Rose is our CEO and has been at the helm of Action Syria since 2017, following 5 years with Save the Children International. Rose studied languages at the University of Edinburgh before moving to Damascus in 2010/11 to learn Arabic. She is a founding member of Action Syria and loves making muhammara in her spare time.
Elisha is our Head of Development, with 10 years of experience across various fundraising disciplines. After studying History and Heritage Management at university, she transitioned into the charity sector, where she now plays a key role in driving our fundraising efforts and ensuring sustainable growth. Outside of work, Elisha loves the great outdoors, whether rock climbing, running, or hiking with her dog.
Gina is our Strategic Communications and Marketing Manager. With a proven track record in leading communications strategies and driving brand growth across diverse sectors, including the NHS, Gina brings a wealth of expertise to our team. Outside of work, she finds joy in hosting dinners for loved ones, hiking with her dog, and traveling to new places.
Katy is our Operations Manager & Finance Executive. After studying Criminology and Sociology at university, she joined the charity sector. Having worked at three different charities, her experience includes Youth Support, Inclusion, and Operations and Budget Management. Outside of work, she loves going to a comedy and is always on the hunt for a bargain!
Alexandra Lopoukhine is a global partnerships expert with over 20 years of international experience in partnership development, strategic communications, and fundraising. She has led and strengthened NGOs through impactful strategies and creative engagement. Alexandra’s roles have included Strategic Corporate Partnerships at WaterAid, Managing Director of Rethinking Removals, and Interim Executive Director at the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI), along with senior positions at Mercy Corps, the World Economic Forum, and Amnesty International Canada. She also runs a consultancy supporting organisational development and strategy. Bilingual in French and English, Alexandra is a well-travelled, feminist leader committed to social justice and collaboration.
An experienced financial consultant and director at PwC, Joe is Treasurer and vice-Chair of our Board. He studied economics at Bristol, cutting his managerial teeth with the football team he set up there, before moving into the great wide world of finance. He now works in PWC’s Restructuring, Refinancing and Insolvency team.
George is an award-winning artist, specialising in travel and current affairs. His drawings are done in situ, in pen, ink and watercolour. In 2012, he was in Syria recording the ongoing war. His drawings have been used editorially by the Times, the Guardian, and are held in the V&A collection. He is a founding member of Action Syria.
Johnnie studied classics at Bristol University and works in asset management, having left Allianz Global to become the director of the New Amsterdam Group in 2017. Along with the rest of the Action Syria team, he was included in the Financial News Extra Mile Awards 2015. He is a founding member of Action Syria.
Louisa studied Islamic Studies at Oxford University, before moving to Damascus to work as a consultant on development projects. For two years Bab Salaam was her home. She is the managing director of FIND, a non-profit financial investigations organisation. Louisa is a founding member of Action Syria.
Nicholas is an expert and practitioner in international development assistance, with a background in governance, stabilisation and peacebuilding. For five years, he acted as Head of Syria Programmes for Adam Smith International, a British international development consultancy. He is currently ASI’s Head of Climate Change and Nature. In 2017 he swam the Bosphorus, raising £5k for Action Syria.
Thierry is a jack–of–all–trades. She has experience in everything from assisting congressmen, MPs and Hollywood stars, working in editorial for The Sunday Times, to silver smithery, which she started in Bab Touma, Damascus. In between all this, she is a mother of three and still finds time to be on Action Syria’s board.
Jack joined the Board in 2018. He studied law at Cambridge and worked as a solicitor at Linklaters and as the General Counsel of several companies. His extensive legal knowledge is extremely valuable for Action Syria.
Mazen is from Homs, Syria, and brings extensive knowledge of the Syrian conflict. He is an Executive Director at the Syrian British Consortium, researcher at LSE’s Conflict & Civil Society Research Unit, and a member of the UN-backed Syrian Constitutional Committee. Behind the scenes, Mazen claims to be an “excellent Syrian chef”, specialising in his grandmother’s recipes.
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