Our Team

General Sir Gordon Messenger

KCB DSO* OBE DL RM, Chair

General Sir Gordon Messenger served as a Royal Marine from 1983 to 2019 . His career was notable for two reasons; he was the first Royal Marine to be promoted to 4 star rank for 50 years and the first member of the naval service since the Korean war to receive a Bar to the Distinguished Service Order. He has a hugely varied portfolio career including the public, private and charity sector.

As Vice Chief of Defence Staff from 2016-2019, he was the second most senior military officer in the UK, responsible for the day-to-day management of the Armed Forces. Since retiring, he has managed a portfolio career as a Board member of QinetiQ plc, on the Advisory Board of the Leadership College of Government and the UK Health Security Agency and a member of the UK Commission on Covid Commemoration.

In November 2021 he was commissioned to conduct a review of leadership and management in Health and Social Care which was published in June 2022. He was appointed Rear Admiral of the UK by the Sovereign in December 2021. In April 2022 it was announced that Gordon Messenger had been appointed as the 161st Constable of the Tower of London, the first Royal Marine to hold the post.

The King appointed him as Lord High Steward of England for their Majesties’ Coronation on 6 May 2023, which included responsibility for carrying St Edward’s Crown.

"I’m most proud of being a member of the Royal Marines family, with which comes the recognition of the wider Armed Forces community. I am delighted to spearhead this vital Campaign, which targets our most seriously injured veterans. They, and their carers, deserve to know that they will be personally supported for the rest of their lives. We aim to deliver that certainty and that through-life peace of mind, while keeping the individual at the heart of the care package”.

Charles Donald

Advisory Committee

Former Help for Heroes trustee, Charles Donald is the Chief Executive of UK Government Investments (“UKGI”), having previously been Head of UKGI’s Financial Institutions Group. UKGI is the government’s centre of excellence in corporate governance and corporate finance. Prior to UKGI, Charles spent over 30 years in investment banking, working in both equity research and corporate advisory.

Charles is a Non-Executive Director at the UK Infrastructure Bank, heads the government’s Corporate Finance Profession and is Chair of the OECD’s Working Party on State Ownership and Privatisation Practices. His prior charity experience includes over seven years as Chair of an educational charity.

Emma Kane

Advisory Committee

Emma Kane is a strategic communications expert whose career spans over three decades and has been focused on building brands and protecting reputations.

Emma helps clients communicate across their whole spectrum of stakeholders, locally, nationally and internationally.  She is a special adviser to CEOs and Chairs of leading international organisations and is a ‘black belt’ in crisis management.   She is the UK CEO, Head of EMEA, and Deputy Group CEO of SEC Newgate, the 21st largest communications and advocacy group in the world, with over 1,300 employees working across five continents.

Emma is also actively involved in not-for-profit and philanthropic work. She is currently Deputy Chair of the Green Finance Institute and Deputy Chair of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.  She recently stepped down as Chair of Target Ovarian Cancer, the UK’s leading ovarian cancer charity, and in May 2021 she stepped down as Chair of the Barbican Centre Trust, after 9 years in both roles. She is also a former trustee of The Wiener Holocaust Library, Children of St Mary’s Intensive Care (‘COSMIC’) and Nightingale Hammerson.

Major General Jeff Mason MBE RM

Advisory Committee

Jeff served for 34 years in the Royal Marines, but after commanding the Commando Logistic Regiment, essentially served in joint logistic appointments within the Permanent Joint Headquarters, Defence Equipment and Support and the Main Building of the Ministry of Defence.

On leaving the Corps, he joined Supreme Group, a military contracting organisation providing logistic support including fuel and food as well as facilities management to deployed militaries worldwide. Jeff spent four years as the Commercial Director for UK and Europe before departing and spending nine years as the Chief Executive Officer of the Worshipful Company of Butchers, one of the senior City of London Livery Companies. He is the Chairman of Trustees of the Falkland Islands Chapel Memorial Trust and a Trustee of the Victory Services Club as well as the South Georgia Heritage Trust. For four years he was the Representative Colonel Commandant of the Royal Marines.

Jeff is married to Lucy, they have two adult children and live in East Anglia.

Karim Wallani

Advisory Committee

Karim Wallani joined Help for Heroes as a Special Advisor in 2023. Karim began his career supervising the delivery of a notable residential development overlooking London’s Hyde Park, enabling him to establish a strong foundation in Project Management. This experience afforded diversification across various real estate asset classes over the subsequent decade, in numerous capacities.

Karim’s passion for environmental and social impact saw his career trajectory shift. Currently, Karim is engaged in an investment portfolio spanning Natural Resources, Technology and Healthcare, while also holding multiple Advisory roles across differing industries. Additionally, Karim serves as a dedicated Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of International Bankers, where he also assists with fundraising endeavours for their charitable trust.

Karim’s desire to support marginalised communities led him to join the team and act as an interface between the No One Left Behind campaign and his network in both, Public and Private sectors.

Sir Ken Olisa

OBE, CStJ, FRSA, FBCS, Advisory Committee

Born in Nottingham and educated in State schools and Cambridge University, Ken has worked at IBM and Wang after which he founded 2 technology merchant banks. His business career has included serving as the first British-born black director of a FTSE-100 company (Reuters) and on the Boards of major companies including Open Text, ENRC, Huawei (UK) and Nigeria’s Interswitch.

His charitable passions include President of London homeless charity Thames Reach (for which he received an OBE), Chair of welfare to work charity Shaw Trust, founding Chair of the Aleto Foundation, supporting future leaders from tough reality backgrounds. In the past he has served as a Governor of the Peabody Trust and a Director of the West Lambeth NHS Trust. His wider public service roles have included inaugural membership of the Postal Services Commission and IPSA (Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority). In 2015 Her Majesty the Queen appointed Ken as her Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London – the first British-born black Lord-Lieutenant in the role’s 500 year history. He was knighted in the 2018 New Year’s Honours for services to business and philanthropy.

Tukeer Hussain

Advisory Committee

Tukeer has spent most of his career in the Political/Public sector covering a wide variety of roles linked to Financial Services, the Machinery of Government, and the Honours & Peerage System. Alongside this, he has had the pleasure of working on regional devolution policy and projects that seek to grow/spread economic growth outside the M25. Tukeer has a strong Financial services policy background and has worked with and at all the major institutions and understands the key stakeholders at play. He has had a strong background in advising regional and national political campaigns and is often used as a sounding board for engagement/community matters.

Recently, he has spent time in the private sector pursuing his personal passion in the technology space where he is a Judge of the National Cyber Awards and often hosts/contributes to roundtables on the benefits of technology innovation and reform. In his spare time, he enjoys supporting colleagues in the ‘City’ (especially on not-for-profit purposes) throughout the Livery System: where he has the pleasure of being a member of both the Worshipful Company of Grocers’ and the Worshipful Company of World Traders. Moreover, Tukeer also enjoys providing pro-bono consultancy work to diplomatic missions in the UK who are looking to grow their economy; work on improving Human Rights and strengthening Governance/Government infrastructure. He works with diplomatic missions to help on Financial Services access-to-finance and state-building efforts, leveraging his vast experience and network to support these crucial areas.

Simon Blagden CBE

Advisory Committee

Simon Blagden has 35 years experience in the IT, Telecoms and Digital industry. He has served as CEO and Chair of both private and public companies. He us currently Chair of Larkspur International.

In recent years, Simon has dedicated his time to public service.

He was the first permanent appointed Chair of Building Digital UK with the responsibility of delivering the UK Government’s strategy of achieving 85% gigabit-capable broadband to the UK (2022 to 2024)

Simon is also non-executive director of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Advisory Board (2021 to present), a member of the Trade Advisory Group for Technology at The Department for Business and Trade (2019 to present), and Industry Chair for the Parliamentary ICT Forum APPG (2018 to present).

His previous Government appointments and roles have been:

Director of the Government's Apprenticeship Delivery Board – 2015 to 2017
Member of the expert panel advising Government on Technical and Professional Education – recommending the introduction of “T-Levels” – 2016 to 2017

Simon was appointed MBE in 1997 for services to export and was appointed CBE in 2016 for services to the economy.

Emma Birchall

Advisory Committee

Emma Birchall joined Help for Heroes as a Trustee in September 2022. Emma is a champion of harnessing the power of diversity and inclusion to achieve better results – for people, business, and society.

She is currently Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) at telecommunications company, Ericsson, where she sets the D&I ambition and strategy directly impacting 100,000+ employees in more than 180 countries. Before joining Ericsson, Emma led HSM Advisory, a London-based consulting firm, where she advised CEOs of some of the world’s largest companies on realizing their ambitions through effective and inclusive people strategies.

Emma is a member of the Advisory Board of the Lawn Tennis Association (the governing body of tennis in Great Britain) and a trustee at Akram Khan Dance Company.

Louise Arnold

Head of High Value Partnerships

Following a career in the commercial sector, building partnerships for brands such as British Airways and Eurostar, I was lucky enough to move into the not-for-profit sector.

This involved working in a variety of fundraising and engagement roles for causes including Macmillan Cancer Support, the RSPCA, Acorns Children’s Hospice and smaller national and international charities.

I am passionate about creating impactful partnerships with philanthropists, funders and companies to make a significant and lasting difference, not just to the cause, but also the individuals and funders themselves. I’ve been at Help for Heroes since May 2023 and can see the huge value in partnerships and the opportunities for the charity working with companies, philanthropists and funding organisations to positively impact our veterans and armed forces community.

My husband is a former Royal Marine who completed many tours including Kosovo, Sierra Leone and Iraq, and we have many friends who are also a part of the Armed Forces Community. I have a personal understanding of the need and the difference the charity is making every day, not just for the veterans themselves, but also their families and close friends.

No One Left Behind is the embodiment of everything Help for Heroes stands for – ambition, passion, tenacity and a dogged determination to want more for our heroes ( veterans and their families, who are heroes too!). They deserve to live well and thrive after service.

Naomie Brown

Senior Stewardship and Event Manager

Following a ten-year career in intelligence within the UK Armed Forces, I moved into Defense engagement and more recently, the third sector.

My time working in London supporting Defense employer engagement, delivering the Armed Forces Covenant and the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme allowed me to influence policy, build strong networks with key stakeholders in business across the City, and help keep Defense on the agenda.

More recently I have worked as a professional fundraiser in the military charity sector holding key positions with Forces Employment Chairty and other charities. This allowed me to fully understand the sector - its challenges and opportunities. Through COBSEO (Confederation of Service Charities) my roles have both supported the employment and Justice cluster, and promoted change through the Office for Veterans Affairs.

As a Veteran, military spouse and mother to serving children, now feels like a great time to be joining Help for Heroes. It is an honour and a privilege to be working on the No One Left Behind Campaign.

Jennifer Gibbon

Campaign Programme Manager

After a decade spent in marketing and communications for international sporting events, I was lucky enough to enter the third sector. I now use my knowledge and experience on campaigns that have a real impact on improving the lives of individuals.

Throughout my time at Help for Heroes, I have worked closely with veterans and their families to tell their stories of service and the impact of injuries / injustices on their lives.

There have been many highlights in my career with Help for Heroes so far. A few include; supporting in the successfully lobbying for the reintroduction of the Veteran’s Mobility Fund, launching Gareth Southgate as an Ambassador, and telling the stories of veterans affected by the ban on LGBTQ+ personnel in the military.

Last year I formed part of the Help for Heroes contingent attending the Cenotaph in London. This was a truly humbling experience encapsulating what our service men and women have put on the line. I’m proud to be part of the team delivering our No One Left Behind campaign supporting our most seriously ill and injured veterans to receive the care they so very much deserve.

Vanessa Phillips

Senior Manager Fundraising Partnerships

After my initial career in Communications in the Commercial Sector, working for Royal Automobile Club, RAC and Marsh, I moved into the charity sector, and prior to joining Help for Heroes, worked for Hospices of Hope (a UK based charity providing palliative care in South-East Europe).

I covered all areas of fundraising apart from Trusts & Foundations and was part of the team spearheading the £14 million capital campaign for the first in-patient, free at point of service, hospice in Bucharest. This was followed by an £8m campaign for the renovation of an 18th century country estate into a Children and Family respite centre.

Witnessing the very real impact of palliative care on some of the poorest patients and their families was truly humbling and made me more determined than ever to raise the necessary funds to give them the best possible end-of-life care. This passion for understanding philanthropic motivation and creating pathways for giving for those who have the power to make real and lasting change is the essence of why I love my role.

I don’t have any family links to the military being brought up in Zimbabwe, unless you consider my grandparents farm in the Eastern Cape, which was used as a staging post for horses by the British during the Boer War!

If it wasn't for the sacrifices of our VSI veterans, the world we inhabit, and our country today would be a very different place. We owe it to these brave individuals who risked everything - stood in front of injury and death, and protected us. No two days are the same in this role and I am proud to be a part of the No One Left Behind Campaign.

Alice Dewsnap

Head of Corporate Partnerships

I’ve worked in the non-profit sector for 15 years in volunteer management, community fundraising and found my specialty seven years ago in corporate fundraising.

Having worked in corporate fundraising for two major charities, Macmillan Cancer Support and the RNLI, I know how impactful partnerships can be to a charity.

I’ve been lucky enough to work on all types of partnerships from strategic organisational partnerships to brand marketing partnerships. Some of the brands I’ve worked with include Ford, Helly Hansen, Dryrobe, Finisterre and Karcher. I am passionate about finding companies which share the values of the charity I work for and building something that creates multiple benefits for both the charity and business. Partnerships which involve transformational opportunities, licensing, employee and customer engagement and media opportunities are what interests me the most.

When the role came up to lead the corporate partnerships team at Help for Heroes, I jumped at it as an opportunity to work at a smaller charity, but with a huge brand presence. I could see there was huge potential to build a portfolio of corporate partners who could make meaningful change to our cause, both financially and through using their expertise.

The No One Left Behind campaign is an essential appeal that we have a duty to support and I’m proud that I get to play a part in it.

Samantha Walton

Senior Manager Trusts & Foundation Partnerships

After finishing university, I felt driven to work in the charity sector. I did voluntary work before securing paid positions in frontline roles supporting children and young people in a variety of charities including Barnardo’s. I then took a career break to fulfil a long-held dream of travelling overseas.

On my return, I left my hometown in Scotland for the bright lights of London. My sense of commitment to the charity sector remained and I found work as a fundraiser. My first permanent role was for The Salvation Army - focused on trusts and foundations and I travelled around the UK to witness the impact of the work first hand.

Since that time, I’ve continued to specialise in trust fundraising. I joined Help for Heroes as Senior Partnerships Manager in July 2022. The passion for improving the lives of the Armed Forces community is palpable. Every time I’ve had the privilege of hearing a veteran talk about their experience, it motivates me further to engage donors so that veterans and their families can access the support they deserve.

Carol Betteridge

OBE MCMI

Capt Carol Betteridge joined the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service in 1990 she deployed directly from Britannia Royal Naval College to Op GRANBY (Iraq) on RFA ARGUS as an Operating Theatre sister. On return to the UK she served at Royal Naval Hospital (RNH) STONEHOUSE in Plymouth followed by RNH GIBRALTAR. Returning to the UK in 1996 she joined RNH HASLAR as the Operating Theatre Superintendent running 7 Operating Theatres. In 1998 she was promoted to Lt Cdr and in 2002 returned to RNH GIBRALTAR, this time as Matron.

In 2004 Capt Betteridge was appointed to The Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ) in Northwood as a Medical Planner on the TELIC and Rest of the World desk, before moving onto the deployed element of the HQ joining Joint Force Headquarters. She deployed to Malawi on the austere exercises and assisted in the co-ordination of the evacuation of casualties from the Lebanon during Op HIGHBROW.

In 2007 Capt Betteridge attended The Advanced Command and Staff Course and on successful completion joined the Surgeon Generals Dept as SO1 Personnel and Policy. It was during this appointment Capt Betteridge was loaned to PJHQ as the Medical Planner for Operation ATALANTA dealing with ant-piracy operations deploying to Djibouti. In 2009 she was appointed as the Career Manager for Medical Services, QARNNS Officers and Warrant Officers at HMS EXCELLENT.

Throughout most of her Career she has worked with the Royal Marines in the Surgical Support Teams exercising in Germany, Egypt, Oman and Norway where she qualified in arctic survival. It was therefore an honour to be appointed as the Commanding Officer of the Hospital Regiment for Operation HERRICK 14 (Afghanistan) in support of 3 Commando Brigade, which was as she quotes "a humbling and life changing experience." Following a seven-month tour Capt Betteridge returned to the UK and the Royal Centre of Defence Medicine (RCDM) based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham as Second in Command. RCDM receives all Operational casualties from around the world caring not only for the severely injured but also for their families. Following her deployment, she was awarded the NATO Meritorious Service Medal and in the 2012 Operational Honours List for her leadership on HERRICK 14 the Order of the British Empire.

Capt Betteridge was promoted to Captain in February 2013 and appointed as Chief of Staff (COS) to Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Health) (ACDS)Health in MOD London. As COS she assisted ACDS Health with Operational planning for the withdrawal from Afghanistan and military assistance to the Ebola outbreak in Africa.

Following her retirement from the RN in August 2015 Capt Betteridge was appointed as the Veterans Clinical Advisor for Help for Heroes, assisting Veterans with their healthcare within the NHS including Prosthetic care and Acute Brain Injury, liaising with the MOD, other charities and Government Agencies. In 2017 she was again promoted to National Head of Welfare and Clinical Services for H4H dealing with all aspects of Welfare provision whilst maintaining strategic oversight of the Clinical delivery. Through an award from the Headley Court Trust the Clinical Team expanded to deliver Community Rehabilitation and so Betteridge handed over Welfare to concentrate on Clinical Delivery which includes the oversight and leadership of the Very Seriously Injured Programme. This work is unfinished business for her as she wants to ensure the most seriously injured veterans receive the best possible support and care they deserve once they have left the Service. She is now Deputy Services Director for the charity.

She is married to Mick a non-serving, never retired, Royal Marine of 24 years and they are now living in Poole Dorset.

Julie-Anne Fulford - ARRC

VSI Complex Case Manager

I joined the Help for Heroes team in January 2023 as our VSI Complex Case Manager. I was in the Army previously for 16 years and my proudest moment was receiving my ARRC (Associated Royal Red Cross).

I was in the QARANC for 16 years; my husband is still serving in the REME and my mum was in the RAF.

I was a Critical Care nurse in the Army looking after patients who were the sickest in the hospital. Now, I can continue to use my clinical knowledge to look after our most seriously injured veterans. Whilst I am no longer serving, I can now combine two important aspects of my life; nursing and the Military.

I provide clinical oversight to the role, making clinical recommendations for therapies, provide holistic care, and supporting the veteran and their families. I have extensive experience with complex injuries, dynamic support, and end of life care through my time as an Intensive Care nurse.

We are in unique in our delivery by providing clinical support on the ground to the veterans. The different the Charity is making is palpable at every home visit; it is such a fulfilling role and an honour to work with people who generally care about veterans and their needs.

Those that have given their time to the military have made a huge sacrifice and have unique and expensive needs; without the VSI network, who is there to support them and their families?

Jennie Rumble

Veterans Clinical Services Operations Manager

I have worked for Help for Heroes since 2016 when I joined as a Case Manager. Prior to working for Help for Heroes I served with Essex Police from 2010 – 2016, working as a frontline police officer and then working in the domestic abuse and safe guarding vulnerable adults teams. I then worked as the Manager for a Women’s Refuge.

I can honestly say that working for the VSI network is my proudest professional achievement so far. I feel hugely fortunate to be in a position where I can make a real difference to the amazing men and women we support.

There have been too many highlights to mention them all, but one in particular comes to mind. This occasion was supporting a VSI veteran and his family to ascend Pen Y Fan. It was hugely emotional – his Mum said that, in that moment, we had given her back the life she should have had with her son. The planning took over a year with some complicated logistics but that moment was worth evet single second.

My husband served in the military, leaving last year. It is impossible not to be passionate about this work. Living with such complex needs is relentless and recovery from such serious injury/illness is not linear.

It is like a Snakes & Ladders game where you can end up back at square one time and time again. However the positivity and drive of those supported by the VSI network is astounding and inspires me every single day.

I have worked with Help for Heroes for nearly 7 years. To be completely honest I chose to work for the charity as I had moved to Catterick where my husband was posted and googled – Catterick Jobs. The Case Manager job came up and I successfully applied for it. I have then progressed into the Clinical Team to Operations Manager. It is strange that a job that has become such an important part of my life happened by complete chance.

When I first started in this role, one of the mum's of a VSI veteran did some PR for Help for Heroes and in the interview she said “it’s painful to think about the life he would have had”. I think about that every single day. These men and women are not leading the lives they should have been – that has been taken away from them and we can’t give it back. But we can support them to live their best lives possible and to thrive despite their injuries.

Karen Jamieson - ARRC

Veterans Community Nurse (VSI)

Karen Jamieson - ARRC, served with the Nursing Corps for 40 years – 37 years in the regulars and her last three as a reservist. In 2018, Karen received the Associate Royal Red Cross (ARRC) from Queen Elizabeth II for her service to military nursing.

As a veterans’ community nurse, Karen works with Help for Heroes’ very seriously injured (VSI) individuals, supporting not only the veteran but their families as well through regular home visits.

“The role is challenging and emotional; the complexities of the injuries these veterans have are heartbreaking, but, knowing and witnessing that our involvement really makes a difference is so rewarding. Helping them thrive and enjoy life despite their often-catastrophic injuries motivates me daily.”

Clover Edwards

Grants Officer

I started working for Help for Heroes in 2013 when I joined as PA to the Head of HR and Head of Grants. Like many people, I have direct family members who served in WW1 & WW2.

I think about my Great Uncle all the time and feel sad that there was very little to no support for those men and women - he and many others have been so very let down by the system. This has really given me a sense of duty to give back to those who have served for our country. We need to stand up for our veterans and their families and make sure that we are constantly striving to do better by them. Whilst there is still a long way to go, the support we’re able to provide for our Very Seriously Injured and Ill (VS) veterans is incredible. It’s vital that this continues.

Having been at the charity for 11 years, easily one of the best things about it, is how dynamic and resilient we are.

My role is to support the VSI team with their grant applications and funding for our VSI community. The role is extremely interesting and rewarding. It’s a privilege to work alongside a team of passionate individuals who make a difference to those living with the most serious types of injuries.

Sarah McElroy

Community Occupational Therapist VSI

I have been qualified as an Occupational Therapist for over 11 years and previously worked in the NHS and Adult Health and Social Care. I have a broad range of clinical experience including neurological rehabilitation (brain injury and stroke amongst many other conditions).

I joined Help for Heroes in March 2021 as an Occupational therapist covering the North of England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland, and in 2024 I moved across to the VSI team covering the same area. My husband served 30 years in the armed forces, so I have an understanding of the military way of life.

Supporting the VSI veterans through occupational therapy, can make a real difference to them and their families.  This can be through regaining the ability to engage in a treasured occupation or everyday activity, using adaptive equipment to make activities easier and more accessible or just by being guided to do things in a different way. I’m proud to be using my skills to help transform the lives of our most seriously injured and ill veterans.

Our Team

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