Who we are
We’re a team of professionals, with expertise from the fields of mental healthcare, finance, policy and the third sector.
Our combined experience, energy and commitment make us perfect partners on our charities’ growth journey.
Gavin White
FOUNDER
Gavin is the Founder of Chimo Trust. He had a 23-year career in finance both as a fund manager at global, diversified investment firm Millennium Partners and before that as an equity research analyst at SG Warburg/UBS.
After witnessing an explosion in mental challenges in children of family and friends he set up Chimo Trust with the objective of applying his investment experience to support community-led mental health innovations for young people. His childhood nickname was Chimo, a word believed to mean ‘a special friend for people in need’ in the ancient language of the Inuit people of Northern Canada.
Karen Turner
TRUSTEE
Karen has had a distinguished career in the Department of Health and NHS. She was Director of Mental Health for NHS England from 2015-2018 where she established an Expert Group, led by the Chief Executive of Mind, to produce a ‘Five Year Forward View for Mental Health’ and secured over £1bn in new funds for child, adolescent and adult mental health.
Over her career, she has held many roles including Deputy Director of Children and Young People for the Department of Health, Director of Prevention for NHS England and member of the Health and Social Care Committee appraising the government’s commitments to mental health.
Nigel Corner
TRUSTEE
Nigel Corner has run the family business for thirty years, which has varied interests, all based in the North East of England. He was an International Motor Racing Driver for twelve years, until a career ending accident, which has led to him suffering from PTSD. He was a school governor, and is currently an Honorary Air Commodore in the RAF and a Deputy Lieutenant for North Yorkshire.
He has recently been appointed High Sheriff of North Yorkshire with the responsibility for supporting the Police and emergency services and in lending encouragement to public sector agencies such as the probation and prison services and to voluntary sector organisations.
Dr Ally Jaffee
TRUSTEE
Ally is an NHS Junior Doctor working in psychiatry with a degree in Medical Humanities & Creative Arts from Imperial College London. She has received a number of awards including the BBC Food & Farming New Talent Award, The Diana Award and The Prime Minister’s Points of Light Award. Ally is a keen entrepreneur and holds a place on the prestigious NHS Clinical Entrepreneurship Programme.
She is the Co-founder of Nutritank, a hub to educate Healthcare Professionals in Nutrition & Lifestyle Medicine Education. Ally is passionate about Mental Health and its intersecting fields, particularly The Arts & Nutrition. She believes strongly in authenticity and openness and shares her own mental health struggles online.
Lady Fiorella Massey
TRUSTEE
Fiorella is a British/Italian mother of three, educated at the French Lycée and a graduate of Bristol University. After a career in fashion, she became a passionate mental health activist and advocate, and joined the Mental Health Foundation in 2013. Fiorella introduced an innovative approach to teenage mental health, taking research into action.
As Chair of the Friends of the Mental Health Foundation, she spearheaded a peer to peer in school programme which is now nationwide, and has become the flagship project for the foundation. Fiorella was made MBE for services to teenage mental health and education in 2020. She has also mentored young mental health activist and was Board trustee of Doctors in Distress.
James Roberston
Trustee
James was the first National Director of #BeeWell, the pioneering young people’s wellbeing programme from 2023-26. During that time, he played a leading role in the "Our Wellbeing, Our Voice" coalition’s campaign for national wellbeing measurement for children and young people.
Prior #BeeWell James was a civil servant for 30 years. He worked for HM Treasury for the majority of his career and undertook a number of overseas roles including at the UK Representation to the EU, the Japanese Ministry of Environment and Finance Canada. His last role in government was as Head of Youth Services at DCMS, overseeing the government’s support for young people outside school.
Laura Barbour
Grant Director
Laura leads on grant giving and impact, supporting the Board of Trustees. She has over 30 years’ experience in the charitable sector including at UK Youth and The Sutton Trust where she joined the founding team. During her 27 years at the Sutton Trust, she covered a range of roles while leading research and policy initiatives alongside practical programme delivery and developing specific expertise in the Early Years.
She continues as an advisor at the Sutton Trust, Thrive at Five and the Froebel Trust and sits as a Trustee for Peeple and a Governor at the Randolph Beresford and Vanessa nurseries in Shepherd’s Bush.
Elly De Decker
Portfolio Development
Elly has more than 20 years’ experience across philanthropy, social investment and community organisations.
Until recently, Elly was CEO of Bromley by Bow Centre. Previously, she held a number of senior roles at The National Lottery Community Fund. She oversaw HeadStart, a £67m programme to improve the mental health of 10-16 year-olds. Later she became England Director of TNLCF overseeing annual grants of £400m.
Before TNLCF, she was an Investment Director at Impetus, where she established the Impetus Early Years Initiative leading the successful bid (with Sutton Trust) to set up and manage the Education Endowment Foundation.