How we are managed

Turn2us management

Thomas Lawson - Chief Executive, Turn2us. Executive Chair, Elizabeth Finn Homes Ltd

Thomas Lawson has worked in the social sector since the early 90s in international development at UNICEF, HIV at Terrence Higgins Trust and NAM (the charity behind aidsmap.com), criminal justice at Prisoners Abroad and in youth work at the award-winning Leap Confronting Conflict.

Recently he has been challenging the sector to address the barriers to success in the sector for people from Black, Asian and other minoritised ethnic communities. Tom has served on the boards of the charities: Centre for Youth Impact, Heart ‘n Soul and the National Peace Council. Until summer 2023, Tom was non-executive Chair of his family’s retail firm, Lawsons, and is the Chair for Elizabeth Finn Homes Ltd, which is Turn2us’s wholly owned subsidiary care home business.

Thomas joined Turn2us as Chief Executive in March 2019. He became a member of the Elizabeth Finn Homes board in April 2019, before being appointed as its Chair in August 2021. Thomas is interested in how the social sector can work with, and challenge, state bodies and companies to create an inclusive society in which everyone can thrive. He is passionate about the role that people with lived expertise can play in the future of the leadership of the social sector and in addressing the complex problems we face.

Claire Atchia McMaster - Director Income and External Affairs

Claire has worked in Campaigns, Communications and Income Generation over the last 30 years - working with a number of UK NGOs and INGOs tackling social justice from the Anti-Apartheid Movement to the Green Alliance. 
 
She has worked across government at the Commission for Racial Equality, London Development Agency, DFID, the Legal Ombudsman and was Strategic Advisor to Gordon Brown, PM. She was the founding CEO of the Sheila McKechnie Foundation, established to connect, support and develop UK and international campaigners.
 
She led on the fundraising and launch of a commercial live music venue and education programme in Hackney, in partnership with a range of broadcasters reaching audiences of 40 million+. And led high value specialist teams and multi-portfolio fundraising operations at: Depaul UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, Save the Children and the Terence Higgins Trust. 
 
She is passionate about working with social movements to create lasting change.

Thomas Mathew - Director of Finance and Operations

Tom Mathew joined Turn2us as Director of Finance and Operations in February 2020. He has held similar positions in the charity sector for over a dozen years, including at the City of Dublin YMCA and the award-winning youth charity Leap Confronting Conflict. In a previous life, Tom worked professionally as a writer. He is an award-winning essayist and a grant recipient through the Irish Arts Council.

At Turn2us, Tom oversees the charity's finances, risk management and ICT. 

Sarah McLoughlin - Director of Programmes & Partnerships

Sarah joined Turn2Us in November 2021 after 4 1/2 years at Nesta, the innovation foundation, where she managed a range of national grant programmes focused on helping governments and communities reimagine public services.  These included the Savers Support Fund, utilising social action and community engagement approaches to increase financial resilience.  

With almost 20 years of experience in the charity sector, Sarah has worked as a practitioner, manager, and senior leader for a range of organisations focused on social change in London and across Greater Manchester.  Sarah volunteers at her local foodbank in North Paddington as well as providing phone support to women experiencing a breast cancer diagnosis for Breast Cancer Now. 

Sarah is passionate about shifting power and reducing the structural inequalities within the funding sector so that more people are involved in decision-making and ultimately able to thrive.  

Michael Clarke - Director of Impact, Digital and Data

In his role, Michael leads digital transformation and strategy to tackle financial insecurity.

Since 2019, he has driven significant changes, including transforming the Turn2us Helpline, expanding AI-powered support, and embedding the Benefits Calculator and Grant Search tools with key partners. Passionate about co-production and equity, he ensures services reflect lived experiences and address systemic barriers. A regular media spokesperson, he advocates for a fairer social security system.

Previously, he held leadership roles in education, health, and digital innovation. Michael is also Chair of Trustees at the South London Botanical Institute, a music enthusiast, and a champion of data-driven social change.

Marcia Bluck - Director of People, Culture and Governance

Marcia Bluck is a senior People (HR), Anti-Racism, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), and Organisational Development (OD) leader with over 20 years’ experience across public, private and voluntary sectors. She has held senior and board-level roles overseeing multi-million-pound budgets and leading strategic people transformation.

Her charity sector work includes Trussell Trust (30,000 volunteers) and National Mind, where she led a directorate of 60 staff. Marcia specialises in people strategy, inclusive culture development, and aligning people practices with organisational goals.

As a trusted board advisor, she has worked with senior political figures and major institutions including the Home Office, NHS, Local Government, and the Metropolitan Police, as an Independent Advisor. Her experience also spans Dixons Stores Group and BMI Healthcare, where she led HR, OD, and EDI strategies.

A Chartered Fellow of the CIPD (FCIPD), with an MSc in Human Resource Management and a BA (Hons) in Law and Politics, Marcia is a recognised thought leader and keynote speaker committed to advancing anti-racism, equity and people-centred change. She is also passionate about community programmes in youth mentoring, anti-poverty and education governance.

Statement on senior salaries

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Trustees

Arvinda Gohil OBE – Chair

I am an experienced leader and bring significant experience of working in the charity, social enterprise housing and homelessness sectors.

Over the last three years I have moved away from an executive role to a portfolio of roles providing a path for my passions. I work with organisations that chime with my values.

I am currently Co-convenor of the Better Way Network, Vice Chair at Sanctuary Housing Group and Chair of British Gas Energy Trust and Turn2us.

My last executive role was as the Chief Executive of Central YMCA. Previous roles include: Community Links in Newham London; Emmaus UK; National Housing Federation; Housing Corporation, a capacity-building agency in South Africa; Chief Executive of Black led housing associations in London and Leeds; a women’s refuge for Black and Asian women and children; a positive action employment programme, and a regeneration partnership.

I am passionate about addressing inequities in society and I have spent my working life demonstrating the change we can make to address these. I share my experience by mentoring and coaching people from minoritised communities.

Philippe Lintern – Trustee and Hon. Treasurer

I spent 20 years working in investment banking as a trader, and then as head of a risk management division. I then took a career break, during which I volunteered for Shelter, the UK housing charity, working directly with clients.

In 2020, I joined the Bank of England as a banking regulator specialising in trading risk management. In 2022, I became Head of the Foreign Exchange Division overseeing the Bank’s foreign exchange balance sheet as well as the UK’s foreign exchange reserves.

I am passionate about social and financial inclusion. From an early age I was aware of inequalities and financial insecurity. When I was 21, I worked in a Job Centre in a post-industrial town in France, and saw first-hand the devastation wrought by long-term unemployment.

During my time volunteering for Shelter, I regularly used Turn2us’ Benefit Calculator, and applied for grants from Turn2us on behalf of clients, witnessing first-hand the life changing impact Turn2Us has. I was also a Trustee and Vice Chair of Shelter from 2018 until 2024. I joined the NCVO board as Trustee and Honorary Treasurer in 2025.

In my spare time I enjoy running, open water swimming, motorcycling, and flying trapeze both as a flyer and a catcher.

I am the Honorary Treasurer and chair the Finance, Investment and Audit Committee.

Steven Hunter – Trustee

I am a chartered accountant with more than 30 years’ experience, the last 20 of which have been spent running and building small businesses in the publishing/marketing sectors.

After qualifying with Coopers & Lybrand (now PwC), I spent 12 years there before heading up the financial reporting function at Mercury Communications, part of the Cable & Wireless group.

I then co-founded a magazine publishing company (subsequently sold) and in 2005 set up a content marketing business which was sold in 2015 and which I left in 2019.

I am a keen golfer and skier and I have two grown up children. I became a Trustee in June 2017 and I am member of the Finance, Investment and Audit Committee.

Edwina Johnston – Deputy Chair of Turn2us and Elizabeth Finn Homes Ltd

I became a Trustee of Turn2us in December 2020 and joined the Board of Elizabeth Finn at the same time. I currently hold the position of Deputy Chair of both organisations and am a member of the People Culture and Governance Committee as well as the Lead Trustee for Safeguarding.

I believe that the level of financial insecurity in the UK is unacceptable and am proud to be part of an organisation focused on tackling this.

My previous experience as a finance director and subsequently chief executive of a care company means that I bring the skills of financial oversight as well as a significant knowledge of the care sector. I am also currently a Trustee of Fitzroy Support, a charity that provides care to people with learning disabilities.

Sandy MacDonald – Trustee

I am Executive Director, Head of Impact at Scottish National Investment Bank (SNIB). I have a professional background working within and across sectors to influence and drive positive social and environmental change.

Before joining SNIB I was Director of Public Policy and Communications at Scottish Financial Enterprise, the membership body for the financial services industry in Scotland. Before that I was at Standard Life, and Standard Life Aberdeen plc, including eight years as Global Head of Sustainability.

My strong, active interest in social justice and tackling inequalities is also reflected in my voluntary and non-executive career. I am a former Trustee of charities including Children 1st and Venture Scotland, former Chair of the Living Wage Scotland leadership group and I was formerly an Independent Commissioner on the Edinburgh Poverty Commission.

I currently chair the Nominations Committee of the National Trust for Scotland and I am Chair of Developing the Young Workforce (the Scottish government’s initiative for connecting employers to education) for Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian.

I became a Trustee in April 2022 and chair the Impact and Influence Committee.

Denise Ramsey – Trustee

I was drawn to Turn2us’s commitment to tackling financial insecurity and advancing equity. I serve as the Lead Trustee for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (EDIB) and sit on the People, Culture and Governance Committee.

Outside Turn2us, I’m the Executive Director of the Joseph Levy Foundation, an independent charitable trust managing a £23 million portfolio. I’m also a Governor of the Walcott Foundation.

With over 20 years of experience across entrepreneurship, system change, business and education, I bring both lived and learned expertise to my work - focused on developing equitable funding practices and inclusive systems of support.

I’m passionate about creating lasting change by challenging structural barriers and helping organisations centre the voices of those most impacted. I aim to support Turn2us in delivering meaningful, measurable outcomes for the communities it serves - guided by courage, empathy, and a deep commitment to justice.

Holly Tippett Simpson – Trustee

I joined the Turn2us Board in October 2022, driven by a deep belief that no one in the UK should be living in poverty. I’m passionate about reforming the welfare system and making sure people get the support they need when life takes an unexpected turn.

With a Master’s in Human Rights and a career rooted in the charity sector, I bring a strong mix of fundraising expertise, strategic insight, and operational knowledge. I currently work as a Senior Strategic Funding Manager at the British Red Cross, where my work spans across all areas of high-value income — from philanthropy and trusts to corporate partnerships.

I’ve also worked in business planning and closely with finance and delivery teams, giving me a broad view of how charities drive real-world impact.

At Turn2us, I’m a proud member of both the People, Culture & Governance Committee and the Impact and Influence Committee, supporting the organisation’s mission to challenge injustice and help people build financial security.

Jenny Cooke – Trustee

I have a broad range of NHS leadership experience having worked in multiple NHS organisations in London, the Southeast, and Yorkshire. I am currently the Deputy Chief Strategy and Partnerships Officer at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust where I lead the Trust's improvement, strategy, and planning functions.

Through my NHS experience I have witnessed the significant impact financial hardship has on health and wellbeing on both an individual and community level.

I am passionate about involving people and communities in designing the solutions that support people to thrive. This role is my first trustee position. I am also a Non-Executive Director for Elizabeth Finn Homes.

In my free time I enjoy cycling, running, and hiking: anything that gets me outdoors and active, but I balance this with a love of cooking and baking.

Jenny Oklikah – Trustee

I became a Trustee at Turn2us in September 2023, inspired by the organisation’s commitment to social justice by ending poverty. I am also a member of the Turn2us Finance, Investment and Audit Committee.

My career spans central and local government, and the non-profit and community sectors. This includes over 12 years leading government strategy, including national programmes on combatting serious youth violence, and policy on protecting victims of harassment and antisocial behaviour.

Over the past few years, I have held leadership roles in organisations supporting young people living in areas affected by social inequality and violence. I am currently CEO of the charity Steel Warriors, which transforms knives taken off the streets into outdoor street workout gyms and provides tailored programmes for young people and communities. I also facilitate public participation processes and am a mentor and coach.

Kaveed Ali – Trustee

I joined the Turn2us Board in 2023, motivated by its commitment to tackling financial insecurity and driving systemic change.

I bring experience as former COO and Interim CEO of UK Community Foundations, where I led commercial strategy, equity, diversity and inclusion, and large-scale transformation. My background also spans marketing and product management offering a mix of strategic, operational, and creative skills.

At Turn2us, I am part of the Influence and Impact Committee, working to strengthen the charity’s voice, partnerships, and ability to deliver meaningful change.

Richard Edgar - Trustee

I began my career in radio at the BBC, becoming business editor of its flagship Today programme and then a presenter for the BBC’s World Service. I spent three years in Germany as a correspondent for Reuters Television and n-tv, before moving to the Financial Times in 2007 as its first global head of video, with a front row seat as the Global Financial Crisis took hold.

In 2011 I was appointed economics editor for ITV News, appearing nightly on the nation’s screens. I have won awards for journalism from the Webbys, Lovies, and the British Podcast Awards, amongst others. I joined Fidelity International in 2016 and oversee all thought leadership content, with a team of writers, producers and technical crew in London, Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai.