Our team

Mike Trace Following a period of 12 years working on and managing projects that provided treatment to the homeless, drug users and offenders, Mike held the post of Deputy UK Anti-Drug Co-ordinator from 1997 until 2001. His duties included the creation of the UK’s first National Drug Strategy and the oversight of its initial implementation. From 2000 to 2003, he was the chair of the European Union drugs agency, the European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). Here he steered a...

CEO mike.trace@forwardtrust.org.uk twitter.com/miketrace

Kate Markey Kate is a big believer in social enterprise – businesses bringing solutions to social problems. She previously worked at the social enterprise support organisation CAN from 2005 – 2014. As Deputy Chief Executive, she looked after Policy, Research and Communications, including leading on CAN’s strategic partnership with the Cabinet Office to support the growth of social enterprise. More latterly, she launched and established CAN Invest, CAN’s social investment arm, managing and raising funds for...

Divisional Director Employment Services kate.markey@forwardtrust.org.uk twitter.com/katemarkey

Carwyn Gravell Carwyn joined the Forward Trust (then Blue Sky) in 2014 as Head of Fundraising. He has since taken on a wider role as Forward's Divisional Director of Business Development. His areas of responsibility now include Business Development, Research, Communications and Fundraising. Carwyn was previously a partner at leading social research organisation Lemos&Crane and was instrumental in developing ground-breaking initiatives in the field of criminal justice including PrisonerActionNet and The...

Divisional Director Business Development carwyn.gravell@forwardtrust.org.uk

The Hon David Burstein David has worked in the civil service, as a lawyer and is now on the boards of a small food importing company and a private investment company, both based in London. He sits on the boards of three other voluntary organisations, and of two grant-giving foundations. He is interested not only in penal affairs, but also alcohol and drug addiction more widely, human rights and refugee issues.

Chair

Lady Louise Gibbings Louise is one of the founding trustees of Forward and has been involved with the criminal justice system and the treatment of addiction for many years. She has worked for the national charity SOVA, served on the Board of Visitors at HMP Wandsworth for 15 years, and has been a trustee for the Wandsworth Prison Counselling Service and the Blenheim/Community Drug Project. At present she is a member of the Independent Monitoring Board at HMP Wayland and is also a trustee of the St Giles Trust. 

Trustee

Ben Houghton Ben is a former army officer and senior executive in the financial services sector. He was chairman of Disability Sport England for five years. His other current commitments include treasurer of Missing People, investment trustee of Haig Homes and chairman of a board of school governors.  

Trustee

The Hon Isabelle Laurent Isabelle has been committed to the tenets of Forward for over 25 years, and has been a trustee of Forward since its instigation in 1991. Isabelle is also member of the board (known as the Council) of King’s College, London.

Trustee

John Mason John is a qualified counsellor and works as project coordinator of an aftercare service in Westminster. He has first-hand experience of the criminal justice system as a detainee, and is a graduate of the Forward's rehabilitation programme. He has worked in service delivery in a number of different rehabilitation and treatment contexts including the Drugs Intervention Programme and a rehabilitation programme for gamblers. John is also a trustee of a theatre company that works in prison with...

Trustee

Dame Benita Refson DBE Benita is a founding Trustee of Place2Be and a qualified counsellor. After 19 years, Benita stepped down as CEO in 2014 and continues to support the organisation enthusiastically through her new role as President. Benita received an OBE for Services to Children and Families in 2007; was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of East London in 2009; received The Beacon Judges' Special Prize for Outstanding Philanthropic Achievement in 2010; and in 2014 was awarded an Honorary...

Trustee

Ron Sheldon Ron has over 35 years' private equity experience and recently retired as a Managing Director of Advent International, an international private equity firm, having worked for them for nearly 20 years. He also co-founded Trinity Venture Partners, a venture capital advisory firm and has held various investment roles at the 3i group.  Over the last several years, Ron has developed his interest in Social Enterprises and is a Board member and Trustee of Blue Sky Development & Regeneration. He is...

Trustee

MJG Taylor MJ is a UKCP-registered senior adult psychotherapist and clinical supervisor who for over 20 years has worked in the UK in charitable, NHS and private settings as well as academia.  The main area of emphasis in psychotherapeutic work involves socio-economically disadvantaged individuals, especially those in forensic settings. Coming to psychotherapy from a career in senior management in both the business and voluntary sectors in Europe, the United States and Latin America, MJ also serves...

Trustee

John Wates OBE JP John has had a long interest in the criminal justice system and was a magistrate for 20 years. He chairs the Wates Foundation and is involved with numerous other charities. He has a keen interest in the recovery principle in mental health and addiction.

Trustee

Andrew Wylie Andrew Wylie is the Head of Investment Funds at DLA Piper, a global law firm, and has been a partner in City law firms for over 10 years.  Andrew has a Master of Arts degree from the University of Cambridge. Andrew has given seminars at a number of leading international law schools and business schools about the global investment funds industry.  In Europe, these include the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, London Business School and INSEAD.  In the USA, these include Columbia...

Trustee

Dame Judi Dench “I am proud and honoured to be a patron of the Forward Trust whose professional team of counsellors and staff do so much to help and encourage men and women to recover from their alcohol or drug addiction. It is wonderful that so many of them then go on to lead positive, fulfilling and crime-free lives.” Dame Judi read for us at a carol concert fundraiser in 2007 and has been a supporter of our work ever since.  Photograph courtesy of Carolyn Djanogly.

Patron

The Hon. Emma Soames “The Forward Trust performs a vital service in transforming the lives of individuals as well as lowering rates of recidivism within the British justice system. In grappling with addiction within prisons, it is taking the 12 Steps programme to those whose need for it is truly great. It is always a joy to see how it transforms the lives of those who have been on the Forward programmes and I am proud to be a patron.”  

Patron

Tony Adams MBE We are very lucky to have former Arsenal and England footballer Tony Adams MBE as one of our patrons. “It is an honour to be a patron of the Forward Trust and to see at first hand the impact that Forward has had on the lives of so many men and women suffering from alcohol and drug addiction. Many recovering addicts have benefited from the care and support Forward offers and now make a positive contribution to society.” 

Patron

Sir Anthony Hopkins CBE Sir Anthony Hopkins has been a patron of the Forward Trust since its early days and helped open our first intensive drug and alcohol rehabilitation unit at HMP Downview in 1992.

Patron

Roger Graef OBE Roger Graef OBE is a patron of The Forward Trust. He has made films about addiction and prison services in the UK and overseas 

Patron

The Rt. Hon. the Lord Woolf of Barnes

Patron

Russell Brand Comedian and Actor Russell Brand has been a Patron since he made an appearance at a client re union. Since then he has worked closely with Forward, donating his Trew Era Cafe and launching our employment services in 2017. 

Patron