Our Trustees

Usma is a Consultant and Principal Researcher at the executive search firm Society, which helps to fund The Society Foundation by donating 10% of its profits on an annual basis. She has played a pivotal role in facilitating executive and board appointments for social business and non-profit organisations. 

Educated in Social Policy at Loughborough University, Usma also extends her expertise beyond the professional realm by serving as a dedicated school Governor, focusing on safeguarding initiatives.

Joanne is the Development Director at Wimbledon High School, part of the Girls' Day School Trust (GDST). She has previously held senior fundraising and corporate development roles at Marie Curie Cancer Care, Fidelity International, and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.

Ulrika is the Chair of the Trustees. She works at the All England Lawn Tennis Club as their Head of Community Strategy and has more than 12 years’ experience of grant making working in a variety of organisations such as: UnLtd, the Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs which individuals to create positive social change in their local communities; Legacy Trust UK, an independent charity tasked with delivering £40 million in grant funding to secure a lasting cultural and sporting legacy from London 2012 across the whole of the UK; and the Wimbledon Foundation, the charity of the All England Club and The Championships. With her expertise and experience of working in an Olympic context, Ulrika has also worked for King’s College London spearheading a piece of work focused on sharing the learning from staging major events with other significant sporting and cultural events organisers and stakeholders, such as Tokyo 2020. She holds a degree in International Business Administration from Linkoping University, Sweden.

Owain is an associate chartered accountant (ACA) and the current Finance Director of Clays, an innovative hospitality business that uses technology and mammoth 4K screens to bring clay target shooting out of the country and into the heart of the City. He began his career as an auditor with Smith & Williamson and spent several years as a financial analyst before moving into the hospitality sector. Between 2018 and 2022 he was Chief Financial Officer of Mayfair Casino Ltd. He is also a volunteer for Friendship Works, a charity that works with disadvantaged children across London. He holds an undergraduate degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Merton College, University of Oxford.

Reverend Gareth Powell is the current Pro Chancellor of Cardiff University and also a Farmington Fellow at Harris Manchester College, Oxford. Gareth previously served as Secretary of the Methodist Conference from 2014 to 2019, one of the three most senior roles in the British Methodist Church. The Secretary of the Conference plays a principal part in the oversight and leadership of the Church, and in particular in the development and implementation of the Church’s vision of unity, mission, evangelism and worship and the strategic management of the Church’s affairs.

Max is Head of Education, Quality and Commissioning at The Careers & Enterprise Company. He previously spent four and a half years at the East London Business Alliance, where he led their 'The BIG Alliance' programme on behalf of 16 large companies across Islington and the City of London. His early career was spent at the University of Manchester, his alma mater, where he also gained a degree in History.