Meet the NCS Trust Board of Directors, who oversee all actions taken by the NCS Trust, including our transition to a Royal Charter body.
CHAIR
Internationally acclaimed youth leader Harris Bokhari OBE joins NCS Trust from Patchwork Foundation which he founded in 2010. He is a social entrepreneur, public engagement advisor and chartered accountant. His wide range of roles include serving on the Board of the Natural History Museum (Chairing the Audit and Risk Committee), The Royal Parks, the Prince’s Trust Mosaic Initiative and is an elected council member of the National Trust.
Harris will help lead the Trust as it delivers its new strategy, providing greater choice and opportunity for young people and drives the government's youth guarantee.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Mark joins NCS Trust as CEO having previously worked in several significant roles across the John Lewis Partnership and most recently as the Director of Shop Trade for Waitrose & Partners. As a people-oriented leader, Mark is adept at creating and nurturing high-performing teams focused on achievement with a notable example of included changing the way shops were run which drove a fundamental change in the operating model as well as improved productivity and enhanced Customer & Partner experience. Outside of work, Mark is a father and husband who actively engages in his local community as a Chair of Governors at a primary school and as a Safeguarding lead for a junior football club...he’s also proud to be called a Mancunian!
With a wide range of experience drawn from different sectors and backgrounds, our non-executive board oversee the delivery of NCS’ future objectives, including expanding our reach, delivering more impact and improving value for money. They also work with our Youth Voice Forum, ensuring the voices and opinions of young people are at the heart of everything we do.
Duncan is a Partner at Brunswick Group Advisory Ltd, helping international businesses deal with complex political and regulatory issues.
Duncan joined Brunswick from the UK Treasury, where he was Chief of Staff and Special Advisor to former Chancellor Rt Hon Phillip Hammond MP, providing advice on, among other issues, Brexit, financial services and healthcare. He also served as a Special Advisor to Phillip Hammond in his then capacity as the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
Duncan was campaign director and office manager for Andrea Leadsom MP from 2010 to 2015 and, before that, was chief executive at MCA Ltd. for five years, a management consulting firm, providing managerial and strategic advice to large companies. He also worked in European equity strategy for Credit Suisse and JP Morgan Chase in London, and consulted at the World Bank and KPMG in Washington, D.C.
Tristram served as a tank and infantry commander in the Royal Dragoon Guards, retiring as a captain in 1997. He spent three years with Coca-Cola and GE Capital before founding Go Ape in 2002 as ‘Chief Gorilla’. Go Ape is a multi-award-winning forest adventure business operating at 50 locations across Britain and the USA with a vision to ‘create adventures and encourage everyone to live life more adventurously’. He is responsible for youth sailing at Bosham Sailing Club and is an alumna of Edinburgh University and London Business School.
Catrin is an experienced people leader in dynamic, innovation-led organisations, having worked at Zoopla Property Group, Dyson and Amazon.
Catrin joined Houseful (previously Zoopla Property Group) as Chief People Officer in 2019 where she has been the driving force behind significant organisational and cultural transformation. Previously at Dyson, Catrin led a global team during a period of high growth and significant change, including the establishing of the Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology. Beforehand Catrin spent 5 years at Amazon, working with senior leaders across the full portfolio of businesses in Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Catrin is an active advocate for the development of young talent and the creation of opportunities where young people can learn, safely make mistakes, and explore their potential. Having recently assumed responsibility for Environmental, Social and Governance at Houseful, she has supported the promotion of the company’s partnership with both Future Frontiers and the Mayor’s Fund for London. She has coached several young people, offering guidance to enable them to realise their personal, academic and sporting potential.
Born and raised in West Wales, Catrin has a MA in French and German from Cambridge University and speaks four languages. She is a proud mother of two, a hockey player, marathon runner, avid rugby and football fan, and part-time surfer.
Jonathan is an award-winning CEO committed to social impact with a track record of leadership across the charitable sector, private sector and Senior Civil Service.
Jonathan is CEO of the Charity for Civil Servants that supports current, former and retired civil servants when they face tough times. Prior to this role, Jonathan was founder CEO of the CareTech Foundation, the leading corporate foundation in the social care sector and also Group Sustainability Director of specialist care and education provider CareTech Ltd, the first holder of this role for the company and, indeed, the UK social care sector.
Jonathan was Managing Director of Mosaic, the then HRH The Prince of Wales’s youth mentoring charitable initiative, and before that a member of the Senior Civil Service.
Jonathan is also Managing Director of Earlsbrook Consulting, providing strategic consultancy support to corporates, charities and philanthropists.
Jonathan is Chair of Trustees, Carers Worldwide and member of the Remuneration Committee of St. Anne’s College, Oxford University.
Jonathan was recognised with an MBE for charitable services in Her Majesty The Queen’s New Year’s Honours List 2021.
Darren Xiberras is currently Chief Financial Officer of Cardiff University and a member of the University Executive Board. He is a Trustee of the Difference Education Limited which works to reduce exclusion from mainstream schooling and was also a co-opted member of the National Citizen Service audit and risk committee from 2019 to 2022. He brings a wealth of experience in finance, previously holding the post of Chief Finance Officer at the University of South Wales and at Teach First. Darren sits on the Executive Committee for the British Universities’ Finance Directors’ Group (BUFDG) and trained as an accountant with South Wales Electricity PLC.
Jacquie is an educational leader having worked in education for over 20 years. She is currently Head of Department and Head of Year 11 at a West London Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) where she is responsible for pastoral and career needs of students in their final year of statutory education. Jacquie is passionate about ensuring young people have access to educational tools to improve and enhance their further education and future work opportunities. Jacquie has strong links with her local community and serves as a Referral Order Panel Member with the Harrow Youth Offending Team. Jacquie also serves on her local Safer Neighbourhood Panel.
Deborah started her career with Legal & General and has held executive roles in Williams & Glyn Bank, Resolution, Swiss Re and General Electric. She has experience in a range of leadership roles covering Human Resources, Communications, Governance, Legal and Operations and is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD. Her career has always been guided by a belief in the importance of creating organisation cultures that value the whole person, whether colleague, customer or client. Deborah now works independently as an executive coach and management consultant. She also serves in a Non-Executive capacity as a trustee on the board of United Response.
Amanda has dedicated her career to improving access to opportunities so that young people have the tools they need to lead fulfilling lives. She currently leads digital skilling education for Google, enabling opportunity by creating relevant and engaging content and programming. As part of her role she founded and leads the global apprenticeship programme. Before Google Amanda spent fifteen years in education charities in the UK and the US, working to develop and equip teachers and leaders to make an impact towards educational equity. Amanda started her career teaching primary school in Compton, California and worked at both Teach For America and the Los Angeles Unified School District in southern California. She holds an MsC in Voluntary Sector Management from the Cass Business School.
Jess is an undergraduate student at the University of Cambridge, reading Psychology and Behavioural Sciences. She is also a non-executive director at Youth Futures Foundation, which aims to ensure all young people have equitable access to good quality employment by identifying and amplifying 'what works', where she helps ensure that youth perspectives are embedded in strategic decision making. Alongside this, Jess volunteers as a mentor with several access initiatives in Cambridge, to support pupils from underrepresented backgrounds through applying and succeeding in higher education.
Rachael is a second-year English Literature student at the University of Cambridge. Alongside her academic pursuits, Rachael is a dedicated advocate for youth empowerment and racial equality. Serving as a Youth Advisor at The Careers & Enterprise Company and Racial Equalities Officer at her college, she actively engages in initiatives to foster inclusivity and opportunity for all. Her dual roles allow her to blend her academic insights with real-world advocacy, ensuring youth perspectives are heard and valued in decision-making processes. Within the NCS Trust, Rachael aims to bring her dedication and experience to empowering young voices to champion positive change.
Adnan had a successful career as a lawyer predominantly at BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the BBC. Adnan is now working across various mentoring schemes with a focus on children and helping them transition from school into higher education or the world of work. Adnan is sport obsessive with a keen interest in football and golf.
Michael is the Government’s nominated representative on the NCS Trust Board. His current role is Deputy Director for Major Sporting Events and Delivery at DCMS, where Michael ensures fulfilment of the Government’s commitment to maintaining the UK’s world-leading track record as a host of major sporting events. He leads for the UK Government’s on the UEFA European Championships 2028 across the UK and Ireland, and oversees the Grassroots Sport Facilities Investment Portfolio.
Michael has been a Civil Servant since 2007 and, prior to joining DCMS, was a Deputy Director in the COVID-19 Task Force within Cabinet Office, the Head of a Cross-Government Team on Serious Youth Violence, and Justice and Home Affairs Adviser in the Prime Minister’s Policy Unit. Earlier in his career, Michael worked primarily in the Home Office (with stints at Ofsted and the FCDO).
Within the Civil Service, Michael established a cross-Government champions network, which organises Holocaust Memorial Day commemorations in every major department (as well as many agencies and public bodies). He also serves as DCMS's Faith and Belief Champion.
Outside of work, for over fifteen years, Michael was a senior youth leader for a national, uniformed organisation, Jewish Lads and Girls Brigade (JLGB), which was an early NCS partner, winning awards for its interfaith NCS programme. As well as running weekly activities and camps, he designed and led JLGB's accredited youth leadership training and served as a trustee . His other trustee experience includes serving on the board of the Mitzvah Day, which leads the UK's largest day of faith-led social action, and as a board observer for the United Jewish Israel Appeal.
Across all these professional and wider commitments, Michael remains passionate about youth leadership and development, and about embedding youth voice in policy-making.
Originally from Glasgow, Michael now lives with his wife Rebecca and three daughters in Hertfordshire.
Jakira is a Chartered Accountant with over 14 years’ experience having worked as both an internal and external auditor for a variety of public sector organisations across healthcare, local and central government, higher education and housing whilst working within the big 4. Jakira is currently working at Homes England within Internal Audit and is a member of the Homes England ShadowBoard. Jakira is passionate about championing social mobility for underrepresented groups and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds. She’s passionate about helping our young people gain access to new opportunities and supporting them in becoming the talent of the future.