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Trustees

Dan Easterbrook

Dan is Senior Desk Officer, Secondary Legislation at the Cabinet Office and oversees the UK Government’s delivery of secondary legislation. He studied Politics at the University of Exeter before joining the Civil Service. Dan supports a range of initiatives to encourage young people to become trustees, including as a link trustee for ThinkForward’s Youth Advisory Board. He founded Adults with Hemi, a peer support community for individuals with Cerebral Palsy Hemiplegia, which supports over 500 people to overcome barriers and share solutions to everyday challenges. He is a member of ThinkForward’s Finance, Risk and Audit Committee. 

Kathryn Jack

Kathryn is currently the Head of Membership and Events at the Association of Commonwealth Universities, a registered charity and global network of higher education institutions. Kathryn is a first-generation university graduate who qualified as a chartered manager through a degree apprenticeship programme. With three apprenticeships under her belt since leaving school, Kathryn has lived experience of a more blended pathway into work. She is an experienced mentor, has worked on various SEND voluntary projects, and is passionate about social mobility. 

Keith MacDonald

Keith has been a partner advising financial services firms for over 35 years, leading businesses for EY, CapGemini and Capco.  He led EY’s Wealth Management and Private Banking business for over 10 years, including chairing industry and philanthropic forums, and continues to advise organisations in these sectors.  He is currently advising a range of fintechs and other start/scale ups on strategy, distribution, partnerships and funding.  He is also a trustee and adviser to several philanthropic and charity bodies. Keith is Chair of ThinkForward’s Development Committee and a member of the Finance, Risk and Audit Committee.  

Matthew Tate (Chair)

Matthew is Chair of ThinkForward. He is also the Headteacher of Hartsdown Academy in Margate where he has been since 2016. Hartsdown is a diverse school in a deprived area and during Matthew’s time at the school has improved significantly through the establishment of a relational approach that has high expectations with high levels of support including a food bank, clothes bank and other services. In 2023, the school was the 11th most improved school in the country.  As an Inclusive Leader of Education, Matthew works across Kent supporting inclusion and better outcomes for children. He believes that an excellent education is a matter of justice and has worked in school improvement in London and Kent. 

Roxanna Patel

Roxanna is an employment lawyer at international law firm, FisherBroyles UK LLP. She also sits as a school governor for Old Palace of John Whitgift School and is a committee member of the Governance & External Relations Committee for The John Whitgift Foundation. Roxanna often contributes her time to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, specifically in the legal profession and educational space. She is currently training to be an empowerment and mindset coach and is dedicated to doing work that helps to empower and progress young people in their lives and careers. 

Sally Cartwright

Sally Cartwright is a young trustee and a former Nottingham student from our programme. She went to Ellis Guilford School where she worked with coach Daljit. Sally joined ThinkForward in 2016 and instantly embraced the benefits of the coaching relationship and the opportunities the programme provided. She is currently studying Law at university and works as a support worker for young people. Sally wants to help ThinkForward grow and be accessible to more young people. 

Vanessa Morphet

Vanessa is the Head of Social Impact Investment at the Church of England. Vanessa started her career in the financial services sector at Goldman Sachs, Arma Partners and Wellington Management before joining venture philanthropy organisation, Impetus, where she first came across ThinkForward. Vanessa has also worked in government on social investment policy. Vanessa is Chair of ThinkForward’s Finance, Risk and Audit Committee.