel of our board members, who come from a range of backgrounds and share our passion for seeing people released from material and spiritual poverty wherever we work.
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Anna Laszlo
Chair of the Board
Anna worked as a civil servant in the Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for many years, including posts in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Since then she has trained as a facilitator, coach and workplace mediator, and has also built up experience in charity governance. She is married to David and they have six children. They worship at St Matthew's Church, Cheltenham.
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Stephanie Biden
Chair of the Safeguarding Committee
Stephanie is a partner in the charity and social enterprise team at Bates Wells, one of the leading law firms in the UK advising NGOs. She has extensive experience as a charity trustee, having served on the boards of a range of organisations, from small start-ups to larger Christian charities and mission agencies, such as Stewardship and OMF International (UK).
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Jayakumar Christian
Trustee
Jayakumar is well known for his 30-year involvement with World Vision. He was National Director for World Vision India for eleven years, before becoming World Vision's global Partnership Leader for Faith and Development from 2015 to 2017. He is the author of the book God of the Empty-handed and many articles related to poverty, urban missions, powerlessness, leadership and integrity. He has also taught in a number of theological seminaries. Jayakumar and his wife Vidhya are based in Chennai (India) and worship in Emmanuel Methodist Church.
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John Davidson
Interim Treasurer and Chair of the Audit, Risk and Finance Committee
John has more than 30 years of practice in international corporate and commercial law, including 15 years as a partner in Hogan Lovells, and ten years as a member of the group executive committee of SABMiller plc, where he was responsible for legal and corporate affairs, including sustainable economic development, and health and safety. John is currently Chair of The MacDaibhidh Charitable Trust and a trustee of the Tisbury Telegraph Trust. He and his wife have been financial supporters of Tearfund since they were married in 1985, and they have worshipped at St Paul's Church, St Albans since 1995. Since January 2020, John has been a trustee of Tearfund USA, a member of the Tearfund family, and he is also an investor in, and a non-executive director of, a number of small and medium sized businesses in Ireland, Kenya, South Africa, and the UK.
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Catherine De Souza
Chair of the Theology Committee
Catherine is the CEO of Prison Fellowship England & Wales. She is a speaker, justice advocate, and ordained Elim Pentecostal minister. Her background includes leading churches, working with prison ministries and serving on several charity boards. Catherine is passionate about inspiring and equipping the church to pursue justice, care for those who are marginalised and transform society. Catherine is married to Dominic and they have two daughters.
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Dr Stanley Arumugam
Chair of the People and Culture Committee
Stanley has worked in the corporate, public and non-profit sectors over the past 30 years in roles of organisational psychologist, executive coach and leadership consultant. Stanley served as International Director for HR, OD & Governance at ActionAid International. He is currently based in Johannesburg, South Africa as an independent consultant and coach to human rights non-profits. Stanley is also a local preacher of the Methodist Church working with churches as a Christian Psychologist and Spiritual Director.
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Jean Paul Ndagijimana
Chair of the International Impact Committee
Jean Paul has more than 25 years of leadership experience in profit, not-for-profit and civil society settings. He has served as a Senior Consultant for KPMG and also as a Country Director, Regional Director and Continental Director for a variety of international non-profit organisations (including World Relief, Clinton Foundation, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa). Jean Paul has served as an elder for Nairobi Chapel and is now a pastor for Hope Evangelical Church in Kigali, Rwanda.
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Yemi Odusolu
Trustee
Yemi, a former Banker and Consultant, is the Lead Pastor of Trinity Chapel in Beckton, East London and is an Area Pastor within the RCCG UK network. Yemi has been a committed Church builder for more than 25 years. He is passionate about teaching the Gospel and seeks to empower people, shaping and impacting society. Yemi previously had an extensive career in the financial services sector, both in the UK and Nigeria. He is married to Adejumoke, who is the Family Life Pastor of Trinity Chapel.
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David Wesson
Chair of the Supporter Engagement and Fundraising Committee
David has worked in the private sector for most of his career, where his roles have focused on brand, marketing and customer experience, including as Trading Director for Virgin Retail. David has more recently served in non-profits, as Managing Director of the Legatum Institute and CEO of City Gateway, where he remains on the Board. David attends St Luke's church in Kentish Town with his wife Fatima and their three children.
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Lisa Pearce
Trustee
Lisa runs her own consultancy working with INGOs, Boards and leadership teams – helping them shape their strategy, structure and organisational culture to maximise impact. She has served as Deputy Chair of Christians Against Poverty, and on the international leadership team of Open Doors. Lisa began her career in the corporate sector, working for Reuters and Virgin Media. Lisa is passionate about mission and justice, and God's purpose for the church to bring holistic transformation into the world. Lisa lives on the south coast of England and has three young adult children.
Tearfund Regional Directors
The Fit for Our Future change process, concluded in March 2024, led to the formation of the Global Influencing and Programmes Group (GIPG) to execute Tearfund’s global strategy and impact. With a clear strategy and dedicated leadership, the GIPG aims to achieve Tearfund’s 2030 goals through coordinated regional efforts and strong partnerships.
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Prabu Deepan
Asia
Prabu has been working with Tearfund since 2013 in various capacities, including providing technical support and leadership on our sexual and gender-based violence work across multiple countries. He was leading Tearfund's Gender and Protection Unit, and subsequently the Thematic Support Team, before taking on his current role of overseeing Tearfund's work across Asia. Prabu is an alumnus of Tearfund's Inspired Individual programme, and is currently based in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
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Hebdavi Kyeya
East and Central Africa
After serving Tearfund in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan for a number of years, Hebdavi is now the Regional Director for Tearfund's East and Central African region based in Kigali, Rwanda. Hebdavi is a devoted Christian, husband and father of three daughters. He's a passionate humanitarian and development worker, committed to alleviating poverty. Working in this sector is a divine calling for him. He believes in a better tomorrow for Africa through the empowerment of young people today.
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Gbati Kossi AGBO
West Africa
Kossi became the West Africa Regional Director in May 2019. He joined Tearfund in 2013 as the Programme Coordinator for Mali, and subsequently became the Country Director for Mali. Previously, he has held leadership positions in a small Christian NGO and Compassion International in Togo, and has also held several consultancy roles for SEL France. Kossi is married to Pascaline and they have three children. He attends the Assemblies Of God Church, Temple des Oliviers, Cocody-Palmeraie in Abidjan.
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Jennipher Sakala
Southern and East Africa
Jennipher Sakala is the Regional Director for Southern and East Africa at Tearfund. She is an executive-level international development management practitioner with over 20 years of experience in various areas, including programme management, strategy development, contract and grant management, leadership, and team management. Jennipher has previously worked for We Effect as Regional Programme Coordinator for Southern Africa, UN-HABITAT as Municipal and Urban Management Expert in Kosovo, Christian Aid UK, Oxfam, and other national organisations at senior management levels.
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Safa Hijazeen
Eurasia and North Africa
Safa Hijazeen is the Regional Director for Eurasia and North Africa at Tearfund. He joined in 2024 and comes from an extensive background of working with local and regional NGOs and charitable entities across the Middle East and North Africa, as well as entrepreneurship incubators and youth organisations focused on empowering and transforming communities. His passion is to see poverty alleviated and communities restored and for individuals to find their calling.
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