Our Ambassador and Patrons

Meet Our
Ambassador & Patrons

Our Ambassador

Fatima Whitbread MBE
Ambassador

"I am delighted to be taking on the role of Ambassador for Brathay Trust; an organisation that very closely aligns with the values of Fatima’s UK Campaign. We unite with our aim of inspiring and offering opportunities to young people to give them a brighter future. I am really looking forward to working together to bring positive change for young people, who are the future of our country." — Fatima Whitbread

Fatima Whitbread, MBE is a world javelin champion, former world record holder, and double Olympic medallist. She was honoured with the Helen Rollason Award at BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2023 for her outstanding resilience and contribution to sport and society.

A former child in care, Fatima is a passionate advocate for young people, particularly those with lived experience of the care system. She is the founder of Fatima’s UK Campaign which champions national reform in care. As well as Brathay Trust, Fatima is also an Ambassador for Action for Children. Her work draws on both her personal story and professional success to inspire and drive change.

Fatima is also a bestselling author and popular television personality, known for appearances on I’m a Celebrity, Celebrity SAS, and Pilgrimage: The Road to Istanbul.

Fatima continues to use her platform to inspire the next generation—whether on the world stage, on screen, or in communities across the UK.

Our Patrons

Jasmin Paris MBE
Ultra-Marathon Record Holder

Jasmin Paris is a mother, long distance fell runner, small animal vet and research scientist. In 2019 she broke the 268-mile Montane Spine race outright breaking the overall record by 12 hours.

In 2024, she became the first woman to finish the infamous Barkley Marathons in Tennessee, something many had previously considered impossible for a woman. Jasmin is passionate about inspiring the next generation and helping them to access the experiences and opportunities to thrive.

Jane Carter
Universal Production Music, President

Jane Carter is President of Universal Production Music, leading global innovation across the content creation industry.

Jane is the first woman to head global production at a major music publishing company. Her career spans leadership roles at BBC Music, Warner Classics UK, and collaborations with renowned composers including George Fenton and Max Richter.

A passionate advocate for creativity and community, Jane brings her industry expertise and commitment to positive change to her role as a Patron of Brathay, supporting the charity’s mission to inspire young people.

Angela Salt CBE
Consultant, Interim CEO and Trustee

Angela has extensive experience of leadership and management and is currently a consultant, Trustee, and volunteer. She is involved in a number of initiatives supporting young people.

Previously CEO of Girlguiding; CEO of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation; Director of VSO UK; and Head of Nations and Regions at the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. She started her professional life as a teacher and went on to a number of senior roles in the public and private sectors.

Angela was awarded a CBE in 2026 for her services to Girlguiding.

Dr Dave Harvey
Consultant and Leading Practitioner in Outdoor Learning

Dr Dave Harvey has worked in the outdoor learning sector for over 30 years. A former National Chair of the Association of Heads of Outdoor Education Centres, he has played a strategic role in shaping the field through policy development, accreditation, and professional training.

As Head of Centres for Brathay Trust, he managed residential outdoor learning provision and later founded Dave Harvey Outdoor Learning, a consultancy focused on research, training, and sector development.

An Honorary Senior Lecturer at Bangor University and Leading Practitioner for the Institute for Outdoor Learning, he led the IOL’s High Quality Outdoor Learning 2025 project. He chairs the Outdoor Partnership Coastal Cumbria stakeholder group and is actively engaged in national initiatives, mentoring practitioners and influencing outdoor education policy. His work continues to bridge theory and practice, strengthening outdoor learning’s impact at a strategic level and ensuring outdoor learning is high quality, inclusive, and accessible to all.

Karen Hughes
Hogan Lovells International LLP
Senior Counsel

Karen has been a Partner at Hogan Lovells International LLP, one of the world’s leading law firms, for 25 years, and is now a Senior Counsel.

During that time, she served for seven years on the firm’s Global Supervisory Board and co-led its Global Tax, Pensions & Benefits Practice for 10 years.She is also the sponsoring Partner for the firm’s UK Women’s Network.

With more than three decades of experience advising international organisations on complex business and tax issues, Karen has led award-winning teams and earned a place in the Legal 500 Hall of Fame.

Karen is known for her thoughtful, collaborative approach and her desire to help people realise their potential — a value that lies at the heart of Brathay’s work with young people. She is delighted to bring her experience and energy to the role of Patron. Since 2012, Karen has divided her time between London and Ambleside, where she enjoys fell-running and walking in the beautiful Lake District.

Sharon Davies
The Good Place Co. Founder

Sharon Davies is the founder of Good Place Co and a passionate advocate for place-based change.

With 30 years’ experience in youth, community, and charity leadership including as CEO of national education charity Young Enterprise, she now works with charities, supporters, and leaders to strengthen strategy, support leadership through transition, and build values-led cultures.

Malcolm Tyndall
Specialist in Charity Organisational Transformation

Malcolm is a highly experienced professional specialising in organisational transformation within the charity sector.

For the last 25+ years he has brought that experience into the not-for-profit sector working for a range of household name charities. He has personally secured several seven and 8 figure grants for organisations and run several major delivery projects.

He has varied experience beyond his normal roles including having served as one of Brathay Trust’s trustees.

He is currently on the Advisory Board for the establishment of a Museum of the Office of Prime Minister reflecting both his fundraising & political background.

Outside work, his interests include history, travel, food but mainly his dog, Roxy with whom he is often to be found on the rivers and marshes of his home area of North London.

Professor Julie Mennell DL
Vice Chancellor of University of Cumbria

"For almost eight decades Brathay has been working with young people, helping them build resilience and skills they can take with them into their future careers and lives.

One example is the delivery of the innovative Aspiring Leaders Programme by Brathay, University of Cumbria and partners, helping to enhance leadership through the development of higher-level skills in the third sector.

With our shared ambitions to support Cumbria now and for future generations, I’m proud to serve as patron of Brathay."

Joining Brathay as a Patron, Julie has other external roles include Sponsor of Barrow Education, Employment and Skills, Barrow Delivery Board; Vice Chair of Cumbria Economic Growth Board; Chair of the Carlisle Youth Zone; member representative for the Energy Coast University Technical College at Lillyhall; member of the Brilliant Barrow Board; and a governor of Sedbergh School.

Nationally she is Vice Chair Cathedrals’ Group of Universities and member of the MillionPlus university group.

Lynne Peabody
EY Foundation, CEO

Lynne joined the EY Foundation in March 2014 ahead of the charity’s launch in July that year and became CEO in 2021.

With over 20 years of experience in social change and sustainability, she has developed award-winning community programmes, led sustainability initiatives, and built enduring NGO partnerships with a variety of corporates.

Passionate about social equity, Lynne is committed to diversifying access to opportunities and experiences for all young people. She is a strong advocate for collaboration and the power of cross-sector partnerships to drive real change.

In addition, she serves as a trustee for ACE programmes.

Ian Johnston
Consultant in Culture Shaping

Ian was a member of the delivery team at Brathay in the late ‘80’s. He moved onto a career focusing on leading major culture transformations for global organisations.

He was with Senn Delaney, a US based culture shaping firm and then, post acquisition, Heidrick & Struggles for 27 years. Ian was the Managing Partner for the EMEA consulting business and was then the Managing Partner for the APAC consulting business where he led, built and grew the Asia Pacific business, based in Singapore.

Ian stepped down from Heidrick & Struggles in mid 2024 and now has portfolio roles, one of which he is particularly proud of, namely a Patron at Brathay.

Ian is known for enabling CEO’s, senior leaders and executive teams to shape and transform their cultures, with a focus on purpose, growth mindset and vitality.