David joined the Foundation in 2002, and was appointed as Chief Executive Officer in 2011. Prior to this, David served as a soldier for 24 years, serving in Africa, Middle East, the Far East, the Caribbean, and various parts of Europe. David has helped to pioneer Rank’s place-based programmes, leading the new strategy and exploring new opportunities for the Foundation. He has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, enjoys walking and wilderness trekking, and maintains a strong interest with several African charities. He is a member of the UK Foundation’s Forum, and a member of the European Venture Philanthropy Association.
Caroline has worked at the Foundation since 2006, formerly as the Director of Community Care Projects and in her current role since 2014. Prior to joining the Foundation, Caroline worked in both the charitable and foundation sectors interests in care, disability, family support and regeneration. Caroline holds an M.A. and is a Practitioner in Executive Coaching. Through her role as a Clore Social Fellow (2012) Caroline participated in secondments to the Foundation Center in San Francisco and Oikocredit in the U.K, researching the key tenets of governance in philanthropy.
Kai joined the Foundation in 2015 as a member of the executive team and has a remit of proactive engagement with projects and communities. Kai’s focus on Enterprise extends to grants, partnerships, and programmes. Kai also has a leadership role with RankNet including the annual conference and network wide planning group, the Rank Aspire Programme, Time to Shine, and our place-based programme in Hull. Kai has a long association with The Rank Foundation and the network. Kai’s previous roles have been in the youth and community sector and she has also established and led a social enterprise. Kai is a WCMT fellow, a previous tutor with the YMCA George Williams College, an Action Learning Set Facilitator and founder of LGBT youth group ‘Work it Out’ in Merseyside.
John joined the Rank Foundation in 2021 and is specifically responsible for overseeing the School Leadership Award and Fellowship.
Born in Mansfield he became a teacher on completion of his first degree and taught in schools across the UK, most recently as Principal of Dame Allan’s Schools in Newcastle-upon-Tyne for sixteen years.
His interests include local history (the role of churches in various North East communities in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was the subject of his PhD research), reading and watching sport. He is also a keen campanologist.
Tom is currently providing interim maternity cover for Wendy Matthews, The Foundation’s Finance Director and Company Secretary. Aberdeen born, City based, Chartered Accountant with over twenty two years commercial experience followed by fifteen years charity sector experience. After qualifying with Thomson McLintock in Aberdeen, which merged into KPMG, and progressing up to Assistant Audit Manager level in KPMGs London office, Tom held senior management roles at Gissings, AAT, RCP, CFG, IISS, and ASA.He is Honorary Treasurer to CMV Action a small health charity. Outside his work, Tom enjoys membership of the Tate, the National Gallery, and the National Trust. He enjoys learning to play golf, walking, listening to music, travelling, watching films, and genealogy.
Helen has been with the Foundation since 2004 and is responsible for the coordination of Rank events including the annual networking conference. Helen is also the first point of contact for Rank’s Flagship RAP programme. Prior to joining the Foundation, Helen worked in local government managing a finance team in distributing grants.
Natalie coordinates the Foundation’s engagement with beneficiaries. She also manages The Rank Foundation’s online community platform, RankNet, and sees to the social media, website and branding. She is also involved in administering and coordinating the School Leadership Award and Community Action Placements. She joined the Foundation in 2015 as an administrator, having completed an English Literature degree and working with disadvantaged children and youth on the USA’s East Coast. She lives in London, and enjoys singing, cooking and a good cup of tea.
Kerry is responsible for the daily management of The Rank Foundation’s grant portfolio and joined the organisation in the summer of 2017. After graduating from the University of Bristol with a degree in French and German, Kerry volunteered for various Bristol-based organisations, before moving to London in 2013 to work for homeless charity Centrepoint. Prior to working at The Rank Foundation, Kerry also administered the grants programme for craft scholarship charity QEST.
Marie joined the Foundation in 2020. During her MA studies, Marie researched government policies that lead to exclusion. This sparked a passion for projects supporting integration and community dialogue, driving her to pursue her career in the charity sector. Since then, Marie has worked in different charities coordinating various projects, such as establishing an Arts diploma, organising a one-day craft festival, and knitting retreats among other income-generating projects.
Briana joined the Foundation as the Programmes Administration Manager in 2022 to support with the management of Rank’s grant programmes. Briana has a degree in Psychology and a few years’ experience in the corporate world. Having done quite a bit of voluntary work since university, particularly around children/youth work and later in programmes combining charities training and community work, she decided to move to the social sector in 2017, where she managed programmes at SSE.
Currently Briana volunteers for a charity that offers training to teachers who aim to achieve leadership roles. Outside of Rank and volunteer work, Briana enjoys reading, jewellery making and travelling to new places around the UK.
Edouardine joined the Foundation in 2016 and provides day to day support to the Finance Director. Edouardine is a Chartered Accountant, and holds a degree in Commercial and Distribution from the Catholic University of Central Africa in Cameroon. Edouardine worked for more than 5 years in a variety of sectors in Cameroon such as FMG and Oil and Gas as a Sales and Accounts executive/supervisor. She has lived in UK since 2009 and decided to redirect her career to the charity sector. Edouardine previously worked in a small charity organisation and then in the education sector.
Janice joined the Foundation in 2019. Janice has a background in hospitality and event management. Janice spent many years working in the education sector, specifically the University sector, working in a variety of customer facing areas such as student recruitment, schools liaison and collaborative partnerships.
Kirsty joined the Rank Foundation as the Events and Programme officer in October 2020. She is responsible for the supporting of events and helping the delivery team with the administration of Rank programmes.
After graduating from Northumbria University with a degree in Fashion Design and Marketing, which included a 1 year placement in Amsterdam with a market leading company. Kirsty took on a senior and administrative role within the hospitality sector which gave her the skills in ensuring the smooth running of the business out front and behind the scenes.
Kirsty was a leader in the Time to Shine programme 2021.
Noah joined the Foundation in 2019 as an administrator and was appointed to his current post in 2020. Noah previously volunteered at The National Brain Appeal as part of the ‘A Letter In Mind’ art exhibition team. He holds a BA (Hons) Music Industry Practice degree from the Academy of Contemporary Music (Middlesex University).