Ben Summerskill was, at 25, Operations Director of a London restaurant business serving 14,000 meals a week. He then enjoyed a Fleet Street career, latterly as Assistant Editor of the Observer. From 2003-2014 he was CEO of Stonewall and from 2015-2018 Director of the Criminal Justice Alliance. He’s also a member of the Board of ACAS and the Honours Committee for the Voluntary Sector.

Burphy has a wealth of experience of working with young men like Switchback’s Trainees. In his role as Research Manager and Director of ClearView Research (CVR), Burphy has worked on projects to include the voices of underrepresented groups in high-level decision-making. Outside of CVR he is part of a project called My Brother’s Keeper which mentors men that are serving long or life sentences to inspire hope and change.

Olivia Gillan has spent most of her career in strategy consulting, notably at PwC where she was a Partner specialising in the retail/leisure/consumer sectors. She is now focused on the not for profit sector, acting as Chair for Little Village, serving on the Grants Committee of charity funder Impact 100 and recently joining the board of Rosa. She was previously on the board of the Mark Anthony Trust and an Interview Coach at Smart Works. She also serves as a Magistrate in London.

After graduating with a degree in Food Science, Gillian went on to spend most of her career from 1984 to 2009 in the investment banking industry at JP Morgan and Credit Suisse.  She worked in a variety of finance roles, including as a Financial Controller and as a regulatory specialist.  Prior to joining the Switchback Trustee board, she spent 10 years as Treasurer of a small, community based charity on the Isle of Dogs. She is also a serving Magistrate in East London.

Nicola is a seasoned coach and HR professional with a specialisation in anti-racism and social value. She currently leads the People Team at the Black Equity Organisation and is the founder of HHIS (Holistic HR and Impact Services), her own HR consultancy. HHIS has a particular focus on supporting with the recruitment of individuals with experience in the criminal justice system. Alongside this, Nicola is a committed member of the steering group for the Holloway Prison Women’s Centre.

Omar Mentesh has been proud to make the journey from ex-offender to Switchback Trustee, giving him a unique perspective on the issues within our system. Before setting up his own lived experience consultancy business, Anabranch Plus, he spent years mentoring ex-prisoners and pushing for change, driven by the belief that everyone deserves a second chance. Omar is committed to bringing real-world insights to support Switchback’s crucial work with young adults leaving prison. He knows the hurdles these individuals face, but their true potential.

Duncan Shrubsole observed Switchback emerge and grow while working at Crisis where he led its policy, communications, campaigns and research for 9 years. He is passionate about the role of charities in changing lives and public policy and is Chief Executive of St Martin in the Fields homelessness charity and a Trustee at the Trussell Trust. For a decade he was Director of Policy, Communications and Research at the Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales, including supporting a range of charities working in criminal justice on the ground and to influence policy and practice. He started his career in local government and the civil service and has also been a school governor and a Trustee of a housing association and Citizens Advice working in East London.

Harriette is a passionate and driven professional working with philanthropists, foundations, businesses, and nonprofits around the world to build capacity and grow their social and environmental impact. Currently her role at I.G. Advisors supports strategic and innovative planning in a tough fundraising environment.  Prior to her time at I.G., Harriette managed several high-value funding programmes focused on grassroots social impact at The London Community Foundation (LCF) and the Jack Petchey Foundation. Additionally, she delivered health services for VSO in rural Zambia. At LCF, she led an equity-focused strategic partnership with the Muslim Charities Forum and played a key role in the award-winning London Community Response to Covid-19. Harriette has also travelled globally, speaking at events and advocating for the equitable distribution of resources through I.G.’s mission to #FixTheFlow (of resources for good). Recently, she joined the Collective Leadership Group, aiming to enhance the resilience of the social and environmental sectors. Harriette also holds a First Class BA (Hons) Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice.

Jasmine Ashley-Tagoe is a Consultant Solicitor. Alongside her legal practice, Jasmine is also a Visiting Lecturer at a leading law school in London, where she shares her practical experience with students. Jasmine is particularly passionate about social justice and has worked to make legal services more accessible, inclusive, and responsive, especially for those from underrepresented communities. As a trustee at Switchback, Jasmine is committed to bringing her dedication to social equity and her experience in leading a social justice initiative to support the team. Outside of work, Jasmine enjoys travelling and learning about different cultures.