Michael is the newest addition to our team and is working towards a maths degree part time while he works. He comes to us after working for just over a year at the Salvation Army HQ in London.

Michael is eager to stay in the charity sector as he finds fulfilment in helping to improve the lives of others. He hopes to one day combine this with his love of numbers in order to find his dream job. His hobbies include badminton, reading, music and video games.

Amy joined The Portal Trust in November 2023 after graduating with a First-Class degree in Sociology with Social Policy. During her degree, she gained a wealth of experience in Communications through numerous volunteer positions and internships.

Amy is currently taking part in Charityworks, which is a national non-profit graduate programme accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management. She is passionate about making a difference in the charity sector and is proud to support young people in London to fulfil their potential.

In her spare time, Amy enjoys taking photographs around London, reading books, and spending time with her dog.

Anne joined the Trust at the end of February 2016. Anne has worked as a PA/Secretary for many years in the insurance industry and in pensions administration. She has a NVQ Level 3 Legal Secretaries Diploma and Microsoft Office Plus Diploma. Anne has liaised with pension scheme trustees with regard to preparing agendas, minutes and various meeting papers for trustee meetings. Anne’s hobbies include travelling, socialising, playing an acoustic guitar and reading.

Richard is the Chief Executive of The Portal Trust and provides strategic leadership for the long term management of its endowment, investments and focus of its grant making. He is also Chief Executive of the Aldgate & Allhallows Foundation. Richard has a Master’s degree in Management from the Bayes Business School; he is a member of the Court of City, University of London; Vice- Chairman of the Box Clever Theatre Company; a Board Member of the Switch (formerly Tower Hamlets EBP); a member of the London College of Fashion’s Making for Change (Social Enterprise) Advisory Board and adviser to the Schools Funding Network. Richard received the Freedom of the City of London in 2002 and is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Educators.

Carl joined The Portal Trust in September 2021. He has been a charity professional for over 20 years. He has experience working with several client groups including young people, education professionals and the differently able, he has, throughout his career put in place several policies and agendas to assist people through difficult times and helped develop individual aspirations for a variety of charities.
Carl was attracted to the role at the Portal Trust due to the values he believes he shares with the trust: “I believe I can help those who want to stay in education and assist London’s young people to develop their potential, I know I can add to the long-term success of the Portal Trust and the people the Trust support and care for”.

Outside work, Carl is the father of a teenage boy beginning his GCSE’s, loves to travel, collects Marvel comics and is always searching for the perfect burger. He also loves to walk his dog on the banks of the River Thames where he has a home.

John joined the Trust in 2019. He took a degree in Modern History and since then has specialised in charity governance and management, previously holding senior positions at the Magistrates’ Association and the British Society of Gastroenterology.

John is active in voluntary service in London. He helps at a homelessness outreach project in Soho, and from 2014 to 2022 he was Secretary of the London Community Land Trust, which provides an innovative model of affordable home ownership.

He is also a Governor for a primary school in Tower Hamlets, where he chairs the Finance Committee.

Lee joined the Trust as a Grants Officer in June 2018 and was promoted to the position of Senior Grants Officer in September 2019. He took his undergraduate Psychology degree at London South Bank University before moving on to BPP where he studied for the Graduate Diploma in Law, and he is currently undertaking a Masters degree in Grantmaking, Philanthropy and Social Investment (on a part-time basis) at the Bayes Business School. He has worked in the charitable sector for the past twelve years, with a focus on prisoner welfare and education.

John joined the Trust in 2015. He holds Institution of Occupational Safety and Health certificates in safety and building management and NVQs in customer care, property maintenance and cleaning. He has a long association with the trust as he managed the Sir John Cass’s Foundation Primary School (Now the Aldgate School) site for fourteen years.

John is the Assistant District Commissioner for Norfolk Scouts; Group Scout leader for the 1st Dickleburgh Sea Scout Group. He is also on the council of the London Children’s Flower Society and has been Treasurer for a local community gardening group in the City of London. His hobbies include beekeeping, military re-enactment, reading, gardening, as well as being a certified Horticulturist & Arboriculturist.

John was installed as a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Gardeners by the Master of the Company, Margaret Holland Prior JP on the 5th July 2018. He is also a Freeman of The Worshipful Company of Educators.

Jane is one of the longest serving members of staff at The Portal Trust. Jane is the Grants and Events Officer and also supports and helps out with organising events which we have each year, including our annual Lecture. Jane also assists in the processing and the administration of our grants. In 2013 she achieved NVQ Level 4 in Business and Administration.

Fedinia is the Finance Officer and has worked at the Trust since 2004. She is currently studying towards the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification after which she intends to qualify as a chartered accountant. Fedinia is a mother to 4 sons, and in her spare time she enjoys reading, taking part in quizzes and listening to music.