Charity Tax Group is governed by the Board of Trustees who meet regularly to review strategy and oversee delivery of CTG’s vision and mission, identify current issues and discuss technical matters. Board members are elected for three year terms and all represent a donating charity member.

CTG’s current trustees are:

Richard Bray – Chair

Finance, Regulatory and Taxes Manager at Cancer Research UK

Richard is CTG’s current board chair and members will know him if they attend any of the meetings or events as he will usually be the one welcoming you and facilitating the session. Richard is CTG’s most longstanding board member having been on the board since 2013 and chair since 2021.

Richard had been a supporter and active member of CTG and saw joining the board as a natural progression from this involvement. Richard is proud of CTG’s impressive 40-year history of saving the charity sector over £10bn. As chair Richard is very involved in the work of CTG but is happiest when involved in work that makes tax more efficient for charities; it is what motivates and inspires him. Richard is laser focused on ‘equipping charities to deal with an increasingly complex tax environment by ensuing that charities get a fair deal on tax’

When he is not working in his day job at Cancer Research UK or volunteering for CTG he can be found listening to jazz which he says appeals to his improvising instincts!

Alex Gear

Head of Finance and IT, National Council for the Training of Journalists

Alex is CTG’s current treasurer and is one of the newest members of the board, having been involved since 2021. Alex got involved during the pandemic, recognising that it was a time of increased need and pressure for charities; she wanted to help secure a better deal for charities through her work with CTG.

Alex was drawn to CTG because of its great history of accomplishments over 40 years and the opportunity to work with a talented team of trustees, advisers and members. In her role as treasurer Alex chairs the Finance and Risk Committee and works closely with our finance support team to produce the papers required for good governance and with the secretariat and other trustees to produce the Risk Register. Alex is very proud to have been part of the team that put together the organisation’s application for Charitable Status that was granted in 2024.

Alex is a keen traveller and has spent some time in a camper van in New Zealand and is also passionate about cooking and baking.

Barnaby Brand

Head of Privacy, Age UK

Barnaby got involved with CTG when his significant experience and expertise in Gift Aid led him to join the Gift Aid practical issues working group which he found enormously helpful in his role. He responded to a request for new directors at an annual conference and has been on the board since 2019. He is a member of the Fundraising Committee.

Barnaby is very proud to be involved in a charity that has such a huge impact and cites the Future of Gift Aid project and work on Gift Aid and GDPR as particular highlights. Barnaby brings a background and focus on digital, cyber and privacy issues to CTG and he is passionate about making sure all charities have an opportunity to get involved in working towards a fairer tax environment for charities.

Barnaby has hidden depths and if you ask him, he might share his experiences of the Kings Tomb in Kabul, Afghanistan with you.

Monica Varriale

Chief Operating Officer, The Courtauld Institute of Arts

Monica joined CTG’s board in 2017 because she believes in the power of collective advocacy to create a fairer operating environment for charities. Monica draws on her significant professional experience of strategic leadership, financial management, and organisational transformation in her role at CTG. Monica is a member of the Fundraising Committee and the Campaign Strategy Working Group

Monica cites CTG’s longstanding role in monitoring and responding to UK tax developments that impact charities as a significant achievement. By sharing insights and resources, CTG empowers charities to navigate complex tax regulations, thereby enhancing their operational efficiency and financial sustainability.

Monica says that what makes CTG special is its ability to bring together diverse charitable organisations to speak with a unified voice on tax issues, amplifying the sector’s concerns and fostering a sense of community and shared purpose among its members. Monica is passionate about building resilient organisations and is committed to using her experience to support CTG’s mission and its members.

Philip Spedding

CEO, Society of Genealogists

Philip got involved in 2012 when CTG were working with charity members on the governments approach to Gift Aid and higher rate taxpayers. After meeting other board members and feeling aligned with the charity’s work he joined the board in 2016.

Philip is inspired by being involved in a charity that can bring great expertise and passion to the job of informing and influencing the tax policy environment for charities.

Philip has a background and understanding of membership and fundraising structures and brings this to his role as chair of the Fundraising Committee. Philip has also spoken on cultural fundraising internationally.  Philip’s cool, calm presence hides an inner performer who has both acted and danced on stage.

Trudi Amy

Tax adviser, Macmillan Cancer Support

As a qualified tax professional Trudi had been both an observer and a charity member of the Charity Tax Group during her career so when CTG were advertising for new board members in 2022 it felt like a natural progression for her. Trudi is a member of the Fundraising Committee and the Campaign Strategy Working Group

Trudi is motivated in her board role by the support CTG gives to charities to navigate the complex tax environment and believes that the trustees and members working together is a unique and powerful combination of skills and experience. She believes that the amount CTG has saved charities through its work speaks volumes about the tenacity and dedication of the organisation over the years and her ambition for the charity is for it to be more widely recognised across the sector so that more charities can benefit.

Whilst she may seem to have her feet on the ground now, she has completed a sponsored skydive – something she says she won’t be taking up as a hobby any time soon!

 

Advisers

Kerry Sykes, Technical Adviser

Kerry was, for 17 years, Head of Tax at Cambridge University before spending six years as a Director of Tax at KPMG. He now runs his own tax practice, based in Leicester.