Trustees
Paul Barry-Walsh – Founder
Paul was with IBM for 9 years until he left to form Safetynet one of the UK’s leading providers of business continuity services. He then went on to found Netstore a provider of outsourced computer services.
He founded Fredericks Foundation in 2001 and it has become a leading microfinance organisation in the UK.
In April 2008 Paul was granted the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion and in November 2008 won a Beacon Award for Creative Giving. In March 2009 he was named ‘Philanthropist of the Year’ at the CNBC European Business Awards.
Jane Barry-Walsh
Jane joined British Airways in HR and then moved on to Cabin Crew for 7 years. She left in 1982 to work in medical recruitment.
After bringing up two children Jane was closely involved in the early stages of Fredericks Foundation. She has been responsible for running events such as the Hannibal Challenge, during which time Fredericks raised its largest sum, and the Microfinance Conference at the London Stock Exchange.
Jane’s attention to detail and efficiency has complemented the skills of other Trustees over the last 9 years.
Niall Barry-Walsh
Niall is a commercial lawyer, well versed in contractual and business documentation including acquisitions and disposal of businesses and business premises. He specialises in advising business start-ups and SME’s and has been in practise as a solicitor since 1974.
Born in the West Indies, educated in the North of England, trained in Bristol and Southampton, initially practising in Hong Kong and then in Hampshire and Wiltshire, he is currently Managing Partner of Ranson Houghton Solicitors.
Iain Duncan
After graduating in 1976, Iain worked for 18 months for a division of the Lucas Group where he was responsible for monitoring the introduction of new products using computer based critical path analysis tools. He joined IBM (UK) in 1978 as a Systems Engineer and at the beginning of 1985 trained as an account salesman with responsibility for selling the complete range of IBM products and services to a nominated list of major customers.
He was recruited by Safetynet PLC in 1987, a year after its formation, to assist in growing the company, with the main objective being to sell new business and increase the size of the customer base. Over a nine year period, he held sales and general management roles, including that of main board director at a time when the company was turning over £14.4million, with a profit before tax of £3million and over 100 employees.
He has since held the position of CEO of companies in manufacturing and construction management.
Neil Mehta
Neil graduated in 1984 and worked in the HR industry for many years, including founding and building Aquila Consulting Group, from which he completed a successful exit to an international private equity house in December 2006. Neil has been a non-executive director/seed investor for commercial and not-for-profit organisations including Great Western Enterprise, Profero and Simera for over 10 years. He was also a director of Gloucestershire Development Loan Fund helping the executives to integrate into the Fredericks family where he has been a Trustee since its inception in 2001. Neil is currently Chairman of Profero Ventures, Non- Exec Director of GWE Business West and CEO of Simera.
Ken Williams
Ken has over 50 years work experience, he started his career as a chartered account in 1958 at Deloitte, Plender, Griffiths - Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), in 1961 he became Cheif Accountant for Rhodesian Breweries Ltd. 1967 saw Ken joining SABMiller, where he was then an Executive Director from 1973-1994. He was Chairman of the Beverage Division and Overseas Interests and also a private investor in the UK, Australia, USA and South Africa, working with the industrial supplies, manufacturing and distribution, food distribution and wine industries.
Sally Royall
Sally has had a sales carreer spanning 30 years, receiving sales training initially from IBM and moving ultimately into computer software sales, and spending 8 years with Kewill Systems Ltd in a senior sales role. In the early 1990's, together with a business partner, she set up a software business, Huckerby Royall Systems. Having a young family at the time, this was to give more working "flexibility". HRS was involved predominantly in matching systems with manufacturing methodologies and business administration applications. as the business grew, Sally and her team became involved in selling, specifying and implementing hundreds of systems for a diverse range of industries, which, along with managing her own company, gave the experience required to provide mentoring services to Fredericks clients.
Vin Murria
Vin has over 20 years' experience of working for private equity backed and publicly listed companies focused on the software sector, she is currently CEO of Advanced Computer Software Plc. During this time, Vin has held a number of other senior positions, including Chief Executive Officer of Computer Software Group Plc, which she took private in May 2007. The company merged with IRIS in July 2007 and was subsequently sold to Hellman Friedman for $1 billion.
Vin is a Partner at Elderstreet Capital, and prior to this was European Chief Operating Officer for Kewill Systems Plc and Chairman of Leeds Group Plc. She remains a Chair or NonâExecutive Director to a number of companies, including Concateno plc, BSG Plc and Innovise Plc.