Council of Reference
We are blessed with a Council of Reference who kindly offer advice and support.
Andy Atkins is CEO of Christian nature conservation charity, A Rocha UK, which runs the popular Eco Church scheme. Andy has specialised in mobilising the public around social justice and environment issues with both Christian and secular charities. He was previously CEO of Friends of the Earth and Advocacy Director at Tearfund, where he initiated the charity’s work on climate change.
Henrietta Blyth took up the role of CEO at Open Doors UK and Ireland in July 2018. Henrietta is passionate about strengthening the church as an agent of change in the UK and around the world. This passion was kindled initially by working with the Iona Community in Scotland followed by several years working as a volunteer and for the World Health Organization in Asia and Africa. Returning home Henrietta was responsible for quality assurance within two large hospices before going to Lancaster University Management School to undertake a Masters in Business Administration. After working as a general manager across health and social care Henrietta returned to relief and development work where for the last fifteen years she has held leadership roles with Christian Aid, Tearfund and InterHealth Worldwide.
Allen Bower has been an ordained minister for 11 years and is currently vicar of St Saviours Sunbury, a medium size church on the edge of London with a focus on youth, community and social transformation. Prior to this he was vicar of St Matts Tipton, a church in an Urban Priority Area in the West Midlands. Allen has been involved in ministry with London City Mission, prisons and ex-offenders. He was formally Dean of Racial Justice for the Kensington episcopal area, and is passionate about justice, mentoring and being a voice for the marginalised.
Jane Cacouris is a freelance consultant and writer working in the international development sector on environment, poverty and livelihood issues. She has worked at both a policy and advocacy level as well as at a programmatic level for a variety of charities and donor agencies and in a number of countries and regions. She recently lived and worked in Brazil for a number of years and is founder of a grassroots Christian charity in Rio de Janeiro supporting entrepreneurship in disadvantaged communities. Jane also writes for a Christian opinion website on environment and development issues, and is actively involved in her local church in the UK, leading the community social transformation ministry aiming to reach the more marginalised members of the community.
Ian Causebrook is a former Director of Strategy & Impact at Tearfund. After Cambridge University, he spent his career in strategy and change in both the commercial and non-profit sectors. Now retired, he spends more time working in his local community as Chair of his local Christians Against Poverty debt centre and Creation Care lead at church, as well as enjoying the great outdoors.
Matt Currey works for Lifewords as UK Development Manager. Previous to that he worked at Tearfund for 13 years in Advocacy, UK Development and Volunteer Management. He lives in Southall West London with his family and is an active member of his local church, St John's Southall and also the local community. He enjoys music, reading and the arts.
Andy Davis has a long and successful career in engineering and is an active member of his local church, including serving in several leadership roles. He has been a Christian for over 35 years and it has really helped shape every part of his life and helped direct his family through many key events. Over time he has come to understand how important it is that we use our faith to stand firm for what is right. Justice, the environment and poverty are areas where he believes the church has to stand firm and offer practical support and input.
Neil Fix has been a Christian for over 30 years, and has been involved in various things over that time, including a local Christian arts festival, and working with Christian theatre companies. He’s currently working on a couple of books, one of poetry, and one on art and creativity from a Christian perspective; also putting together a podcast on the same theme.
Ben Niblett has worked as a campaigner at Tearfund since 2005 – during that time he has won campaigns on climate change, water and sanitation, and transparency and corruption, and lost ones on climate change and trade rules. Before that he was an MP's researcher, organiser for Leeds Jubilee 2000, and a fundraiser. He is married, with two teenage children at home and one away at university. Ben is an active member of his local Church of England church.
Tim Rose has been Rector of St Mary Magdalene Littleton since 2013. After coming to faith as a teenager in the late 90's Tim worked for evangelistic charity East 2 West for nine years before getting ordained in the Church of England. As a follower of Jesus Tim loves seeing people come to faith and his main gifting is as an evangelist. Alongside that Tim is chair of governors of an infant school and Chaplin of Ascot United football club. He is married to Emma and they have three children Jacob, Luke and Amy.
James Thomas is a Baptist minister of a church in East London which connects with the local community in various ways including working with refugees, running a local baby bank, a stay and play group for babies and toddlers, and a coffee morning for the elderly helping to combat isolation and loneliness. James also serves the local Baptist association by mentoring ministers in training and helping local church leadership teams appoint new ministers. He has been at this church, and part of the local community, for 9 years, including being part of the committee of the local resident’s association which helps gives deep insight into the hopes and worries of the local community. Prior to training as a Minister James worked within the housing sector as an IT and Network Manager.
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