Guided by Experience, Driven by Values
PBI UK is governed by a Board of Trustees who provide legal and strategic oversight, supported by a distinguished group of Ambassadors who champion our cause in the public eye. To ensure our impact remains precise and proactive, we are also supported by our Advisory Board.
Our Board of Trustees
Our Trustees bring expertise from the legal, human rights, and financial sectors to ensure PBI UK remains effective and transparent.
Andrew Anderson | Chair Andrew has over 30 years of human rights experience, previously serving as Executive Director of Front Line Defenders and a Director at Amnesty International. The founding Chair of ProtectDefenders.eu, he has held advisory roles for the University of York and several international human rights boards.
Claire Davis | Trustee Claire is a management consultant specialising in people strategy, organisational culture, and leadership development. With a wealth of experience gathered from a diverse range of industries, spanning technology start-ups, global organisations, and not-for-profits, Claire has extensive experience embedding operational efficiencies and healthy workplace practices.
Steve Webster | Treasurer Steve joined the Board following a long career in NHS finance. Recently retired from his roles as Finance Director for various NHS Trusts in England and a Health Board in Wales, he provides strategic financial guidance and stability to the organisation.
Sophia Kerridge | Trustee A barrister at 5 St Andrew’s Hill specialising in criminal and extradition law, Sophia brings direct field experience to the Board. She served for three years with PBI Colombia, first as a field team member in Barrancabermeja and later as a coordinator in Bogotá.
Alexander Lowrey | Vice Treasurer A qualified accountant and Financial Planning & Analysis Manager at Peel Ports Group, Alexander provides financial oversight to PBI UK. He previously applied his financial expertise as a consultant for an educational charity in Cambodia.
Nanette Onu | Trustee Nanette is a Director at Protimos and a value-driven fundraiser specialising in the rule of law and social justice. A former lead for PBI Colombia’s Fundraising and Finance team, she has worked globally with the UN World Food Programme, Oxfam, and various international nonprofits.
Rachel Cox | Trustee Rachel is a Campaign Leader for Land and Environmental Defenders at Global Witness. She is a specialist in investigating and advocating for the rights of environmental activists worldwide, bringing vital expertise on the intersection of climate justice and defender protection.
Rowan Popplewell | Trustee Rowan is a Policy and Advocacy Manager at Bond, focusing on civic space and human rights. She holds a doctorate from the University of Oxford, where she spent three years researching the experiences of human rights defenders and peacebuilders in Central Africa.
Our Ambassadors & Patrons
We are honoured to have the support of influential figures who use their platforms to amplify the voices of the defenders we protect.
Stephen Cragg KC, Coordinating Ambassador
A human rights barrister at Doughty Street Chambers, Stephen leads the Data Protection and Information Rights Team and sits as a judge in the Information Rights Tribunal. A former Chair of the Bar Human Rights Committee and the Public Law Project, Stephen now coordinates PBI’s Ambassador network, ensuring our high-level advocacy remains effective and expansive.
Julie Christie
Academy Award-winning actress Julie Christie is a lifelong champion of the human rights movement. A long-term supporter of PBI, she has used her global platform to amplify the voices of defenders, notably through her narrations of PBI’s BBC Radio 4 appeals.
John Dew
A former British diplomat, John served as Ambassador to Colombia and Cuba, and Head of the Latin America Department at the FCO. During his time in Colombia, he frequently visited PBI-accompanied defenders. Now a print artist, John remains a vocal advocate for the essential role of international accompaniment in protecting frontline activists.
Sir Jeffrey Jowell KCMG KC
Knighted for his services to human rights and the rule of law, Sir Jeffrey is the inaugural Director of the Bingham Centre on the Rule of Law and Emeritus Professor at UCL. A former UK member of the Venice Commission, he is a leading global authority on constitutional law and democratic institutions.
Sir Peter Roth
A High Court Judge and President of the Competition Appeal Tribunal, Sir Peter, chairs PBI UK’s Lawyers Advisory Committee. He is a passionate advocate for PBI’s model, noting that our "remarkable contribution" shows how unarmed volunteers can bring security to the world’s most courageous defenders.
Lord Carnwath of Notting Hill
A former Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
(2011–2020), Lord Carnwath has had a distinguished judicial career, including serving as Chairman of the Law Commission and
Attorney-General to the Prince of Wales. His expertise in administrative and environmental law strengthens PBI’s standing within the highest levels of the British judiciary.
Sir Nicolas Bratza
Sir Nicolas is a former President of the European Court of Human Rights and served as a Judge of the Court for 14 years. A preeminent figure in international law, he has chaired the British Institute of Human Rights and held senior roles with the European Commission of Human Rights. He provides PBI with peerless expertise on the European legal framework.
Maria-Krystyna Duval
CEO of the Carbon Technology Research Foundation, Maria-Krystyna has over 20 years of experience in legal practice and economic policy. Formerly the Chief Programmes & Impact Officer at ClientEarth, she is a specialist in using the law to protect the planet and the world’s most vulnerable people from the impacts of climate change.
Helena Kennedy KC (Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws)
A world-renowned barrister, broadcaster, and member of the House of Lords, Baroness Kennedy is a fearless advocate for civil liberties and the marginalised. Her career has been defined by challenging the misuse of power, making her a powerful voice for the human rights defenders PBI protects.
With Thanks: We are deeply grateful to our previous Ambassadors, including
The Rt Hon the Lord Scott of Foscote, who stepped down in 2025 after decades of unwavering support.
Our Advisory Board
This dedicated group of specialists provides high-level technical expertise across the key pillars of our work: advocacy, digital security, fundraising, and human rights law.
Christen Dobson - Co-Head of the Civic Freedoms and Human Rights Defenders programme at the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, Christen is an expert in mapping the landscape of human rights funding and addressing the global trend of closing civic space.
Bruna Martins Rodrigues - A specialist in digital transformation and strategic communications, Bruna has led major AI and customer experience initiatives at global tech platforms. Her background in journalism and grassroots activism in Brazil informs her commitment to amplifying marginalised voices.
Walter Nyabadza - A Zimbabwean human rights lawyer and former PBI UK Advocacy Officer, Walter has defended activists under repressive regimes. He is currently developing a global support hub to help exiled human rights defenders continue their work from safety.
Sierra Schraff Thomas - Interim Director of Programmes at Womankind Worldwide, Sierra spent 12 years with PBI as a field volunteer and International Secretariat coordinator. She is a specialist in feminist grantmaking and organisational development for international NGOs.
Florence Vane - An environmental policy specialist with experience at the FCDO and Defra, Florence has served as an expert negotiator for the UK on the right to a healthy environment. She specialises in connecting grassroots activism with institutional policymaking.
Nick Winnett - The Global Head of Business Development at ClientEarth, Nick, is a fundraising expert with over 15 years of experience in human rights and climate justice. He supports PBI in developing sustainable, high-impact fundraising strategies.