Staff, Board Members and Patrons

Viva is a huge partnership consisting of our partner networks across the world, their members, staff and volunteers along with Viva’s staff, board members and patrons and the individuals, churches and foundations across the world that fund the work. This page links to just part of that partnership – our staff, board members and patrons.

Staff and Leadership

Honourary Positions

International Board

Hong Kong Board

US Board

Staff

Viva’s staff are responsible for implementing all of our programmes with our local partner networks. They are based around the world and led by a leadership team that meets twice a month. Members of the leadership team are in red.

Phil Green

CEO

Phil is formerly a CEO of Mission Housing and Home for Good, and was a leader at World Without Orphans.

Carmen Alvarez

Latin America Director

Carmen is a qualified medical doctor, previously working for UNICEF and World Vision.

Ameeta Bahadur

Network Consultant, Viva India

Ameeta is experienced in promoting child protection and in developing community health.

Anna Barker

International Director (currently on maternity leave)

Anna previously fundraised for Viva, has a degree in International Relations and volunteered with refugees on the Thai-Burma border.

Matt Coulson

Asia Director

Matt worked as both Youth Pastor and Missions Pastor at The Vine, an international Church in Hong Kong.

Andrew Dubock

Fundraising & Communications Director

Andrew has worked in charity communications for more than 20 years, and was Editor at BMS World Mission before joining Viva.

Mim Friday

Africa Director

Mim trained as a teacher and worked for seven years as a field officer for Careforce before Viva.

Paul Kabunga

Africa Programme Facilitator

Paul has 20 years’ experience in strategy development for an HIV/Aids organisation.

Gary Kamaal

India Director

Gary has been responsible for promoting the Asha Health and Development Society in India.

Kezia M’Clelland

People Care Director and Children in Emergencies Specialist

Jane Travis

Acting International Director

Jane has worked in the international NGO sector for more than 25 years.

International Board

Viva’s international board meets at least four times a year and is responsible for the overall strategy, vision and values of the organisation. It has subcommittees for Finance & Risk, Programme and Fundraising and works closely with the boards in the US and Hong Kong.

Adrian Cooper

Chairman

Adrian Cooper is Viva’s Board Chair. He is the CEO of Oxford Economics, one of the world’s leading providers of macroeconomic forecasting and economic analysis.

David Bright

Chair of Programme Subcommittee

David Bright has had a career in both business with Unilever and in international development, and is currently Head of Funding for the Church of England.

Minu Chowdury-Westlake

Minu Chowdhury-Westlake has worked in media, entertainment and Christian mission. She is a public relations specialist in the commercial and voluntary sectors.

Jonathan Cox

Chair of Finance & Risk Subcommittee

Jonathan Cox is a chartered accountant, worked in corporate finance before holding director roles with World Vision, and is currently Finance Director for a national medical research charity.

Ian DeVilliers

Ian de Villiers is Senior Partnering Advisor for World Vision International. He leads the organisation’s approaches to partnering in programming, across levels from local to international. Ian previously served Viva, located in Asia.

Philip Niem

Chair of Hong Kong Board

Philip Niem is Chief Investment Officer at Axiom Investment Ltd in Hong Kong. He has previously worked at Barclays Wealth, AXA Investment Managers, HSBC Securities and Hoare Govett Asia. Philip serves on the Board of Viva Hong Kong.

Teresa Phiri

Teresa Phiri is a Research Associate at Perrett Laver, a leading executive search firm. Originally from Malawi, Teresa has experience of co-developing strategies to deliver high impact solutions for multinationals, startups and NGOs.

Tim Pottle

Chair of Fundraising Subcommittee

Tim Pottle is an experienced, multi-channel fundraiser in the not-for-profit and education sectors. He was Viva’s Head of Development for five years and is currently Development Director (interim) at St Peter’s College in Oxford.

Michael Sloane

Chair of US Board

Michael Sloane chairs the Viva US Board and is based in Kentucky. He currently serves as Managing Director for Bluefire Capital, a family holding company focused on investments in emerging restaurant brands.

James Tavener

James Tavener works as a Chartered Accountant at Critchleys, an accountancy practice in Oxford. In this role, he currently supports academy trusts, but previously worked with charities.

Katy Thompson

Katy Thompson helped to pioneer Viva’s work with children at risk from 1994. She catalysed partner networks in Latin America and later headed up Viva’s Doorsteps initiative in Oxford. She stepped down from a staff in 2021. Katy and her husband are wardens of the Windsor Hill Wood community, a place of refuge in Somerset, UK.

Honorary Positions

Patrick founded Viva and was our first CEO and Stephen has been our patron for many years. Both represent Viva across the world and support the staff and CEO.

Patrick McDonald

Founder President

Stephen Gaukroger

Patron

Hong Kong Board

Viva’s Hong Kong board is responsible for all of our programme and fundraising in Hong Kong and supports our work across Asia. They work closely with our Asia director and staff based in Hong Kong.