Meet the team

Richard has been at BRF Ministries since 1988 and provides leadership and direction for the charity as a whole, working closely with our department heads and the leaders and pioneers of our individual ministries.

Jules joined BRF Ministries in November 2023, having been New Wine’s executive director and director of the national network UCAN. Jules became Deputy CEO in Jan 2025 and manages the day to day charity activities. Following a postdoctoral career in neuroscience, Jules moved to executive leadership in the charity sector. She brings her years of experience in people practice and executive leadership to ensure our most valuable asset – our people – develop, perform and flourish.

 

 

Aike Kennett-Brown was appointed ministry lead of Messy Church in January 2022, after having been a longstanding voluntary member of the Messy Church family. She was previously the mission support officer for children and young people in the diocese of Southwark.

Anna is Parenting for Faith Ministry Lead, having previously served as the ministry’s national coordinator. She joined BRF Ministries in March 2018.

Debbie previously served as Anna Chaplaincy church lead on the national team, alongside Anna Chaplaincy pioneer, Debbie Thrower. She joined BRF Ministries in February 2022.

John joined BRF Ministries in February 2016 as the IT support Officer and later the role changed to BRF Portfolio Manager managing larger infrastructure projects and service delivery. He is now enjoying his role as Business Transformation Manager and taking BRF Ministries forward with its infrastructure and systems.

Julie joined BRF Ministries in June 2020, having led fundraising, marketing and events departments at several charities. She oversees our fundraising strategy and develops fundraising programmes to ensure BRF Ministries has the generous support and income needed to continue delivering its remarkable work.

Penny joined BRF Ministries in January 2024, having been Head of Finance & Operations for a large group of churches in the north of England. Penny manages the day to day operational activities of the charity. Following a career as a Chartered Accountant in a Big 4 firm, Penny moved to executive leadership within the charity sector whilst continuing to teach internationally at senior level within academia. She has significant Board experience and is currently director of the national network UCAN & Mercy Ministries.

Rachel has been part of BRF Ministries since 2016, first as Project Editor, then as Editorial Manager and since 2024 leading the brilliant Content Creation team. She oversees editorial, design and print production across the organisation.

Andrew is a strategy and fundraising consultant, having worked for many years in senior fundraising positions in a variety of international development charities. Prior to that Andrew had a career in strategic planning and marketing in retail banking, holding senior positions at Abbey National. Andrew became a BRF Ministries trustee in March 2020.

Andrew is a full-time parent to 3 teenage children, one of whom has additional needs, as well as being a School Governor and Chair of the forum for parents with young people with additional needs in his local area.  Previously Andrew worked for the Church of England and served in 4 Dioceses including being Diocesan Secretary in Leicester and in Winchester.

Christina is a qualified solicitor and has worked in financial services in London and internationally for over a decade. She enjoys staying involved with pro bono and volunteering in her local community, and with her local church in east London alongside her husband and children. Christina has been a trustee of BRF Ministries since September 2023.

David is the Chief Operating Officer at the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity, where he sits on the Executive Team, leads on impact and effectiveness and oversees the Comms, Creative and Innovation departments. He is a keen musician, and loves travelling. He holds an MBA and a degree in Theology. David became a BRF Ministries trustee in July 2023.

Canon Julian Hills is a lay canon of Canterbury Cathedral. Most notably he was a senior finance manager for Pfizer Ltd for nearly 20 years, the financial director for Canterbury Diocese for 5 years and the Diocesan Secretary of that diocese for the last 13 years. He is recently retired and has been a trustee of numerous Christian trusts over the years and a member of Canterbury Cathedral Council.

Mark had a long and distinguished commercial career before repeating his success in the charity sector. He was CEO of World Vision UK and has also been a trustee of the Disasters Emergency Committee and a member of the Archbishops’ Council. He is a lay leader in the parish of St John’s with St James in West Ealing, a licensed lay minister in the diocese of London and in the diocese St Edmundsbury and Ipswich and a lay canon of St Edmundsbury Cathedral.

Mike is a chemical engineer, recently retired after working 40 years in a major oil company. In retirement he divides his time between assisting in the national leadership of Who Let The Dads Out? (a ministry formerly attached to BRF Ministries and now sponsored by Care for the Family), coordinating the men’s ministry at the Baptist Church where he is a member, learning to play golf and serving as a BRF Ministries trustee. Mike joined the board of trustees in 2019 and helps with finance and advising on general management.

Paul is a Baptist minister and ecumenist living in Oxfordshire, and has recently retired from Churches Together in England, where he served as General Secretary. He has served three pastorates as well as posts of regional and national leadership within the Baptist Union. He currently leads the Order for Baptist Ministry and teaches pastoral supervision at Spurgeon’s College. He has written several books of theology, and is a poet and painter.

Verity worked in investment banking for over 30 years; in equity research and as a project financier; and continues to write on the water industry. She is a Licensed Lay Minister in Rochester Diocese; is chaplain to Rock UK at Carroty Wood; plays cello in a number of Christian orchestras; has an MA in theology and training in Spiritual Accompaniment. Verity has been using resources from BRF Ministries since she was a teenager. She became a BRF Ministries trustee in 2023.