As part of our annual leadership round-up, we take a look at a selection of charity leaders to keep an eye on in 2024
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Twenty twenty four will be another uncertain year for charities. The cost-of-living crisis shows no signs of abating; culture wars are increasing and the sector is facing more demand than ever before, all on top of an upcoming general election. At the forefront of this are the leaders who are in charge of finding solutions and keeping morale high. Here, we take a look at some of the leaders who have landed on our radar – for multiple reasons – and will be worth keeping an eye on as they attempt to navigate this period of uncertainty.


Sophie Tebbetts, Upcoming CEO, Foodcycle

Winner of the 2021 Charity Times’ Supporting Leader award, Sophie Tebbetts has made an instant impression on the charity sector. She will be taking over as CEO of FoodCycle in January 2024 and at age 33, will become the charity’s youngest female CEO. At the height of the cost-of-living crisis, this will be no easy task as the organisation seeks to tackle rising food poverty and social isolation across the UK.


Gus Alston, CEO, Stonegrove Community Trust

An example to small charity and community leaders thinking of the future, Gus Alston has finally secured funding for their solar panel installation. After a three and-a-half year journey of acquiring some of the most difficult funding ever secured, Alston plans to use this installation to make the organisation more financially sustainable and climate-friendly. Will other charities follow suit?


Monwara Ali, CEO, Waltham Forest Community Hub

From becoming chair of a charity at age 20, to working with prisoners on death row in America, Ali appears to have done it all. Now leading Waltham Forest Community Hub, Ali is passionate about inclusion and advocating for those most vulnerable. In 2023 she focussed on successfully widening the community network and 2024 is looking to be just as promising, with the launch of a book.


Kevin Taylor-McKnight, founder, CharitySoStraight

As founder of CharitySoStraight, Kevin Taylor-McKnight has taken on 2023 in a big way, with no plans to slow down in the upcoming year. The campaign group’s #StandWithTrans swept across the sector and with over 260 (and rising) signatures, the pledge for solidarity and change is there. As online debates become more heated, campaigners like Taylor-McKnight will have their work cut out for them, but also the ability to create meaningful and lasting change.


Orlando Fraser, chair, Charity Commission

As chair of the Charity Commission, Orlando Fraser will be a name those in the sector hear a lot. In speeches made during 2023, he pledged action to tackle the lack of board-level diversity, and to introduce guidance on returning or refusing donations. With an election on the horizon, and charities in the midst of campaigning with a thin line to toe, Fraser will likely up his profile within the sector and be one to listen out for in upcoming months.


Sarah Vibert, CEO, NCVO

NCVO has had quite the year and at the helm, Sarah Vibert has been leading the charge. From helping to prove to the government the value of charities, to the #CostofGiving campaign, the organisation, and Vibert have raised awareness of the value of the sector across the country, and it won’t let up any time soon. The need for influence from membership bodies is greater than ever and we have no doubts that for Vibert and NCVO, 2024 will be a busy one.


Louise Parkes, CEO, Great Ormond Street Hospital

In 2023, GOSH publicly launched its biggest ever fundraising appeal to help build a new children’s cancer centre. It’s aiming to raise £300 million, and as the public face of the charity, Louise Parkes has been at the centre of it all. Pledging to run the London Marathon in 2023 if the charity became its Charity of the Year, she did just that. Along with a peak of activity in September 2023, GOSH has already hit the halfway mark but 2024 will be a crucial year to moving that number higher.


Liz Harding, CEO, Hearts Together

As winner of the 2023 Charity Times Award for Rising Leader, Liz Harding is someone everyone should be watching. Not only did the award highlight her leadership skills, but under Harding’s guidance, Hearts Together has seen remarkable growth and impact. Never afraid to get stuck in, she has been driving forward the charity’s ambitious Big Build project, driven by her commitment to ensure that Hearts Together is able to help everyone in their time of need.


Rob Williams, CO, War Child

With the conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza and Israel, unprecedented amounts of children living in warzones are in need of more help than ever. As CEO of the War Child, Rob Willams is helping to protect, educate and stand up for the rights of children living through conflict, work that isn’t looking as though it will decrease any time soon. 2024 will be a difficult time for the charity, and those at the helm will need to provide strong leadership under pressure.


Envver Solomon, CEO, Refugee Council

Another winner at the 2023 Charity Times Awards, this time for Charity Leader of the Year. His work with the refugee council in a time of increasing crisis and pressure for refugees and the charities that help them is nearly unparalleled. Global conflict means there are more displaced people than ever. Alongside rising negative attitudes, it seems like an uphill climb for charities like Refugee Council, but with leaders like Solomon, there’s hope out there.


Khalid Javid, CEO, Muslim Aid

Recently appointed CEO of Muslim Aid after being in the role on an interim basis, Khalid Javid is bringing focus back into the organisation. With successful campaigns during Ramadan when he was an interim CEO, the charity is hoping to have renewed focus working in the UK. In addition to domestic work, the organisation is fundraising for emergencies around the world, including Palestine and Afghanistan in a climate that can be difficult for faith-based charities. Javid will certainly be one to watch as the charity continues to battle through into 2024.


Beccy Speight, CEO, RSPB

In 2024, there will be a general election, and charities will certainly be involved some way, some how. And although they cannot be party political, they can share their opinions on policy. In recent years, some have already been vocal, one of which is RSPB. As the public face of the organisation, Beccy Speight has been both criticised and praised for the things that have been said (sometimes at the same time). Either way, the organisation has shown that it’s not afraid to speak out, and that’s very likely to continue into 2024.

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