Farmida Bi and Julian Douglas join DEC Board of Trustees
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) is pleased to announce that Farmida Bi and Julian Douglas have joined the DEC’s Board of Trustees. Farmida joins the board as new Vice Chair, whilst Julian joins as a new Independent Trustee.
The appointments come in a year when donations to three active DEC appeals – the Pakistan floods, Ukraine and the Turkey-Syria earthquake have reached over £580 million.
Farmida is a solicitor and Chair of Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, a global law firm. Farmida is also Chair of Trustees for the Barbican Centre Trust and of the Patchwork Foundation.
Julian is the International CEO of global advertising agency VCCP, the President of the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) 2021-23, and the Chair of Black Representation in Marketing (BRiM).
Over the past 20+ years Julian has many created award-winning campaigns for clients in the UK and around the world including Barnardo’s, Lynx, Levi’s, Audi, O2, Domino’s, Nationwide, White Claw and his beloved Man City FC.
Sue Inglish, Chair of Trustees at the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), said: “We are delighted to welcome Farmida Bi and Julian Douglas to the DEC’s Board of Trustees. They both bring great expertise from their industry sectors, and I know they will provide vital contributions to our Board.
“The DEC has had an extraordinary year launching three appeals in 12 months and raising over £580 million. Our new trustees will bring invaluable support to the Board as we continue to respond to the challenges posed by large scale disasters.”
Saleh Saeed, Chief Executive of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) said: “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all our Trustees who give their time so generously and help us respond to emergencies and disasters in record time. I’d particularly like to mention the fantastic support from two outgoing Trustees.
Firstly, Andy Green for his work as Vice Chair of DEC, for chairing the Membership and Accountability Committee (MAC) and as the Trustee Safeguarding Lead for the DEC he has guided us through various complex strategic discussions, with a particular focus on the DEC’s work around accountability and performance, while playing an enabling and supportive role for the DEC team and members.
“My heart-felt thanks also go to Charles Stewart-Smith who has provided expert advice on external relations, critical insights on brand, and brought incisive questioning to the board and as a member of the MAC. Both Andy and Charles have been with us through a period of huge change at the DEC, including two of our biggest ever appeals, and have helped guide the board and secretariat from an independent strategic perspective.
“We are extremely grateful to all our Trustees for the time and valuable contributions they provide to help us maximize the humanitarian assistance we deliver to men, women and children in their hour of need.”
ENDS
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About the DEC: The DEC brings together 15 leading UK aid charities at times of crisis overseas to raise funds quickly and efficiently. In these times of crisis, people in life-and-death situations need our help and our mission is to save, protect and rebuild lives through effective humanitarian response.
The DEC’s 15 member charities are: Action Against Hunger, ActionAid UK, Age International, British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International UK, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide UK, International Rescue Committee UK, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Oxfam GB, Plan International UK, Save the Children UK, Tearfund and World Vision UK.
