Our People

Rank has a small team who spend their time building strong relationships and working alongside the Network. Rank’s team is supported by an active board of trustees and leaders from our Network all of whom offer their time and expertise to help our decision making.

All Members

All Members
Fellowship Leadership Team
Place-based Associate Directors
Rank Leaders Action Group
Staff
Trustees

Jen McKevitt

Associate Director, Sunderland and North East

Before working with The Rank Foundation as Associate for the North East, I was Chief Executive of Back on the Map, a community business in Hendon, Sunderland, where I was privileged to work with inspirational residents and partners. Together, we transformed BotM from a New Deal for Communities programme to a self-sustaining enterprise, and made significant inroads in reversing the vicious circle of ‘trickle down’ economics into a virtuous cycle of social action and sustainability.

I have a range of skills gained from securing an Advanced Certificate in Executive Coaching, MSc (with distinction) Urban Policy & Regeneration, Post-Graduate Diploma Urban Policy & Development, Certificate in Management Studies and a Diploma in Community & Youth Work.

My career has spanned the regeneration, social enterprise, charity and grant-making sector at a local, regional and national level for nearly 40 years, the foundation to which has been my dedication to helping communities to develop creative, practical and sustainable solutions to entrenched problems.

That’s why I believe in and am inspired by the Rank Foundation’s commitment to placing people at the very centre of everything it does. To me, Rank Foundation stands as a true champion of collective action and social capital, and a beacon of light for Sunderland communities.

Jo Ropner

Trustee, Chair of the Grants Committee

I have had the honour of serving as His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, the Sovereign’s representative in the County, since 2018. I am a businesswoman deeply involved in the voluntary and charitable sectors across North Yorkshire and beyond.

I have been a Trustee of the Rank Foundation since June 2005 and became Chair of the Grants Committee in 2016, responsible for allocating funds to community and social programmes throughout the UK. I am a board member, chair, and trustee of many other local charities.

I also serve as Vice-President of both the Yorkshire & Humber and the North of England Reserve Forces and Cadets’ Associations, County President of North Yorkshire Scouts, and an ambassador for Girlguiding in the North East.

Outside my work commitments, I am passionate about growing sustainable flowers, field sports, and cycling. I graduated from Newcastle University with an honours degree in Agriculture and live in Kirklington near Bedale with my husband, Robert. We have three adult children.

Joanne Cooper

Chief Executive Officer at Back on the Map.

I am born, raised and very much still part of Hendon, an area of high deprivation in Sunderland. With a background in regeneration, enterprise and community engagement as well as charitable work and an MSc in Urban Policy & Regeneration from Northumbria University, it was perhaps written in the stars that I would lead Back on the Map (BotM) and the regeneration of Hendon.

I started at BotM in 2011 and worked my way up to CEO in April 2022. Along the way, I’ve managed many impactful projects, securing significant funding, and achieving remarkable results.

Away from BotM, I hold positions with other local and national charitable organisations and am a member of the Rank Foundation’s Rank Leaders Action Group. Looking ahead, my focus remains on empowering Hendon’s residents and amplifying their voices in all our endeavours.

Joel Davis

Trustee

I was appointed as a Trustee in October 2020 and am the first RankNet nomination to serve on The Rank Foundation’s board.

I am the founder of Tutors United, where I served as CEO. Tutors United is an educational charity that trains university students to deliver confidence-boosting, attainment-raising group tutorials to primary school pupils, helping them overcome socio-economic barriers that can hinder their progress. Currently, I am the Chief Executive Officer at Quintessentially Foundation.

John Hind

Director of Education and Leadership

I joined the Rank Foundation in June 2021 after a career in teaching, latterly as Principal of Dame Allan’s Schools in Newcastle-upon-Tyne 2004-2020.

I studied history at Cambridge University, completed an MEd at Newcastle and a part time PhD at Durham. Married to Ginny, a consultant paediatric dentist, we have two adult daughters. In my spare time, I am a keen campanologist.

What I love about my job is the chance to visit schools, converse openly with headteachers and to meet inspiring young people as part of the School Leadership Award scheme; to engage with a wide range of brilliant Fellows and to make some contribution – albeit small scale – to addressing issues in education through our education inequality grants programme. It’s also a gateway into the wider issues around social inequality from which a lifetime working in independent education can be something of a shield.

On the way, I’ve met huge numbers of inspirational heads, students and Fellows and feel a little nervous about highlighting anyone, though the work of Ed Vainker and the team at the Reach Foundation has been especially impressive, as have the programmes run by Ali Henderson and her team at the Royal National Children’s Springboard Foundation.

Jonathan Sinclair

Fellow, Class of 1987

Jordan Ignatius

Managing Director at Reaching Higher

I have been a member of the Rank Foundation since 2013 when I joined as a YAPPER. It is safe to say that the introduction to the programme has changed my life. Without it I doubt I would have pursued a career in the charity sector so I am forever grateful to be part of such a rich community. I am now the Managing Director of Reaching Higher, the charity that hosted my initial internship with the Rank Foundation. I am also the Founder of Sowing & Growing Nursery and Preschool and a trustee for Crystal Palace Park Trust.

I consider myself to be a positive disrupter and my hope is to drive change across the Youth Sector, establishing a Youth Hub of excellence that enables and supports exceptional youth work.

The Rank Network is rich with knowledge, experience and daring leaders all of whom are determined to bring about meaningful change in their communities. A great example of this is Kai Wooder, a truly remarkable woman who has journeyed throughout the Foundation and its network inspiring everyone whom she encounters. Kai leads with authenticity and has a real gift it enabling individuals to feel seen, heard and valued. A strong leadership characteristic that she continually demonstrates effortlessly, it has been a genuine honour to work in collaboration with her and fellow leaders alike.

Kai Wooder

Director of Programmes

I joined The Rank Foundation in 2015 as Director of Enterprise and have been Director of Programmes since 2021.

My association with Rank goes much further back as I was a participant on the Rank Aspire Programme at the age of 18. After the RAP programme, I pursued studies in youth work, earning a BA (Hons) in Informal and Community Education and an MSc in Philanthropy, Social Investment and Grant-Making. I have worked in a range of youth settings, spent 10 years at Brook, a sexual health education charity for young people and also set-up and managed a social enterprise in Liverpool (my home town) for a number of years.

Rank’s relational ethos has, over many years, enabled the unique and vibrant Rank Network to flourish. Being part of the Rank Network means I get to spend a lot of time with inspirational people doing brilliant things in great places – I can’t imagine a greater privilege.

Kate Smith

Co-founder and CEO of Memory Matters

I am CEO of Memory Matters and The Memory Matters Foundation, and also a qualified nurse. I co-founded Memory Matters in 2010 and now lead a team of 24 formidable people to make lasting changes for those affected by dementia in the community across Plymouth and Cornwall. I also sit on the Rank Leaders Action Group and chairs the Plymouth Participatory Grant Making Panel that is disseminating over £1.6millon to reduce loneliness and isolation in the city between 2022 and 2025.

In 2016 I opened the first high street social enterprise cafe (Moments) specifically designed to support those affected by dementia in the world in Plymouth. Moments Cafe is now in its 7th year and supports the community of Plymouth and surrounding areas supporting over 400 families a year and seeing nearly 60,000 people through its doors every year.

The team at Memory Matters support people with groups, memory cafes, young onset dementia groups and many others across Devon and Cornwall. The team also work with other social enterprises, supporting them to grow and flourish.

I was awarded an Honorary Public Health Degree in 2023 for services to Dementia in Plymouth from Marjon University.

For me, the Rank Network fosters a collaborative intellectual ecosystem for inspiring social sector leaders. Members, are united by a commitment to social impact, engage in synergistic dialogue, innovative ideas and best practices for maximising their positive influence on society.

Kerry Whitehead-Dymond

Grants Administration Manager

I’ve worked as Grants Administration Manager for The Rank Foundation since 2017. Previously, I worked in a grants environment supporting individual applicants and beneficiaries in the homeless and craft sectors. I am also Rank’s Salesforce System Administrator and have 10 years of experience in the sector, working with and administering CRMs for different organisations.

What I find special about the Rank Network is the support and community offered to beneficiaries in addition to the grant they’re awarded. I also find it fosters cooperation and communication between organisations rather than seeing one another as potential competitors for grant programmes. It’s incredibly warming to be able to offer a platform and additional events, and see people and organisations work together and build connections for themselves.

The Rank Network is full of diverse individuals with unique approaches and experiences in the third sector, and it is a joy to see them flourish. One person I admire in the Network is Debbie Fawcett of HARV Domestic Abuse Services. She works tirelessly for HARV and Paladin – National Stalking Advocacy Service to support vulnerable individuals who might be overlooked by public services and always has ideas to better support her clients and those who approach her for help. In a climate where marginalised communities are further targeted and victimised, Debbie consistently ‘shows up’ to provide safe spaces for as many people in those communities as she can.

Kevin Holcroft

Independent Consultant at Holcroft Consulting

Kirsty Stephenson

Events and Engagement Officer

I joined the Rank Foundation in October 2020 as a Leader on the 2021 Time to Shine Programme. I currently oversee the community management and digital event offerings on RankNet and support the delivery of Rank’s flagship programmes and events. My role also includes providing the visual content to support most Rank events and meetings, including Rank’s annual conference.

I graduated from Northumbria University in 2019 with a degree in Fashion Design and Marketing, which included a year’s placement working in Amsterdam with a market-leading company. More recently, I completed a qualification in Events Management for Marketing and Communications.

Seeing our rich network of members building connections and sharing experiences on RankNet is what makes the Rank Network special to me. I am inspired by the commitment our members have to their local communities and their willingness to share their knowledge so that the network can continue to benefit each other.

Kristine Hill

Programmes Manager, NI

I joined the Rank Foundation in 2022. Based in Northern Ireland, I work on the Start Here programme, which is delivered in partnership with the Department for Communities.

Before joining the Rank Foundation, I worked for The National Lottery Community Fund in Cardiff and Belfast.

The Rank Network connects people across the UK (and beyond!) who are all driven by the same goal of improving lives. For me, what stands out is how supportive the Network is and the fact that there is always someone willing to help and share their experience.

Lindsey Clay

Trustee

I am CEO of Thinkbox, the marketing body for commercial TV advertising in the UK. I was one of the early recipients of the Rank Foundation School Leadership Award (Class of 1982) and later went on to chair the Rank Fellowship (the alumni scheme for former award holders) from 2016-2023. As well as being a trustee, I’m delighted that my Rank Foundation responsibilities include being a board member of CTVC, the media production company originally set up by the late Lord J. Arthur Rank in 1965.

A longtime campaigner for gender equality, I am a member and former President of WACL (Women in Advertising and Communication Leadership), a member of The Women of the Year Alumnae and a Top 50 Women Gamechanger in TV. I’m also a member and former President of the Global TV Group, a Fellow of the Marketing Society, an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising, and a member of the Marketing Group of Great Britain. I also love netball and play in the North London Netball League.

Lindsey Hall MBE

Trustee

As Chief Executive at Real Ideas, I bring a track record in both the public and private sectors as a social entrepreneur, thinker, and leader. I have set up and developed products and services across the creative, learning, and education sectors.

From building award-winning programmes in the UK to driving ground-breaking initiatives internationally, I have the experience and skills at management, board, and executive levels to steer social business ideas towards success—making money while making a difference at the same time.

Liz Wylie

Place Based Programme Officer

I joined The Rank Foundation in September 2024 as the Place Based Programme Officer working from the Penrith office. Prior to this, I went to Cardiff University to study Media, Journalism and Culture. I enjoyed this so much I went on to complete an MA in Digital Media & Society, with a dissertation focusing on fandoms, social media and communities.

I am excited to join the Time to Shine programme and develop my leadership skills and confidence. The Rank Network is amazing to be apart of because of the inspiring organisations and people creating positive change across the UK.

Louisa Searle

Fellow, Class of 2003 - Chair of the Rank Fellowship

It’s my huge privilege to be taking on the role of Chair of the Fellowship. Receiving the School Leadership Award in 2003 while at St Edward’s, Oxford, had a profound impact on my life. The support from Rank allowed me to remain in school, and the Community Action Placement I did in the summer of my Lower Sixth year was transformative. Volunteering at a summer activity camp near Brighton awoke in me a passion for working with children and young people that has never left. I later worked in that community as a youth worker during my gap year as part of another Rank-funded initiative; and trained as an English teacher on the Teach First programme. I then co-founded First Give, a charity that seeks to inspire and empower young people to give their time, money or skills to charitable causes that matter to them.

It’s a really exciting time to be part of the Fellowship with ever increasing and inspiring opportunities to get involved with the community. Please do get in touch with me if you’d like to learn more about how the Fellowship can support you, how you can support it, or if you’d like to share what you’re up to!

Marco Martucci

Facilities Officer

I joined the Rank Foundation in January 2024 and am responsible for supporting and ensuring the smooth running of the Garden Walk coworking space, including direct assistance with facilities, IT, health and safety, and administration.

I studied computer science and electronics in Italy. For several years, I coached water polo teams of different ages, from kids to adults. These experiences were important to me and have been beneficial in my work. I enjoy helping people, especially with IT problems.

When I’m not working, I love listening to music, cooking vegan recipes, reading books and comics, and watching movies and TV shows.

Marie Lecrinier

Business Support Manager

I joined the Rank Foundation in 2020 as Business Support Manager. After graduating with a degree in Economics and Social Management in France (where I grew up), I moved to the UK in 2010 and pursued further studies, completing an MA in International Relations and EU Studies at the University of East Anglia in 2012.

During my postgraduate studies, I researched government policies that lead to exclusion. This sparked a passion for projects supporting integration and community dialogue. My commitment to these ideas drove me to redirect my career into the charity sector. Since then, I have worked for various charities, coordinating different projects.

It is important to me to know that my job has a direct positive impact on people’s lives. Working closely with John on the School Leadership Award and Fellowship is one of the most fulfilling parts of my role at Rank.

Millie Barnes

Fellow, Class of 2020

I received the School Leadership Award in 2020 and was supported by Rank for my sixth form studies at Gordonstoun School. Without Rank, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to receive such a well-rounded education, including sailing around the Isle of Skye, hiking in the Scottish Highlands, and putting my leadership skills into practice.

My Community Action Placement was with Claire Morgans at YKids, where I assisted in running their “Great Dino Dig.” I absolutely love the contribution I could make to the community in Bootle, and I was amazed at how impactful and important charities such as YKids are.

I am now studying English Language and Linguistics at Lancaster University and graduating in 2025! I constantly look at ways to make valuable contributions in the Lancaster community. I joined the Fellowship Leadership Team in my second year at University and I am still so grateful to sit with such inspiring leaders and having a voice within the Fellowship.

Natalie Humber

Digital Hub Manager

I joined The Rank Foundation in 2015, and after working in various roles from Administrator to Engagement Manager, I now manage the Foundation’s online beneficiary and community platform, RankNet, as Digital Hub Manager. My work predominantly focuses on engagement and content creation, but I also branch into UX and web data analysis. I have a real passion for people, the power of change, and women’s rights.

I studied English Literature at the University of Portsmouth, but I was born (and now live) in London. My favourite pastime is sharing a meal with loved ones in the sunshine and listening to movie soundtracks.

RankNet is a hive of community energy and goodwill, with members prepared to offer their expertise, physical space, and care at no cost. It embodies the spirit of the social sector.