The Hon Sir Nigel Boardman

Nigel Boardman joined the Charity as our new Chair of Trustees in September 2020.

Nigel, whose mother’s family is the only family to have ever won three Victoria Crosses, joins us with an exceptionally successful career as a corporate M&A lawyer and practice leader with Slaughter and May.

He is passionate about helping rebuild the lives of those who suffered life-changing injuries or illness as a result of their service, after his grandfather sustained a significant injury in combat. His father also served in World War Two and was awarded the military cross, as were his uncle and great uncle.

Speaking about his appointment, Nigel paid tribute to Charity's co-founders Bryn and Emma Parry and said he wants to make a difference to the lives of those who served their nation.

He said:

“Bryn and Emma Parry created a truly magnificent organisation which changed the public’s perception of the sacrifices our armed forces make on our behalf, and of the duty we owe to those who suffer so that we can lead our lives in peace.

“As those heroes move through their lives their needs do not diminish, and nor should our gratitude to them. I am determined that Help for Heroes, in combination with others in the sector, keep the promise Bryn and Emma made on behalf of all of us and that those wounded, especially in the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, continue to receive the support they require.”

Ed Davies

TBA

Adam Brooks OBE

Adam Brooks is a Consultant Hepatobiliary & Major Trauma Surgeon. He has worked as a Consultant Surgeon at Nottingham University Hospitals, since 2005.

His elective practice specialises in surgery for liver, pancreas and gallbladder disease, specifically cancer, whilst his extensive emergency practice focuses on major trauma and the care of the severely injured patient.

Adam has been the Director of the East Midlands Major Trauma Centre based at Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham since its initial inception in 2008. EMMTC is the largest major trauma centre in the UK, and has a National reputation for the excellent care that it delivers.

Nationally, Adam chaired the NHS England Major Trauma Clinical Reference Group for 3 years and is currently the Midlands and East representative. He sat on the Major Trauma Department of Health Clinical Advisory Group and was part of the Independent Trauma Network Designation Evaluation Panel for Healthcare for London.

In 2017 Adam was appointed National training program director for the major trauma training interface fellowship and was promoted to Chair in 2019. Since 2016 he has sat on the program board for the National Rehabilitation Centre which, under the auspices of the Black Stork Charity, delivers a unique opportunity to provide world-class rehabilitation to ill and injured civilians in the UK.

He has published widely having edited 10 textbooks including Ryan’s Ballistic Trauma and Emergency Surgery and written more than 100 chapters and peer reviewed academic papers.

Adam has served in the UK reserve forces since 1998, he holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and has deployed as a Consultant Trauma Surgeon with the UK Military in active combat zones.

In 2012 Adam was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.

Andy McNab

From the day he was found in a carrier bag on the steps of Guy's Hospital, Andy McNab has lived an extraordinary life. As a teenage delinquent, he kicked against society. As a young soldier he waged war against the IRA in the streets and fields of South Armagh. As a member of 22 SAS he was at the centre of covert operations for nine years – on five continents. 

Awarded both the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) and Military Medal (MM) during his military career, McNab was the British Army's most highly decorated serving soldier when he finally left the SAS. Since then he has become one of the world’s bestselling writers, drawing on his insider knowledge and experience.

Antony Cotton MBE

The Coronation Street star has been a proud Ambassador for the charity for many years and spends much of his spare time campaigning to improve the lives of both serving personnel and Veterans alike.

Antony first became involved with Help For Heroes when one of his friends returned home after serving abroad, in need of support.

“It is a privilege and an honour to be a Patron of Help For Heroes, and I promise that I will do all I can to help.”

Beth Miles

Beth Miles joined Help for Heroes in February 2017 and is Marketing, Communications and Public Affairs Director. Beth and her team are responsible for all of our external communication and campaigning to support the armed forces community. Beth’s team also create and execute our marketing campaigns, which help to drive awareness of the work we do to reach individuals who need support and communicate the ongoing need for donations.

Beth is passionate about helping us to ensure that we champion the needs of the armed forces community and maximise donations for our veterans and their families. She has a wealth of experience in helping brands to develop and communicate their messaging, having previously worked in senior marketing roles at companies including Coca-Cola, GSK and United Biscuits.

Charles Donald

Charles Donald joined the Charity as a Trustee in January 2019. Charles 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 7 years as Chair of an educational charity.

Chris Holmes MBE MA

Chris Holmes is one of Britain’s most successful Paralympic swimmer and the only British Paralympic swimmer to win six gold medals at a single Games. He was Director of Paralympic Integration for the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics in London. 

A lifelong campaigner for equality and inclusion, Chris was appointed to the House of Lords in 2013 and speaks regularly at corporate, public sector, community and charity events across the UK and worldwide.

Chris Moon MBE

After leaving the Army, Chris Moon worked for a charity clearing landmines and the debris of war in Asia and Africa and is one of the few westerners to have survived abduction by Khmer Rouge guerrillas. He was blown up while walking in the cleared area of a minefield in remote East Africa in 1995.

Less than a year after leaving hospital, Chris did the London Marathon and subsequently many of the world’s toughest ultra-marathons, raising funds for charities assisting the disabled. Shortly after being injured he enrolled on a Master’s degree in Security Management at Leicester University which he completed, wrote his autobiography One Step Beyond and went into business as a speaker and trainer on mindset, motivation and leadership.

Clare McDermott

Clare joined Help for Heroes in March 2022 as Commercial Director following a career built across commercial, charity and not for profits. Originally a retail fashion buyer, Clare joined the RNLI in 2009 as Head of Trading leading the growth of the online, mail order and retail division before becoming Head of Marketing and leading all income generating activity, developing supporters and building digital income. 

Moving to Soil Association Certification in 2014, Clare led the growth of the UK’s largest organic certification body and the growth of the UK organic market overall through working in partnership with leading brands, farmers and businesses across the organic and regenerative sector and leading award-winning campaigns to grow consumer awareness and demand alongside working to ensure access to good food for all through supporting programme delivery including leading Food for Life Served Here. 

Focused on income generation across commercial and fundraised income, she leads the trading and fundraising teams to build long term sustainable income and engagement for the Charity alongside leading our Innovation work.

Clive Warner

Clive is a KPMG trained Chartered Accountant who, since qualifying, has held senior financial positions in Retail, Leisure and Third Sector companies including NAAFI, Timpsons, Woolworths, UCI Cinemas and Retail Trust. He has also been a Trustee (and Treasurer) with the charity British Tinnitus Association since 2014. 

As CFO at NAAFI from 2000 to 2007, Clive was instrumental in supporting the armed forces with retail and leisure facilities globally – and, in particular in building such facilities in Iraq and Afghanistan.     

There is a strong tradition of charity work in Clive's family and, since retiring from his Executive roles in 2019, he has spent more of his time and energy on supporting charities and family. 

Clive Chairs the Trading Board at Help for Heroes.

David Walker

David joined Help for Heroes in 2016 and has since held a variety of leadership positions with the charity focusing on service delivery. Drawing on 35 years combined statutory and charity experience, his approach is informed by evidence-led best practice to ensure service users have the best possible experience and are helped to achieve the positive outcomes most important to them. 

David is accountable for the strategic direction, innovation, and performance of the charity’s services, ensuring they remain relevant, responsive and deliver the intended reach and impact for service users and other stakeholders.

Previously, David has worked extensively in the social care and mental health sector and, throughout, he has been able to draw on this professional background.