Meet the team

Yashmin Harun BEM was appointed as Non-Executive Director of Charity Bank in June 2024. Yashmin is the founding Chair of the Muslimah Sports Association (MSA), a charity that aims to empower Muslim women through sports. Yashmin is also an Independent Non-Executive Director at British Fencing, an elected Director at the London FA, an FA National Game Board member, an FA Council Member, and Chair of Frenford and MSA WFC. She has recently been appointed by the GLA as a trustee for London Sport.

Yashmin has over 20 years of banking experience and currently works for SMBC BI, and has recently completed her Master’s in Global Public Policy. Her most recent awards include the Asian Woman of Achievement Award for Sports and The National Diversity Award in 2023. Yashmin has recently been appointed to the Islamophobia Taskforce group led by Kick It Out and Baroness Syeda Warsi.

Chief Executive of the Charities Aid Foundation Group: CAF in the UK, CAF America, CAF Canada, CAF Financial Solutions Ltd and CAF Bank.

Neil has a distinguished career in both business and the charitable sector. He joined the Charities Aid Foundation as Chief Executive in October 2020 from the international disability charity Leonard Cheshire, where he served as Chief Executive since 2016. Under Neil’s leadership, annual charitable contributions entrusted to CAF topped £1 billion for the first time and continue to grow. As a result, hundreds of thousands of charities in more than 100 countries have been supported to deliver lasting benefits in communities around the world. Neil has led CAF through the growth of the CAF International network of partners a global collaboration of independent philanthropic organisations dedicated to accelerating social progress across the world.

During 25 years in business Neil held senior leadership roles in the telecoms industry in North America and Europe. These include Head of Strategy and General Manager of Retail and Online at O2, CEO of Cincinnati Bell Wireless and Director of CTIA the Wireless Association. Neil is a law graduate from Newcastle University and holds an MBA from Cranfield School of Management. In 2020 he was one of the first charity sector leaders to be invited onto the National Leadership Centre Public Leaders Programme.

Neil lost his sight aged 21 and is registered blind. He is a co-founder of the charity Blind In Business, a Trustee of ACEVO, a non-Executive Director of Charity Bank and a Foundation Member of Crown Agents. He was previously Co-Chair of the Disability Charities Consortium, a group of nine of the UK’s largest disability charities dedicated to promoting the rights and interests of 14 million disabled people. He acted as an advisor to the UK government on the introduction of the Disability Discrimination Act in the 1990’s, which led to the Equalities Act 2010.

In 2002 Neil was awarded the OBE for services to British Telecommunications and charity.

* Nominated by Charities Aid Foundation

Jala brings over a decade of experience in banking and finance. Since joining Charity Bank in September 2022 as a Lending Manager, she has been passionately supporting organisations across the Northwest with lending for social purpose. Jala serves as the borrowers’ main point of contact, guiding them through every step of the loan process from the initial conversation to completion.

“As I’m local to Manchester, I love visiting clients across the North and I consider it the best part of my job. Before Charity Bank, I was a Business Development Manager/Senior Loan Manager at GC Business Finance, helping SMEs secure vital funding. My career also includes nearly 10 years at Barclays as a Relationship Manager. I now combine my financial expertise with my social values, using finance as a force for good. Outside of work, I love to travel—having explored Asia, North America, South America, and the Caribbean. When I have the time, I also like to practice hot yoga.”

“My role is to help support the growth and expansion of organisations who are looking to deliver social impact and positive change throughout the Midlands.

I am looking forward to building relationships with new and existing clients and helping Charity Bank support more organisations with the funding they need to make the world a better place.”

Joining Charity Bank as Senior Lending Manager covering the Midlands, Wesley has 19 years’ experience in the Banking and Finance sector. During that time Wesley has covered Retail, Operational and Business Banking.

“Having previously worked for a Social Impact Lender I have seen first-hand the benefits of supporting organisations and helping them do good in their local communities.

Outside of work I spend my free time with my wife and Dexter, my 12-year-old, young-at-heart Jack Russel Terrier. We enjoy walking, kayaking and cycling.”

Susan is originally from South Africa where she qualified as a Chartered Accountant (SA). Her previous roles include working in audit and the construction and retail sector before joining Charity Bank as the Financial Controller in July 2017.

“I have been working at Charity Bank since July 2017 and no two days are the same. We have our routine tasks that need to be completed, but working in a smaller team gives me the opportunity to be involved in projects that make the role challenging. I also love working for an organisation where it is not about the bottom line, but the social impact we are making.”

Prashant brings knowledge of social enterprise, housing, grant and loan funding, and has over 20 years experience delivering equitable urban housing and infrastructure domestically and in Africa and Asia. He works at the Greater London Authority (GLA) leading the investment portfolio in North-East London for the Mayor’s £4bn Affordable Housing Programme. Prior to the GLA, Prashant worked at Reall (formerly Homeless International), where he led investment into social-enterprises across Africa and Asia to accelerate their growth and impact.

Prashant has also spent a number of years working alongside NGOs and local communities in India, to set-up social enterprises and networks to lobby for and deliver more equitable housing and infrastructure in cities. Prashant is a board member for Architecture Sans Frontieres, an organisation that supports communities and practitioners in co-designing more equitable cities.

“My role is to support the Head of Small Social Lending to grow Charity Bank’s lending book through the sourcing and conversion of investment opportunities within the Third Sector – deliberately reaching organisations and communities that have historically been underserved and underfunded and prioritise those organisations that are serving the most vulnerable.

On a personal level I am passionate about helping people and I participate in all manner of charitable activities from fund raising to volunteering at food banks and homeless shelters. I am delighted and excited to be part of Charity Bank and transfer my years of banking experience to support non-profits to maintain, deliver and grow their operations in order to achieve their social mission and goals.”

Marti joined Charity Bank in March 2023 and has over 15 years retail and commercial banking experience, previously working at HSBC, Unity Trust and Nationwide. Outside work Marti enjoys spending time with family and long walks with her dog Penny. And when spare time allows, she enjoys upcycling furniture.

Nathan joined Charity Bank in 2024, bringing with him 18 years of experience in commercial banking, people leadership and channel strategy.  Throughout his career, he has worked in business development roles, with seven years as a specialist to the Charity, Education & Social Enterprise market. Nathan has also served in a non-executive capacity in the Charity sector for the past 15 years, providing him with deep insights into the challenges faced by the organisations we serve at Charity Bank.

Nathan is married with two children and enjoys outdoor activities such as walking, cycling, and spending time on the family allotment. He also values investing time in his faith, family, and friends.

“Charity Bank’s aim is to become the lender of choice for socially minded organisations, and I’m delighted to be playing my part in this.  I have recently joined to oversee regional Relationship Managers in Impact Lending, who work with clients to structure and onboard our larger loans, significantly enhancing our Balance Sheet through a proactive solutions-led approach.

Additionally, I lead the teams that manage the banks lending journeys, from onboarding to completion, and those that provide portfolio management for our existing clients. My colleagues and I are dedicated to delivering an exceptional client experience for organisations borrowing from Charity Bank.”

Tamara’s position as a Compliance Officer is to ensure that the Bank’s policies and procedures are up to date, among other responsibilities. Tamara joined the Bank in 2022, bringing over a decade of experience in financial services, particularly from the payments sector.

Outside of work, Tamara enjoys watching K-dramas, traveling, and learning new languages.

“My favourite aspect of the Bank is its commitment to being a bank for good, which is evident through its ethical work and the communities it supports.”

Ed joined Charity Bank in July 2018 from the social impact investment fund manager, Big Issue Invest, where he was Managing Director for nearly ten years. Ed spent the early part of his career in commercial banking in the U.S. and was head of the Small Business Banking practice of ShoreBank International, where he managed small business loan funds and advised financial institutions in the developing world.

“I believe that banks have a critical social function to fulfil and that Charity Bank can be an agent for positive social change. We are filling a gap in the provision of mainstream finance through our specialist lending to charities and social enterprises. We’re also giving depositors a savings option that is not just ‘ethical’; we ensure that our savers’ funds are only invested in organisations dedicated to addressing disadvantage, improving lives and strengthening communities.”

As part of the savings team at Charity Bank, Tayeba is committed to delivering exceptional customer service. Her primary responsibilities include assisting individuals with opening accounts, performing administrative tasks, and providing comprehensive support to both new and existing customers. Tayeba strives to ensure that all customer needs are met efficiently, effectively, and with a friendly, helpful attitude.

“I joined Charity Bank in 2023 and feel incredibly fortunate to work for an organisation that supports numerous charities and social organisations. My role allows me to contribute to the bank’s mission of making a positive impact on the community.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our two young boys. I’m very grateful to work for an organisation that allows me to balance my professional and personal life.”

Denise has 35 years experience in Commercial Banking, having started her banking career at NatWest on a Management Development programme. She joined Charity bank in January 2023 and feels privileged to have worked in the Not-For-Profit sector for 15 years as a Banking specialist. Denise has worked with a range of Charities, Social Enterprises, Community Interest Companies as well as professionals within the sector throughout my career.

“Charity Bank is a bank for the sector, owned by the Sector, and it really does make a difference to the organisations who seek funding to fulfil their mission. As an ethical lending manager, I’m passionate about working with these organisations, spending time to understand their operational and financial models and risk assessing if loan funding is right for them. I will additionally provide support to the organisations throughout the process. I also enjoy taking part in sector events across the North region as well.”

Paul joined Charity Bank as a Non-Executive Director and Chair of Risk Committee in June 2022. Paul has previously worked for a number of large international corporate and investment banks, predominantly in the area of Risk Management.

His most recent role was that of Chief Risk Officer for Mizuho International PLC. Prior to that Paul held a number of senior positions in a variety of British, Continental European and North American banks. Paul has a MBA from Bayes Business School and a Professional Certificate in Coaching from Henley Business School.

Kirstie has worked in banking specific finance and treasury roles for over 20 years and joined Charity bank in 2017, becoming CFO in 2021.

Mike was appointed as a non-executive director in 2017, and as senior independent non-executive director in 2022. He had been an advisor to the Charity Bank board credit committee since 2014.

Mike worked in investment and corporate banking in London, the Middle and Far East. He retired in 2015 as CEO of the South East Asian operations of an international bank where he also managed the group’s international principal investment management portfolio. He has a wide experience of corporate lending and recovery, risk management and financial advisory.

Since 2019 Mike has also been a non-executive director of the Ocean Housing Group, a housing association and property developer in the west country, where he chairs the audit and risk committee.

Toni joined Charity Bank in July 2022 after working for 11 years in administrative and customer-focused roles, including department leadership, supervision, and training. Her role is to assist the marketing and impact teams with administrative duties, highlighting how our loans support the charities and social enterprises we work with.

“In my spare time, I enjoy scenic walks and spending time with family and friends. I feel at home working for a bank that strives to make a positive impact on charities and social enterprises. I appreciate the flexibility and work-life balance that Charity Bank offers, which enables me to give my best at work and spend quality time with my young family.”

Nicola joined Charity Bank in June 2022 as a member of the HR team. Administering payroll and our benefit schemes for all of our colleagues, she also coordinates and delivers a range of learning and development activities within the Bank.

Nicola is a Level 7 qualified, CIPD graduate member with 15 years’ experience working in Human Resources in the retail and banking sectors. During her time overseas, she worked as an English Teacher, gaining her Diploma in Education & Training in order to support the education of others and now utilises these skills in her day-to-day activities within the Bank.

During Nicola’s time away from work, she enjoys travelling overseas and spending time with family and friends. She likes to keep active by attending Pilates classes and belongs to a local running group.

“My role is to oversee corporate governance arrangements at Charity Bank to ensure that we put in place a robust system of rules, practices and processes to manage and control the company. Good corporate governance contributes to long-term company performance by helping to build an environment of trust, transparency and accountability.”

Fabien has over 15 years’ experience in Financial Services. Prior to joining Charity Bank in September 2024, he was Company Secretary and Chief Commercial Officer at AIM-listed Mortgage Advice Bureau, and before that he worked in investment banking. He holds an MSc in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and an MBA from the Edinburgh Business School.

Outside of work, Fabien enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, and his interests include exercising (mainly yoga, running and swimming) as well as baking bread.

“Charity Bank is a fantastic organisation that is able to attract high calibre individuals similarly driven by a sense of social purpose. I really enjoy working with my colleagues and trying to effect positive social changes.”

Jonathan joined Charity Bank in June 2020. He is currently a Non-Executive Director at Nomura Europe Holdings and a member of the Audit and Risk Committee of the Wellcome Trust.

Jonathan has extensive experience of investment, corporate and retail banking. He was a member of the Executive Committee of UBS Investment Bank and of the UBS AG Group Management Board and Group Controller and Treasurer of Barclays Bank Plc. He was Finance Director and Head of Strategy for the Wholesale business of Lloyds Banking Group prior to his retirement in 2012. He was a founder Director of the British Business Bank. He was a Trustee of Sparks, The Children’s medical research charity for 11 years and Chair for 5 years and has also served as a Director of the Business Disability Forum.

Jonathan holds a degree in Engineering Science from Oxford University and is a qualified Chartered Accountant. Jonathan was awarded an OBE for services to Small Business Finance in the New Year Honours 2021.

Samantha joined Charity Bank in June 2022 as a level 7 qualified, Chartered member of the CIPD with over 20 years experience of working within Human Resources and Recruitment both nationally and internationally within the not for profit and private sectors.

An Insights Discovery Practitioner, she is also registered with the British Psychological Society as a Test User for ability, personality and occupational test administration.

Samantha is a keen runner and regularly participates in ‘Parkrun’ in addition to completing a number of longer distance runs. She’s also a keen skier and enjoys the opportunity to undertake these hobbies in various locations around the world when she can.

“My role within Human Resources is accountable for the full employee lifecycle with the Bank, helping to support colleagues in making Charity Bank a great place to work through innovative work practices and continual review of our employee experience. The ethics of the Bank align with my own core values of being open, collaborative and inclusive.”

Alan Hodson was appointed as Chairman in May 2019. Alan retired from UBS in June 2005, having been the Global Head of Equities, a member of the Executive Committee of UBS Investment Bank and of the UBS AG Group Managing Board.

He has since held positions on a variety of financial and charity boards, including as Chairman of Trustees of the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.

Mark has been at the forefront of marketing and communications strategies for Charity Bank for over 20 years, supporting its growth from a £6m pilot fund to a £350m+ impact-driven bank. His responsibilities extend to investor relations, social impact, and participation in the Net Zero working group. Mark holds a Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing, a BA Honours Degree, and a Chartered Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing.

His experience includes providing communications consultancy to the National Council for Persons with Disabilities in Kenya and volunteering in various capacities for social sector organizations. Additionally, Mark holds a Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies and is a qualified First Aider.

“My role is focused on raising awareness of how loans, savings, and investments can be powerful forces for good. I am continually inspired by the people behind the organisations we collaborate with, and it is a privilege to share the stories of how these charities and social enterprises are making a positive impact on lives.”

Micol is the Finance Assistant and is part of the Finance Team at Charity Bank. She finds the position interesting and varied. Micol has worked in Accounts & Finance most of her working career and enjoys it, however this is the first position she has held in the banking field and also her first charity related role.

“I enjoy working and building up relationships with my colleagues and suppliers. Working for a bank that loans and invests into the Charity sector is a bonus. Knowing that Charity Bank assists charities and organisations that need help the most makes me happy to be part of making a positive contribution towards them obtaining their goals.”

“My role is to lead and oversee Charity Banks approach to impact management and measurement, as well as EDI , helping us to communicate our impact and deliver on our vision and action plan for an equitable, diverse and inclusive organisation.”

Mwansa joined Charity Bank in November 2022 and has years of experience working in impact management, sustainability and EDI. She previously worked as an Impact Manager for Better Society Capital and a research analyst for the World Benchmarking Alliance.