We are lucky to have an amazingly dedicated and hard-working Board of Trustees, all of whom come from different backgrounds and provide a wealth of knowledge and expertise that the charity could not do without.
Our Chair of Trustees
James Lambert was educated at Harrow School and read Law and History of Art at the University of Cambridge. He is now a Director of Lisburne Holdings Ltd and he is also a Director of Value Retail plc which develops and operates factory outlet centres including Bicester Village in Oxfordshire. James was first involved with IU as a participant in the 2006 Symposium about IntoUniversity's long term future. He was instrumental in securing start-up funding for the organisation and in bringing on board some significant individual donors. One of the original IU Trustees, James has also served as Chair of the Risk and Audit Committee. In December 2009, James stepped forward as our new Chair of the Trustee Board, and we are delighted to be working with him in this capacity; we have all been impressed by James’ enthusiasm for the charity.
The Board
Patrick Derham is our Vice-Chair. He has been Head Master of Rugby School since 2001 where he has also developed the Arnold Foundation Bursary programme. Rugby School is a key partner of IntoUniversity.
Celia Dunstone is a Business Development Director at Chime Communications. She graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a degree in Politics.
Katrin Henkel is a specialist in Old Master drawings. She has been a Director of Colnaghi in London since 2002, and also serves on a number of museum and other committees.
Sophie Lewisohn has been closely involved in the development of the charity. She brings her experience in finance and economics to the governance of the organisation.
Maxine Lyseight has worked on the Oxford Access Scheme and as Parliamentary Assistant to David Lammy MP for Tottenham. She is currently working for Pearson plc.
Christopher Purvis, CBE is our Treasurer. He retired from full-time employment in 1997 to concentrate on philanthropic activities.
Clare Richards is Chief Executive of The ClementJames Centre as well as a Trustee of IntoUniversity. Clare has been at the centre of developing our educational programme. Previously, Clare was a teacher.
Dr Tessa Stone is Chief Executive of BrightsideUNIAID. Formerly, she was Director of The Sutton Trust and Admissions Tutor at Newnham College, Cambridge.
Dr Ros Smith is Special Advisor to the Board of Trustees. She is a Founder Director of Student Information Services which provides the website BestCourse4me.com, a free-to-use website providing information to help students choose university courses, and is a Trustee of a grant-awarding trust specialising in education. Prior to this, she was Operations Director of a software business.
Sarah Havens is a Member of IntoUniversity’s Funding and Development Council. She also works directly with students in their academic support programme. Sarah’s involvement with other charities includes being a member of the Friends Committee of the Whitley Fund for Nature, a Trustee of both Arts Research Limited and the Lef-Pillon Trust and a member of the Norland Square Garden Committee.
A message from our Chairman
“IntoUniversity has achieved an extraordinary amount in the relatively short time it has been operating, and I relish the challenge of helping to guide the next phase of its expansion”
- James Lambert, Chair of IU
Quotes from our Board of Trustees
“It has been a rewarding and enriching experience to see IntoUniversity develop from a local project to a network of centres.”
- Sophie Lewisohn, Trustee of IntoUniversity
"One of the most satisfying parts of my working life is my association with IntoUniversity. To be involved with such a ground-breaking charity that is demonstrably making a difference to so many young people’s lives is both humbling and inspiring."
- Patrick Derham, Trustee of IntoUniversity
"IntoUniversity provides the best model I have seen to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds in aspiring to, and achieving, academic success. Warm, welcoming and motivational, the IntoUniversity Education Workers inspire and encourage young people to do their best, and provide them with the support that they need to fulfill their academic potential."
- Ros Smith, Special Advisor to the Board of Trustees
"I became involved with IU because I felt there was no other organisation offering this level of wrap-around academic and pastoral support so many young people in London need. Talk to any of the kids or parents who use an IU centre and you'll hear first hand about the positive impact the experience has had on their confidence and aspirations."
- Maxine Lyseight, Trustee of IntoUniversity