Ways to support the programme

Financier and investor Jamie Reuben founded the investment firm Melbury Capital in 2011 - an emerging market investment house. He was one of the early investors of Metro Bank and sat on its board until 2016. Mr Reuben also sat on the board of Queens Park Rangers Football Club.

Mr Reuben’s primary focus is real estate investment, development, and financing for Reuben Brothers. Mr Reuben is also involved in an expanding hospitality business acquiring and developing 10 hotels, including the Mondrian Hotel in London. European projects include Pacha Hotel in Ibiza, Experimental Chalet in Verbier, Il Palazzo Experimental in Venice.

Javad Marandi OBE is a British entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist, with more than 25 years’ experience in business both at home and abroad. His investment portfolio includes a diverse set of assets across real estate, retail, hospitality and construction.

In 2017, Javad and his wife, Narmina, co-founded the Marandi Foundation, which supports disadvantaged children, families and communities as well as art and cultural initiatives in the UK.

He was awarded an OBE in the 2020 New Year Honours List, for services to business and philanthropy and, as of 2021, he is co-chair of the Growth Board of Centrepoint Charity. He lives in London with his wife, Narmina, and their three children.

Tom has a career in financial services as a commercial leader. Having worked for leading companies such as Barclays and Shawbrook, Tom enjoys developing successful strategies and solving complex problems. In the recent past Tom has added consulting, advising and investing in to his professional life.

Barry Townsley is founder of his own stockbroking business, Townsley & Co.. Since January 2005, he has been Chairman and founding partner of Hobart Capital Markets LLP, and director of Caprice Holdings Ltd.

Mr Townsley has served as a trustee or board member for a large number of health and art charities. In 2005, he chaired the CSV Year of the Volunteer. He acted as the principal sponsor of Stockley Academy from 2000 to 2017 and is the Chairman of the Central Synagogue London. He earned a CBE in 2003 for charitable services, especially to education and the arts.

Mr Townsley has supported Centrepoint in the past, as a member on the 2016 Gala Committee.

Mark Petterson has spent 40 years pioneering projects in the energy sector. He co-founded Warwick Energy Limited in 2000 and became an early mover in the offshore wind sector. He is now the UK’s leading independent developer of offshore wind farms.

Mr Petterson is also involved in some social enterprises and supports charities dealing with youth homelessness. He is a Trustee of the Banbury Young Homeless Project and is a long-standing major donor to Centrepoint. He was a member of the Centrepoint Gala Committee and was an early proponent of the Independent Living initiative. His guidance, contacts and funding led to the first Apprenticeship House development and the kickstarting of this programme. 

Bek Seeley is the Managing Director for Development at Lendlease. In her current role Bek is responsible for leading the senior development team for the successful delivery of Lendlease’s European pipeline.

Most recently she held the position of Chief Operating Officer for Development and was instrumental in winning a number of major projects for Lendlease, as well as overseeing operations and the overall growth of the business. Before joining Lendlease in 2015 Bek’s career spanned the public and private sectors, having held a range of operational and commercial roles including in economic development, infrastructure, built environment and public services.

Niamh O’Connor joined Summix Capital as partner in 2016 to drive the firm’s expansion in the student accommodation and PRS sectors where she is responsible for all aspects of origination and execution of investments. Prior to Summix Ms O’Connor founded and ran NOC Consultancy, an independent advisory firm to property investors, developers and construction companies.

She was previously Head of Business Development at a UK based project management firm.  Ms O’Connor started her career in the construction industry in the Cayman Islands.

Michael Rahamim has over 25 years’ experience in the fashion retail industry. He entered the industry in 1992 by developing the UK franchise of Kookai S.A.. In 1997 he invested in the Kookai S.A. parent company and helped turn its fortune around. Since then, Mr Rahamim has invested in a number of European fashion retail companies.

Having qualified as a Chartered Accountant, Mr. Rahamim worked in soft commodities and financial futures and became one of the first seat holders on the LIFFE exchange. Mr Rahamim also sits on the senior advisory board of TowerbrookLLP, an international private equity firm. Mr Rahamim has generously donated to Centrepoint in the past through its gala events.