Board of Trustees

Patrick Dunne

Chair

Patrick joined the Leap board in 2002, and has been Chairman since 2006. In addition to his executive role as Communications Director for 3i Group plc, the international private equity business, he is also a member of the General Council of Warwick University, a Visiting Professor at Cranfield School of Management and a Visiting Fellow of Kingston University. He has extensive corporate governance experience and is a regular speaker and commentator on boardroom issues, having written several books on the subject. Patrick is also a leading advocate and practioner of Venture Philanthropy. His charitable interests are focused on the education of disadvantaged young people in the UK and in Africa.

David Causer

Treasurer

David is a chartered accountant and a member of the Securities Institute. He has held a number of senior positions within financial organisations including being Finance director of Mercury Asset Management group plc and a managing director of Merrill Lynch Investment Managers until 2001. David also has extensive experience in a range of charities including the British Red Cross where he was director of Finances and Resources at until December 2007.David joined Leap’s board in 2008.

Anna Herrmann, MA, PG Cert

Anna has been working in the field of social change for twenty years, specialising in theatre and education with marginalised groups, both in the UK and abroad. Since 2002 she has been the Head of Education at Clean Break, a theatre company working with women affected by the criminal justice system. Anna worked at Leap from 1991-97, culminating in the writing and publication of ‘Making a Leap: Theatre of Empowerment’, a practical handbook in creating issue-based theatre with young people facing disadvantage. She returned as a trustee in 2006.

Christine Asbury, MA

Christine joined the Board of Leap in 2006, and has over 25 years of experience in leading organisations in the not for profit sector. She is currently Chief Executive of a start-up social enterprise, ATcare; prior to that she was Chief Executive of a charity providing supported living services for adults with complex needs and Chief Executive of TreeHouse, the national charity for autism education, where she led the rapid and sustainable growth from a staff team of six with a turnover of £100,000 to employing a hundred people with a turnover of over £4 million. Christine is also a trustee of the charity Birth Companions.

Hetti Barkworth-Nanton

Hetti is Commercial Director of BT plc’s Openreach division. She is an experienced business leader with extensive experience in Human resources, E-learning, Business Development and Finance gained in leading organisations such as BT, Centrica and British Airways. Hetti is also a programme facilitator for the Windsor leadership Trust and joined the Leap board in 2009.

Michael Barrington-Hibbert

Michael, who joined the Leap board in 2009, has a wide range of experience in sport, business and community activity. He was a member of Chelsea youth academy and professional footballer until he retired prematurely through injury at 19. Prior to his current role as Head of the city practice of leading search firm Odgers his early business career was with Morgan Stanley in New York. As an active member of REACH he is also involved in inspiring young men from ethnic minorities across the UK.

Michaela Howard, BA, REC

Michaela Howard is a qualified mediator, trainer and arbitrator and works for Hamiltonmayday in recruitment. She has an honours degree in Business Law and Human Resource Management and has been on the Leap board for eight years, having previously been a participant on and then a trainer for the Quarrel Shop. Michaela was diagnosisd with dyslexia in her later education and is a natural role model for young people with special needs who have experienced conflict.

Mike Conradi

Mike is a Partner at specialist technology law firm Kemp Little. His passion for peer-led youth work arises from his years spent working as a leader in a Jewish youth movement. Mike joined the Leap board in 2003.

Peter Myers

Based in Leeds Peter is an experienced Executive and Non Executive Director. Following a successful international career in financial services, during which time he worked in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the USA, Peter has recently been appointed Chief Executive of the West Yorkshire Tourist Board. Peter joined the Leap board in 2009. He is a Non Executive Director of Leeds NHS and Finance Yorkshire. He has a keen interest in youth work and he is an Officer in the RAF Reserve, responsible for running the cadet force. His squadron is based near Harehills, in Leeds, and recruits from a cross section of areas which include some of the most deprived in Leeds.