Meet the team

Brian Wilkie, Co-Founder & Honorary Chair

Serial entrepreneur, Brian started Gulf for Good in 2001 when he and his friends recruited 49 people to trek to the summit of Kilimanjaro to buy ambulances for use in Namibia. Brian is an adventurer, born in India and traveling since, Dubai became his home in 1976. Enviroserve, Universal Express, and Ductac are some of his companies.

Anne Edmondson, Chairwoman

A passionate educator, Anne has done 16 challenges, including Everest Base Camp in 2015 (when the earthquake occurred), where she saw first-hand the heart-breaking devastation caused to so many communities. When not in the classroom, stair climbing or beach hiking, Anne loves cooking, baking and feeding people – after all, she is Irish.

Nick Haston, Vice Chair

Nick grew up in West Africa and has lived throughout the Middle East and in Hong Kong. He first came to the UAE in 2009 and has raised three children here. Having spent 16 years in the British Army, Nick enjoys both adventure and a challenge. He has a broad corporate reach and a kaleidoscope of experience to bring to the Board. He has witnessed first hand the plight of children in a number of countries and has an enduring passion to try and leverage his network and life lessons to empower more people to do more good for the lives of children.

James Berry, Co-Founder & Legal Director

Born in East Africa, Barrister Jim runs his own practice in Dubai, where he has been living since 1989. A founder member of the Board, Jim has done several challenges in Tanzania and Morocco. In his spare time, Jim can be found working with Larchfield Children's Home, one of our main charities, of which he is the Founder.

Kat Kearsey, Strategy and Events Director

Kat began her Gulf for Good journey in 2007 with the phenomenal Everest Base Camp challenge. She was bitten by the challenge bug and has since ran a cross country Marathon in Ethiopia, raced Tuk-Tuks around Sri Lanka and summited Kilimanjaro. Originally from the UK, Kat moved to Dubai in 2005 “for six months”. over 15 years later, with a husband and two kids she’s still loving the desert and the opportunities it brings to see the rest of the world.

Lana Alrichan, Marketing Director

Passionate about combining strategy and marketing, Lana has held numerous management positions in Australia and the UAE. Her resilient history in everything advertising has led her interest in Gulf for Good, which combines her love for both kids and fitness. Lana believes that leaders should create change beyond the four walls of an organisation, building vigorous communities that fabricate real world impact. Travelling to over 60 countries, you are most likely to find Lana watching a sunset somewhere in the world! 

Chris Orrell, Finance Director

Passionate about the interplay between corporate strategy, operations and finance to achieve goals, Chris sits on the Gulf for Good Board as Finance Director. Chris grew up in Zambia, South Africa and the UK before moving to the UAE in 2006.  He has a love of adventure travel which spans over 50 countries. He has trekked to the base camp of K2, raced tuk-tuks across Ski Lanka and Cambodia, sea kayaked in northern Madagascar, cycled the Cape Epic for Médecins Sans Frontières and cycled the entire Tour de France for the William Wates Memorial Trust.

Jennifer Sault, Thrift for Good

Founder of Thrift for Good and on the Board of Directors of Gulf for Good. Seriously addicted to mountains and fundraising for children's charities are Jen's two favourite pastimes. She previously worked in the Operations Manager role and left it to start Thrift for Good, Gulf for Good's sister social enterprise reselling preloved items. Profits are then donated towards Gulf for Good charity projects. Check out thriftforgood.org

Kevin Woolley, Corporate Partnerships Director

Born in the UK, Kevin has lived in the United Arab Emirates for the past 15 years and considers this his family home having raised 2 children here.

Working for the past 20 years in the corporate world Kevin started his own company in 2015 which has grown rapidly, now working across many international locations. This experience will bring a wide range of knowledge to the Board of Gulf for Good.

Having been in the region for several years Kevin is looking forward to being able to use his network to widen the support and recognition of Gulf for Good.

Andrea Britchford, Director of Challenges

Originally from the UK, Andrea has made her home predominantly in the UAE with her family since
2011, in addition to enjoying a short spell of 15 months living in Singapore.

A passionate travel professional for over 20 years, Andrea has travelled to all seven continents, including
Antarctica, the ultimate expedition travel destination. With overland adventures in Africa, the Middle
East and Asia under her belt, she is always seeking out the next bucket list destination and brings this
desire and enthusiasm, coupled with her love of all things fitness, to Gulf for Good.

Milly Larmer, Partnerships, Sponsorship, Operations

Milly loves just about any activity that will get her outdoors and pushing her limits. Having trekked across the Indian Himalayas, travelled to many parts of the world, and taken on the role of Trek Leader for the Women’s Heritage Walk, a 125 km hike across the UAE desert, Milly is super excited to channel her competitive spirit to help others around the world as part of the Gulf for Good team!

Naveed Siddique, Administrative Assistant

Naveed comes from Pakistan and has been in Dubai since 1991. She has seen Dubai develop into the cosmopolitan metropolis it is now. She is an avid animal lover and lives with her rescued kittens. She is an entrepreneur who loves to dive into work challenges. She can also hold a conversation in American sign language! She loves to workout and practice Muay Thai a few times a week! She is a problem solver and is hoping to support the amazing team at Gulf for Good and be a part of their success helping more and more children around the world and spreading joy as they go along. 

Alizeh Ahmad, Charities Manager

Born and raised in Pakistan, a country plagued with poverty and destitution, Alizeh has always had a simple goal – to provide opportunities to those who did not have the means she did, by virtue of birth. Through her various volunteering and job opportunities with non-profits, she’s found her niche in the world of social development. Having recently moved to Dubai, she’s thrilled to be a part of the Gulf For Good team and continue her journey of helping children all around the world. In her spare time, you can find her watching football, consuming copious amounts of hotpot and exploring the world at every opportunity she can get (22 countries and counting)!

Join our journey of impact as a Volunteer Board Member

SPECIALIST TRUSTEE ROLE DESCRIPTION – FINANCE DIRECTOR

The specific responsibilities of the Finance Director are:

  • Assume accountability for the finances of the organization, including the board’s review of and action related to, financial responsibilities
  • Ensure appropriate and clear financial reports are available to the board on a monthly basis
  • Regularly report to board on key financial events, trends and concerns
  • Support with financial projections including cash flow and assessment of fiscal health
  • Liaise with external Accountant and Operations team to ensure finances are managed effectively
  • Provide approvals when requested, and in a timely manner, for invoice payments actioned by the Operations team
  • Provide annual budget to the board for members’ approval and monthly review
  • Ensure development, implementation, and adherence to financial procedures and systems as necessary
  • Assist in the selection of an external auditor, if required, and support the Operations team to ensure the audit is completed on time
  • Liaise with the Operations team and Auditors to approve audited financials each year
  • Work with other Directors in achieving the organisation’s mission
  • Continually act as an Ambassador of Gulf for Good
  • Leverage network to support Gulf for Good activities and increase fundraising opportunities
  • Attend Gulf for Good events throughout the year
  • Board members are expected to attend all of the monthly board meetings in a twelve-month rolling period (in person or online). Failure to attend at least two-thirds of meetings shall trigger a formal review of the member’s position on the board

This is a voluntary role with no financial remuneration. Board Directors are requested to commit to a minimum of 10 hours per month and remain on the Board for at least one year.

 

Apply to [email protected] with your CV and cover letter by 01st May 2023.

Ambassadors

Derek Bellis - Ambassador for Sponsorship

Derek arrived and settled in Dubai in late 1985; working in various IT fields, until his retirement in mid 2018. Having been raised in Alexandria, Egypt, in his early years, he is an Arabic speaker. In fact Derek has spent more than half of his life in the middle east, which has helped him build a wide network of contacts, in many walks of life.

He has undertaken several challenges with Gulf for Good, over the years, starting with Kilimanjaro in 2003, and more recently volunteering in Malawi, at the Sparkle Foundation. In addition, Derek has trekked in Bhutan, Vietnam, Patagonia, Cambodia, Kazakhstan and India. Like many Gulf for Goodies, he is an avid traveller, having visited 67 countries and lived in 8 of them. His current bucket list includes Iceland, Namibia, Cuba, and Tajikistan.