by Ruby Sykes
Allow us to introduce Ruth Njiri, Rita Sarkar, and Ian McLean as the newest members on our board of trustees.
Each will bring a range of skills and experience that are guaranteed to enhance the quality of our work at Good Neighbours UK.
“I was particularly drawn to GNUKs mission and core values due to my passion for sustainable and locally led solutions that cause positive change in marginalised communities. I believe that my experience, particularly in fundraising, partnership building and collaboration with local communities, aligns well with GNUKs work and I wanted to be a part of that journey.”
Along with over 15 years of experience in the above areas, Ruth Njiri is also the current Head of Partnerships and Fundraising at Cohere, an INGO working in Africa to empower refugees and their communities by providing funding, skills, education, and opportunities. In this position, Ruth fosters trusting and equitable partnerships between donors and refugee-led organisations to secure sustainable funds and support. She has also led project and business strategy development for emerging business in Kenya by tailoring go-to-market strategies to the fit the opportunities and challenges of the Kenyan market. Her extensive work within the humanitarian sector has revealed the challenges faced by communities in the Global South and inspired her to join the Good Neighbours UK team. One of the areas that Ruth is eager to explore is the ways in which strategic opportunities can help GNUK pursue innovative collaborations and funding models to strengthen the sector’s sustainability. In her spare time, Ruth enjoys traveling, family time, and reading a good sci-fi novel.
“I am passionate about achieving international development through international co-operation. Also, GNUK supports a broad range of causes – all of which are close to my heart. As such, the GN Board offered the perfect opportunity for me to get involved in a vitally important mission. On a personal note, a dear friend of mine who was a gifted international gender expert passed away recently – she inspired me in so many ways and I hope to honour her memory by way of my contributions to the GN Board. I also know that I will learn a great deal from my fellow GNUK trustees as we work together. It is truly an exciting time to be at GNUK!”
Rita Sarkar is a solicitor who initially specialised in litigation before steering her career towards the business and industry sector. More specifically, Rita operates across global markets through her work within multinational corporations in the healthcare and life sciences sectors. Her commitment to supporting global development initiatives was inspired by her early experiences in India, which gave her valuable insights and expertise on both the complexities and prospects of international living. Rita takes pride in working with cross-functional teams that share her dedication to improve the accessibility of health care around the world. She is most excited to bring her legal skillset, as well as her corporate and international experiences to the board. As for outside of her profession, Rita loves theatre, cinema, music, and travel.
“I have a background in working with small businesses, building robust and lasting solutions to problems and achieving a lot with a little, so I hope to bring some of that knowledge and experience to help GNUK. I have been a technologist for my whole working life and have seen how well-considered technology can be used to solve problems, improve efficiency and create new opportunities. I will try my best to use what I have learnt to help GNUK and the people across the world that we support.”
As a dynamic technology leader, Ian McLean has expertise in shaping technology strategies, executing agile transformations, and delivering roadmaps for product development. Ian has managed large- scale systems and developments within the FinTech and InsurTech sectors, including global Product and Technology teams. His passion for utilising technology to create business value has driven him to mentor CTOs in aid of bridging gaps between technical and non-technical communities. Something that Ian finds pride in is bringing individuals together to form supportive teams that foster self-development, a value that resonates with Good Neighbours’ focus on creating sustainable change for vulnerable communities. Beyond his profession, Ian holds a passion for sports, enjoying both team sports and running.
Assembling a board with a wide range of skills and contacts is essential to diversify and expand our organisation. Each members expertise is guaranteed to enrich the Good Neighbours team and open up new possibilities. Together we share the commitment towards transforming marginalised communities, and we are thrilled to welcome them to our organisation.
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