Philip Howard

The Chair, Philip Howard helped to found the Launch It Trust in 2000. He worked in Investment Banking for 25 years and was a board and panel member for The Prince’s Trust. He is currently an independent director at Schroders.

Gabrielle Boyle

Gabrielle has worked in the financial services industry for over 30 years. She is currently an Investment Director and Head of Research at Troy Asset Management.

Gabrielle is also a Non-Executive Director of Witan Investment Trust.

Rebecca Byrne

Rebecca is one of the initial founders of the Launch It Trust. She also previously volunteered as a Business Advisor and Mentor at The Prince’s Trust. She is also member of the NY State Bar/NY City Bar, the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) and Chairman of the Byrne Charitable Trust

Michael Higgin

Michael is a qualified accountant and was a partner in PwC. He is now a director of EFG International AG and EFG Bank AG. Michael chairs our Finance Committee

Jan Pethick

Jan has had many years of experience of financial services including as Chairman of Merrill Lynch International, Debt Capital Markets, Europe and as a Managing Director at Lehman Brothers. He is currently Chairman of Troy Asset Management.

Michael St Aldwyn

Michael worked with the Man Group for 15 years, is a director of the Rank Foundation, a Governor of St. Paul’s School and a Patron of the Seven Springs Foundation.

Joanna Rowelle

Joanna is a Director at Arup where she runs the City Economics practice. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts and a member of the Institute of Economic Development.

Leone McKinley

Leone is an experienced corporate banker BNP Paribas where she has been based for the past ten years having started her banking career at Bank of Ireland in London. She holds a Diploma in Corporate Treasury

David Dorward

Former Director of Finance, then CEO of Dundee City Council,  David retired in 2014. David has an in-depth knowledge of Dundee and now commits his time as chairman or director to local charities.  He is Chairperson of the Launch It Dundee Board of Trustees

Simon Rolfe

Simon heads the Membership team at the Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber network is such that Simon and the team are well placed to connect and promote

the work of members to other organisations.

David Milne

David is a partner at MacRoberts LLP, whilst sitting on the management board. David has served a number of local charities in a Trustee capacity.

Vivien Buchan

Vivien was Finance & Governance Director with Insights until 2018. She is now Director of the Insights Foundation, a charity established to manifest the charitable and social responsibility activities of the Insights Group. Vivien is passionate about empowering individuals to understand themselves and others better, inspiring them to make a positive difference in everything they do.

Amber Wright

Amber has worked for the Launch It Trust for 12 years, first as an Enterprise Manager running a Launch It Centre in London, and now as the Out of London Development Director for the charity. 

Leon  Breakey

Leon is a Partner at Macroberts LLP. He grew up in Paisley and his parents both owned and operated small businesses locally, so  is well placed to understand the pressures facing anyone setting up on their own. Being a trustee is a new experience for Leon, and he is committed and enthusiastic and feels he can use his professional and personal experience to assist in making a success of Launch It Paisley.  

Janet Brown

Janet’s experience includes working for for Scottish Enterprise (SE) heading up their activities in technology and innovation, with her last role being Managing Director for Industries. She then became CEO of the Scottish Qualification Agency from 2007 until her recent retirement. Janet has lived in Paisley for 20 years and will use her experience in business and economic development to help guide the charity.

Pat Shelley

I spent 25 years in Local Government working in Portsmouth, Stoke-on-Trent, and London. During this time, I managed a range of services for young people. In 2016 I moved into the voluntary sector as CEO for Launch It. I have a passion for working with and developing opportunities for young people, particularly those who are dealing with social or economic challenges and enjoy seeing the changes Launch It can make to a young persons life.

Alan Ritchie

Alan Ritchie is the Director of Finance at the West College Scotland, where the role has evolved since he joined Clydebank College in 2004. He enjoys diversity in his role and is focused on motivating staff and partners to provide the best support possible to students. He plans to bring this approach to Launch It as well as his financial and estate management expertise.