Trustees

Bishop David Walker, Diocese of Manchester, was appointed the Chair of Trustees effective as of July 2024. As the Chief Pastor for one of the largest dioceses in England, Bishop David supports the mission and ministry of around 250 parishes, approximately 200 schools, and a wide variety of chaplaincies. He is passionate about leading churches in the Diocese of Manchester as they grow, nurture, and serve their communities. As a member of the House of Lords, he seeks to hold the government to account, speaking particularly on housing and homelessness, on international trade, and on matters that relate to Manchester and the North-West. A member of the Third Order of the Society of St Francis and Honorary Professor of Anglican Studies at Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln, Bishop David also has a wealth of experience in working with the media. 

The Ven Canon Dr Chigor Chike became a trustee in July 2022. Originally from Nigeria, Chike has lived in the UK for over 30 years. He currently leads several social justice and religious organisations in the UK and is a member of Church of England’s Racial Justice Commission. Chigor teaches Christian Mission, Pentecostalism and World Religions as a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Roehampton, is the vicar of an inner-city Church of England church in East London. Chigor was appointed the next Archdeacon of Lewisham & Greenwich, The Diocese of Southwark in June 2024.

Dr Emma Wild-Wood is Professor of African Religions and World Christianity at the University of Edinburgh and is Co-Director of the Centre for the Study of World Christianity. She was a theological educator in the Anglican Church in DR Congo and Uganda. She has worked for SPCK. She has also directed the Cambridge Centre for Christianity Worldwide in the Cambridge Theological Federation and taught in the University of Cambridge. Emma is married to Peter, a minister in the Church of Scotland, and they have three adult children.

The Very Rev'd Joe Hawes became a trustee in July 2022. He was installed in July 2018 as the Dean of St Edmundsbury. Joe is a former Durham University graduate who studied theology at St Stephen’s House, Oxford. He came to St Edmundsbury in Bury St Edmunds from All Saints’ Fulham and was previously Team Vicar for eight years at St Michael’s, Barnes Team Ministry, in London. He served his curacy within the Clapham Team Ministry. 

Catherine Wickens became a Trustee in July 2019. Catherine is qualified Social Worker in an Adults with Learning Disabilities Team. Prior to this, she was a student at Durham University, where she read French and Arabic. She enjoys working cross-culturally and using her languages. She has worked with refugees in Greece, taught English at a university in Rwanda, worked for the intellectual disability organisation L’Arche in France and studied in Morocco and Jordan.

Mathen Thomas became a trustee in September 2021. He has lived in Hong Kong, Singapore, Brussels, Ghana, India, Thailand, and Denmark. Mathen has led businesses in the UK, EU, Asia-Pacific, and Globally. He has served on the PCCs with various churches as Warden, Secretary and in Finance, successfully restarting growth, financial stability, addressing significant fabric needs, and supporting chaplains on their change journeys. He now lives in Canterbury and undertakes interim roles and as a consultant in his niche area for delivering growth, transformation, and collaboration with commercial organisations and the Church of England.

Rosie Dawson first came across USPG when she spent a life- changing year in South India as part of its former Experience Exchange Programme. Rosie went on to train in journalism, working at the BBC for nearly 30 years and winning many industry awards for her religious affairs documentaries. She continues to produce programmes and podcasts as a freelance as well as supporting the work of the Religion Media Centre. Rosie studied Theology at Oxford and has always been passionate about communicating theological ideas, working closely with academics on their public engagement. She lives with her family in Manchester and attends Holy Innocents Church in Fallowfield.

The Revd Charles Cowling became a trustee in September 2021. He chairs the Finance and Audit Committee. Charles is chief actuary and partner at Mercer in the UK, where he leads on research, professionalism and actuarial standards. Charles has extensive experience in the charity sector as a Trustee and Chair and in 2024, became the President of the International Actuarial Association. In June 2024, Charles was ordained to the Priesthood and now serves at Kirkby Stephen Parish Church.

Catriona Duffy first encountered USPG in 2013, when she spent time with the Anglican Church in Belize as part of the former Journey with Us programme and became a Trustee in July 2019. Catriona is a Chartered Accountant by profession, who qualified as an auditor within a Big 4 Firm and now works in media, advising on Financial Reporting and Compliance. She read Politics and Economics at Durham University, where she ran an organisation working to engage students in the local community. 

Peter Wienand retired from London law firm Farrer & Co in April 2024, where he practised for nearly 40 years, acting for charities and not for profits (among a wide variety of other clients). Initially specialising in intellectual property and developing particular expertise in copyright licensing and branding, he also acquired experience of charity governance and international NGOs. He is also a former Trustee of the Henry Moore Foundation. He read Modern History at Oxford and in October 2024 becomes a student again, having been admitted to the Archaelogy MPhil at the University of Cambridge. He worships at St Mary the Virgin, Godmanchester, and has served on its fundraising committee.

Chris Dyer has had a varied career in senior policy and HR roles within Whitehall Government departments and the National Church Institutions (NCI) of the Anglican Church. She recently retired from her NCIs' role as People Director, which she held for over five years. Chris also served two terms as a non-executive trustee with the social enterprise HCT Group. Chris has worshipped at both Anglican and Methodist churches and serves on the leadership team at Haywards Heath Methodist Church, Sussex. She has five children and eight grandchildren.

Samuel Williams joined USPG as a Trustee in 2024. He is the founding CEO of Hodos Consultancy, a globally recognised communications firm, and serves as the Global Private Sector Partnerships Lead at Christian Aid. A graduate of the University of Bristol, Samuel holds a BA and MA in Theology, along with advanced studies in Sustainable Development, Liberation, and Ministerial Theology. His theological training informs his approach to addressing complex global challenges with a blend of spiritual depth and practical strategy. Samuel has two children and lives in Bristol where he is a trustee and treasurer for St Mary Redcliffe Parish Church and Partners Relief and Development.