Meet the charity Trustees

David is currently Managing Partner at a not-for-profit executive search firm, specialising in finding leaders for third sector organisations, and has experience in operations and human resources at director level. For a decade he was a special adviser to the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations, and has also acted as an Independent Assessor for the Cabinet Office. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development and has a master's degree in political communications, advocacy and campaigning. 

Away from work, David’s commitment to establishing and nurturing wetlands in his city garden led him to be featured on BBC’s Springwatch, and a project he undertook to rewild his garden means he has been sharing it with a family of foxes for a number of years. He is also a keen wildlife photographer, as well as a walker, birdwatcher and gardener.

I am a partner in the Disputes and Investigations team at a City law firm, specialising in complex disputes and investigations spanning privacy and data protection, cybersecurity incidents, reputation management, and consumer/retail finance claims.  I also lead the firm’s global pro bono practice.  I do pro bono because access to justice shouldn’t depend on means, and NGOs and charities shouldn’t have to divert scarce funds from frontline impact into legal fees just to protect their mission.  Working pro bono has given me the opportunity to support a number of animal welfare and environmental organisations, and I have a particular interest in the growing Rights of Nature Movement. 

I grew up in rural West Sussex, and am lucky enough to live in the countryside now, where I spend spare time with our cats, reading and running.  I also spend time walking, mainly to and around various megalithic monuments.

Since I was a child, I have had a strong sense of the need for greater focus on animal welfare, and followed the work of the League and their campaigns all my life.  I am delighted to be able to support the charity’s work by becoming a Trustee to support its purpose of bringing about real change to save animals’ lives.   

I am Chief Executive of a social justice charity, and have a strong sense of driving social change through advocacy alongside practical actions that can deliver improved awareness, policy change and on-the-ground support.  A large amount of my career has been focussed on stakeholder engagement, governance and delivery, and I have also had experience volunteering in animal and environmental fields outside of my formal roles.  Alongside the League and my work, I am a Trustee of a charity supporting wading birds through global conservation, and of a local Tudor heritage site. 

I live in a rural part of Kent, with my husband and rescue dog, and outside of work enjoy walking, visiting local sights and travel in the UK and further afield.   

The League has been a driving force for animal welfare over many years, securing victories that have saved animals’ lives and reduced suffering.  There remains an absolute need for new and stronger legislation, for greater government prioritisation on action across a range of species and so-called sports, and stronger enforcement of existing laws.  I feel privileged to have the chance to play my part as a Trustee in the next stage of the League’s work.

Having followed the League’s work for many years, it is a privilege to have joined as a Trustee in 2020. My background is in applied ethology, animal welfare science, international development and education, and for the past decade I have worked in a scientific advisory capacity for an international animal welfare organisation. I have also been a member of the International Society for Applied Ethology, Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour and Universities' Federation for Animal Welfare, a contributing writer for the Global Animal Network and a Trustee for a charity supporting wildlife rescue and conservation in the Bolivian Amazon.
I have loved animals since childhood, and adopted a plant-based diet more than 20 years ago – back when the word ‘vegan’ was often met with confusion! I am encouraged to see growing public awareness and concern for animal welfare and this narrative becoming increasingly mainstream, and am keen to promote animal welfare from an evidence-based perspective. Having worked or travelled in more than 75 countries so far, I have developed particular interests in the inter-relationship between animal welfare and international development, and in animal welfare education worldwide. My greatest challenge in working life has been to witness animal suffering in many forms, which may stem from lack of knowledge, resources, compassion, opportunity or regulation; and I believe that understanding root causes is integral to creating positive change.
When not globe-trotting I am likely to be either enjoying busy city life in London or recharging with friends and family back home in the west of Scotland.

In 2017, I made a life-changing decision to go vegan—driven by a deep realisation that I no longer wanted to contribute to the suffering of animals in any way.

This shift sparked a complete transformation in my life. I stepped away from a successful 18-year career in corporate strategy and management consultancy to start OGGS®—now the UK’s No.1 vegan cake brand and pioneers of plant-based eggs.

Our mission at OGGS is simple but powerful: to remove the hidden animals from our food system. We're proving that people can enjoy delicious, familiar foods—without compromise, and without animals.

Today, my work is entirely focused on making a positive impact—for animals, and for the planet. My background in corporate strategy, leadership, marketing and communications continues to shape how I build purpose-driven businesses that can scale, innovate, and lead change.

The weekends are spent with my family, two rescue cats and our dog in the nature; on our bikes, hiking, bird watching.

My background is in technology leadership and digital strategy, with over 15 years spent helping organisations from government departments to FTSE 100 brands navigate complex digital and AI transformations.  

I have held CTO and senior advisory roles working with board-level stakeholders on technology strategy and compliance. I am a Fellow at the Institute of AI (IoAI), a published academic author in AI and management and hold governance appointments across several organisations. 

The natural world has always been important to me, and joining the League's Board of Trustees is an opportunity to put that conviction into action. I intend to bring a digital and strategic perspective to support the League's mission and help amplify its reach.  

At home, my partner and I have worked to shape our garden into a space where wildlife feels welcome. The result is something of a sanctuary, with regular visitors including badgers, foxes, squirrels, woodpeckers and a busy cast of smaller birds. It's a privilege to share this space with them, and a daily reminder of why protecting wildlife from needless cruelty matters so much, and why the League's work is as important as ever.

As a lifelong animal lover, I am delighted to join the League’s Board of Trustees and have the opportunity to be able to use my passion for the well-being and protection of animals, and my professional experience to help inspire change, raise awareness and work towards ending cruel sports.

I am a senior HR leader and have spent the majority of my career in the Health and Social Care sector helping lead organisations that care for vulnerable Adults and Children providing them with a better quality of life.

Together, with my fellow Trustees I will strive to bring about real change for animals across the UK.

My wife and I live with two rescue cats and when I’m not working, we enjoy spending time with family and also spending time outdoors in nature.
My outlook on life is to treat others in a way that I would hope to be treated, and I will work to ensure this extends to helping educate others on creating a safer, more compassionate and caring world for animals.

I am a lifelong animal lover and cannot remember a single time in my life where animals were not part of my family. Over the years I have developed a strong interest in animal rights and welfare. I have been vegetarian for most of my life and finally made the step to become vegan in 2009.

I have a background in grass roots activism and have spent many a day holding a banner or a megaphone, or handing out leaflets and trying to engage people and bring attention to the various abuses that are inflicted upon animals. It was the activism and the incredibly committed people I had the privilege to work alongside that ultimately inspired me to make a significant career change.

In 2013 I made the decision to re-train for a legal career which I hoped would give me the skills and ability to continue to fight for the animals but in a different way - through the law. With no degree I applied to study Law and then went on to complete a Masters degree and the bar training. I am now a criminal barrister with a growing practice in animal related work ranging from prosecuting cruelty offences to representing defendants charged under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

Home is in East London where I live with my husband, our teenage daughter, a dog, 2 cats and 7 rabbits. Work and home does not leave me with too much spare time but what I do have I enjoy spending in nature and you will still find me holding a banner and chanting at a protest from time to time too.

I have followed the League’s work for many years and have been impressed by its mission, values and many notable successes. I feel immensely privileged to be given the opportunity to be part of the League’s future as a trustee and sincerely hope that I can make a difference to the lives of animals through my contribution.

As a lifelong animal lover and advocate, the well-being and protection of animals has always been important to me. I have actively supported various animal welfare organisations—including the League Against Cruel Sports—through fundraising efforts, rescue missions, or advocacy campaigns; I have consistently worked towards creating a safer and more compassionate world for animals.

In recent years, I have come to a stark realisation that the ban on hunting, which I and many others believed to be firmly in place and effective, is not as strong as we thought. The sight of animals enduring unnecessary pain and suffering is profoundly distressing, and it is imperative that we increase public awareness about this issue.

I am a Chartered Accountant with over 30 years of business experience across professional services, banking, corporate finance, and operations, latterly in the education sector. Having recently stepped back from a full-time position and returned from London to my native Yorkshire, I am now motivated and able to commit time and effort to causes I have a passion for.

I enjoy spending time in nature with my two canine buddies, particularly roaming the Yorkshire Dales or on a wide sandy beach. I also actively support various underperforming teams in a range of sports.

The League has a rich legacy, but there remains much work to do to put an end to senseless acts of cruelty in the name of sport and to provide a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. I am honoured to be a Trustee of the League Against Cruel Sports and to be able to play my own part in delivering a future where animals are valued, respected and protected from harm.

Having been a supporter for many years, I am delighted to have joined the League as a Trustee.  I am excited at the prospect of being able to play a part in delivering in an area that has been a passion of mine for so long. 

Wildlife has excited me all my life; I was first introduced to nature by my mother who taught me how to respect, nurture and protect it. Later in life, I have been fortunate enough to witness the awe of nature and wildlife across the world.  This has led me to support and actively advocate for a number of wildlife charities. 

In terms of my professional background, I have spent 35 years in the corporate world, with over 20 years at Board level.  My specialism is Marketing and Strategic Planning, and I have operated in roles both in the UK and internationally. 

Throughout my career, I have championed the younger generation; providing mentorship and guidance.  I am passionate about engaging at a grass roots level with schools and colleges to ensure that the children of today grow up appreciating wildlife and eliminating cruelty. 

Alongside wildlife, travel is an interest of mine. I am lucky to have been given the opportunity to travel extensively, both professionally and personally.  It is something I enjoy hugely, especially gaining an understanding of different cultures and seeing the natural world in all its various and magnificent forms.  At home In Derbyshire, my wife and I enjoy time with our Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.     

As a Trustee, I am committed to helping the League with its mission to galvanise the public by promoting a kinder society where the persecution of animals for sport is in the past by re-shaping the attitudes of the public to win hearts and minds.