Board of Trustees
Refugee Futures is governed by a board of 6 trustees with a diversity of backgrounds and skills. They willingly give their time and skills to ensure the charity is well run and resourced and is enabling refugees and people seeking asylum in Stockton-on-Tees to flourish in accordance with its charitable objects. We are currently looking for people to join our board as a trustee, check out our become a trustee page for more information.
Bill Williams
Founder of Arrival GP Practice dedicated to refugees and people seeking asylum. Bill has wide experience engaging with individuals, voluntary organisations, and charities in supporting refugees and people seeking asylum.
Catriona MacDonald
36 years leadership experience as an operations manager in the care and disabilities sector with North Tyneside Council and Positive Support For You.
Clair Jones
A Chartered Accountant, recently retired from a 30-year career in financial management with international humanitarian organisations for the most part outside of the UK, and now qualified and practising as a Psychotherapeutic Counsellor.
Jon Carling
After a long career, mainly in the VCSE and public sector in the North East, Jon now operates as an independent consultant and is a Trustee of a number of charities in Teesside.
Malik Quraishi
A refugee from Afghanistan. Formerly a senior Afghan diplomat with over 25 years experience and expertise in international relations, diplomacy and national security, often in difficult volatile situations.
Peter Chapman - Vice Chair
A retired Certified Accountant, formerly Company Secretary at Auckland Castle Trust in Bishop Auckland; previously a Trustee of A Way Out, and The Leprosy Mission (England & Wales).
Ruth Hicks - Chair
St Peter’s Church; Coordinator of their ESOL Cafe; formerly Director of Adult Social Services at Middlesbrough Council; currently Chair of MIND Teesside, and Trustee of Recovery Connections.
Simon Pleydell
An experienced Public sector leader ; working in the NHS for 40 years, including 20 years’ experience as a hospital Chief executive in Teesside ,Humberside, York and London. A special interest in employment issues Chairing NHS Employers Policy Board for 5 years. Was recently chair of the Darwin International Institute for studies in compassion and currently chair of a local parish council.
Yeama Susan Mansaray
Former journalist from Sierra Leone who has lived in Stockton-on-Tees for 15 years. Susan is Founder of Purple Rose and was until recently Chair of the local Refugee and Asylum Seekers’ Forum.