Trustees and Independent Committee Members
Scope is governed by its Board of Trustees. The Board makes decisions about our strategic direction and is ultimately responsible for the management and conduct of the charity.
Warning Join our Board of Trustees
We’re looking for two new Trustees to help guide Scope’s work and drive lasting change for disabled people and their families.
Application deadline: 09:00 on Monday 16 February 2026
Download the full brief and how to apply:
Trustees
Sir Robin Millar CBE
View BioSir Robin Millar CBE
Sir Robin has the progressive condition Retinitis Pigmentosa and was registered blind at 16 years old, with no sight since 1985. He is an internationally renowned British music producer, businessman and mentor. Sir Robin is one of the world’s leading record producers having gained 160 gold and platinum discs including 44 number 1 hits, representing over £450 million in sales worldwide.
He produced many classic albums during his career including Diamond Life by Sade. He is Non-Executive Chair of Blue Raincoat Chrysalis Group, one of the UK’s best-known independent music companies. Their roster includes artists such as Sinead O’Connor, Phoebe Bridgers, Cigarettes After Sex, Arlo Parks, Ultravox, The Specials and Everything But The Girl.
He is a Director of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.
Sir Robin is a Member of the Governance, Nominations and Remuneration Committee.
Zeinab Chaudhary
View BioZeinab Chaudhary
Zeinab has over 15 years of consulting experience across Private and Financial Sectors. She works for Microsoft and prior to that worked for Deloitte UK and is passionate about creating a more balanced society. Zeinab specialises in organisational change management and where possible leverages that skill-set to create positive social and environmental change. Zeinab draws on her personal experiences to bring a unique perspective.
Zeinab was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, a rare brittle bone condition. She also experiences Chronic Pain. Zeinab wants to challenge what it means to be ‘disabled’, and common misconceptions. She works hard to improve the representation of senior disabled women at work.
Zeinab is Chair of the Impact Committee and a Member of the Governance, Nominations and Remuneration Committee.
Christopher Patnoe
View BioChristopher Patnoe
Christopher heads Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) Accessibility and Disability Inclusion at Google, focusing on product, policy, and partnerships, especially in Emerging Markets. With nearly 30 years in tech, he's worked at Apple, Sony Ericsson, and Disney, building hardware, software, games, and services.
He founded the Accessibility Discovery Centre (ADC) program in EMEA, Chairs the Immersive Captions Community Group with the W3C, and has a Music degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
Christopher is a Member of the Impact Committee.
Siân Foster
View BioSiân Foster
Siân Foster is the Director of Corporate Affairs at the Port of London Authority (PLA). She takes care of stakeholder engagement, communications, and digital channels to connect people with the Thames Vision strategy.
Before this, she was the Director of Corporate Affairs at the Money and Pensions Service, where she started Talk Money Week, a campaign that reached 18 million people to raise awareness about financial wellbeing.
Siân has also spent most of her career in the aviation sector, including 13 years at Virgin Atlantic Airways as Vice President of External Affairs and Sustainability, and at the Civil Aviation Authority, advising on crisis communications and stakeholder engagement.
Siân is a Member of the Fundraising Committee and Finance and Risk Committee.
Tom Seddon
View BioTom Seddon
Tom has built his career in the public sector. He works closely with Ministers and senior leaders in multiple government Departments to serve the public. His experiences range from LGBT+ policy at the Cabinet Office, to stakeholder and trade union engagement at the Department for Education.
Tom is currently the Head of Legislative Strategy at the Department for Education. He leads a team to deliver the Department’s legislative agenda. He also ensures cross-Government priorities are achieved.
He has over 7 years experience as a school governor, and is former trustee of a large theatre in West Yorkshire. Tom was previously a middle leader and teacher at a large Multi-Academy Trust.
When Tom was a teenager, he helped out at his local Scope charity shop because the charity had supported his sister, who has cerebral palsy.
Tom is a Member of the Impact Committee.
Gail Arkle
View BioGail Arkle
Gail has over 25 years’ experience, including 18 years working in senior leadership roles in the third sector. She is currently the Chief Growth Officer for StepChange Debt Charity, having joined the charity in 2019.
Gail was diagnosed with several rare bone conditions, including Avascular Necrosis (AVN) and Bone Marrow Oedema Syndrome, which have resulted in loss of blood supply to affected bones, bone deformation, fractures, arthritis, and chronic pain syndrome. She has had several operations to enable and maintain her mobility over the past 20 years. She is passionate about removing barriers and sigma, and empowering the 1 in 4 disabled people in the UK to achieve their full potential.
Gail is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (‘FCIM’).
Gail is a Member of the Impact Committee.
Callum Jackson
View BioCallum Jackson
Callum has nearly a decade of experience in strategic communications. Callum is a specialist in corporate reputation, risk strategy, and media relations. He brings expertise in the media landscape, brand building, behaviour change, and campaigning. He has a passion for crafting multinational communications strategies that drive real impact.
Callum champions disability rights in his role as a Senior Consultant at Shape History. He leads efforts to raise awareness of the rights and needs of disabled people in the workplace. He explores the intersectionality between disability and other protected characteristics. He advises teams and partners on becoming effective allies to disabled colleagues.
Callum has personal experience with disability and is a dedicated voice for inclusion.
Callum is a Member of the Fundraising Committee.
Luke Francis
View BioLuke Francis
Luke has spent his career in political campaigns and communications. He advises politicians and clients across local, regional and national government.
Before working in politics, Luke worked as a teaching assistant. He worked with pupils with physical disabilities and sensory needs.
Luke is a Member of the Impact Committee.
Scott Berney
View BioScott Berney
Scott Berney was Head of safeguarding at the British Heart Foundation (BHF) from 2018 to 2025, where he developed and delivered the charity’s safeguarding strategy. He is deeply committed to disability inclusion in the workplace, having chaired the Disability Affinity Group, the Disability and Accessibility Project Group, and the Support Needs Working Group at BHF. Through these roles, Scott helped ensure disabled colleagues’ voices were heard and inclusive practices were embedded.
Scott’s career has centred on safeguarding. He chairs the Charity Retail Safeguarding Network, which promotes peer support and best practice across the charity retail sector. A registered social worker, Scott has worked in the NHS and local authorities, supporting adults and children living with HIV, cancer, heart and circulatory disease, and learning disabilities. He has also volunteered as a Safeguarding Officer for the Samaritans. Before joining BHF, Scott was Head of Safeguarding in the NHS, where he also led on Mental Capacity, Dementia, Learning Disabilities, and Older People.
Scott serves as Lead Trustee for Safeguarding and is a member of the Audit, Risk and Finance Committee and the Governance, Nominations and Remuneration Committee.
Hetal Desai
View BioHetal Desai
Hetal has over 25 years of experience as a highly skilled senior commercial and technical finance leader, he has worked in small and medium-sized enterprises as well as large, global, high-growth online, technology, and consumer-focused businesses. Throughout Hetal’s career, he has successfully developed small and large finance teams, built high-calibre Financial Planning and Analysis finance functions and supported strategic change management projects. Hetal’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Business with Finance, a Master of Business Administration and is also a qualified accountant.
Hetal is deeply committed to making a positive impact in the lives of individuals with physical, mental, and learning disabilities; a cause that holds profound personal significance for him. He is passionate about contributing to a charity that champions this community to make lasting change.
Joining a purpose-driven organisation like Scope allows him to align Scope’s values with his expertise. He brings financial and strategic leadership skills to enhance governance, improve operational efficiency, and ensure every resource is used optimally to support the people served by the charity.
Hetal is Treasurer, he is also Chair of the Audit, Risk and Finance Committee and is a member of the Fundraising and Income Generation Committee.
Committees of the Board
There are four Committees that support the Board’s decision-making and carry out work on its behalf. Each Committee includes Trustees and Independent Committee Members. Independent Committee Members bring valuable skills and experience, helping to strengthen oversight and provide advice and assurance to Scope. The Chair of each Committee shares updates and recommendations with the Board, to ensure that oversight is maintained.
Independent Committee Members
Arun Veerappan
View BioArun Veerappan (Independent Member)
Arun is an economist and former investment banker, dedicated to achieving social impact and advancing disability policy. He works part-time at Better Society Capital, the UK’s leading social impact investor, advising on special situations for funds and social enterprises, helping to address some of the UK’s biggest social challenges.
He is also a Director at The Disability Policy Centre, the first think tank of its kind, dedicated to improving the lives of disabled people through research and policy. He has led the organisation’s efforts on disabled people’s living standards, employment, and welfare. Arun is also an Ambassador for Thrive, the gardening for health charity.
Arun developed Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) in his twenties, which affects his mobility, alongside a neurological condition.
Arun is a member of the Impact Committee.
Rosie Sparrowhawk
View BioRosie Sparrowhawk (Independent Member)
Rosie had a disabled younger brother, Connor, who was diagnosed with autism at a young age and later developed epilepsy. Growing up, Rosie loved that Connor viewed the world through a different lens, often challenging conventional norms. This experience shaped her belief that disability should be seen in a more positive and empowering light, rather than through a lens of limitation or negativity.
Professionally, Rosie is an Investment Director specialising in managing ethical and sustainable portfolios for private clients, trusts, and charities. She is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment and holds the Institute’s master's-level Chartered Wealth Manager qualification. Rosie also holds the CFA UK Level 4 Certificate in Sustainable Investing, reflecting her commitment to responsible investment practices.
At Rathbones Group, Rosie is actively involved in promoting inclusion as a member of the Social Mobility Network and a champion for diversity across the company.
Rosie serves as an independent member of the finance committee, bringing both her professional expertise and personal values to the role. She is a member of the Audit, Risk and Finance Committee.
David Cryer
View BioDavid Cryer (Independent Member)
David has over 20 years’ experience in the charity sector. A retailer by trade, he worked for Marks and Spencer for 25 years, where he developed their chain of Simply Food stores.
In charity retailing, he launched a network of shops for a children’s hospice, as well as developing a chain of Boutique shops and an e-commerce operation for the housing charity Shelter. David has previously been Chair of the Charity Retail Association and a visiting lecturer at Surrey University.
David is currently a Trustee for several local charities, and he also runs his own antiquarian book company.
David is a member of the Fundraising and Income Generation Committee.
Justin Fanstone
View BioJustin Fanstone (Independent Member)
Justin is a commercially focussed technologist who has spent his career helping organisations implement technology to deliver business benefit. Justin’s recent digital transformation work at Google focussed on leveraging data analytics and artificial intelligence to develop insights that deliver quality improvements and business efficiencies.
Justin has a keen interest in how technology and artificial intelligence will transform the future of society and the world of work. He serves on the Board of the University of Portsmouth as an External Governor and as a Non-Executive Director at flexible workspace app Reef.
Justin is an independent committee member specialising in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. He is a member of the Audit, Risk and Finance Committee.
Governance, Nominations and Remuneration Committee
This Committee ensures the Board has the right mix of skills, diversity and experience to lead Scope effectively. It manages the recruitment of Trustees and Independent Committee Members, oversees compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and reviews pay policies to make sure they are fair, transparent, and reflect Scope’s values and goals.
Impact Committee
The Impact Committee monitors the delivery of social change initiatives affecting 16 million disabled people. It ensures that strategic objectives are met, evaluates the effectiveness of programs, and supports alignment between Scope’s activities and its mission to drive social change.
Fundraising and Income Generation Committee
The Fundraising and Income Generation Committee oversees and guides all fundraising activities to secure sustainable resources that enable Scope to support 16 million disabled people. It develops and monitors fundraising strategies, ensures effective donor engagement, and fosters partnerships to maximise income generation aligned with Scope’s mission.
Audit, Risk and Finance Committee
This Committee provides rigorous oversight of Scope’s financial stewardship, risk management, and assurance frameworks. It ensures Scope complies with statutory and regulatory requirements, maintains strong internal controls, and manages its resources with transparency and integrity.