Mental Health Foundation welcomes five new trustees to support national effort on mental health prevention
We are proud to announce the appointment of five new trustees to our board.
The new trustees are Sami Gichki, Dr Anna Zecharia, Ayodeji Ogunyemi, Tom Mursell, and Lizzie Lockett. They bring a diverse range of skills and experiences across public policy, health, inclusion, finance, communications, as well as lived experience of mental health challenges. We welcome their fresh perspectives, lived experience, and strategic expertise to support our vision of good mental health for all.
Aisha Sheik-Anene, Chair of the Mental Health Foundation’s Board of Trustees, said: “We are thrilled to welcome these five exceptional individuals to our board. Their collective expertise and passion will help us deepen our impact, strengthen our governance, and ensure our work continues to be inclusive, evidence-based, and focused on prevention.
“These appointments reflect the Foundation’s commitment to inclusive leadership and to embedding lived experience at the heart of our work. As we look to launching our new 2026 – 2031 strategy, the ideas and insights of our board are tremendously valuable to ensure our continued success.”
Our new trustees:
Sami Gichki is a strategic leader in equity, youth leadership and governance. He is an independent consultant and holds a portfolio of non-executive roles across sectors. He sits on the board sits on the board of the #iWill Fund , which has allocated over £100 million to youth-focused initiatives, previously also chairing the associated movement. Sami has previously advised on national campaigns such as the Big Help Out and has co-produced mental health research with institutions including NIHR and King’s College London.
Dr Anna Zecharia brings a strong track record in science, health and inclusion. She is currently Director of Programmes and Partnerships and Deputy Executive Director at the International Alliance of Mental Health Research Funders. Her previous roles include Director of Policy & Public Affairs at the British Pharmacological Society and co-founder of ScienceGrrl. She has also served on the Development Board of EDIS, a coalition advancing equity in science and health.
Ayodeji Ogunyemi is a finance and public policy expert with international experience. He is a Consulting Partner at EY, focusing on public sector and infrastructure projects in West Africa. Prior to this, he spent thirteen years at the UK’s National Audit Office, including a secondment as Chief Auditor to the United Nations Board of Auditors. He is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (UK).
Tom Mursell is a growth strategist and social entrepreneur with lived experience of anxiety. He founded the youth employment platform notgoingtouni and has held senior growth roles at organisations including what3words, Beam and Bubble. He is also the founder of WalkTheTalk, a peer support network for people with social anxiety.
Lizzie Lockett is CEO of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the UK regulator for veterinary professionals. In 2014, she founded the Mind Matters Initiative to support mental health in the veterinary sector. She also co-founded Mind Matters International with the American Veterinary Medical Association. Lizzie has served on the Foundation’s Communications and Fundraising Committee since 2019 and is a Director of the Veterinary Policy Research Foundation and a Trustee of RCVS Knowledge.
We are delighted to have them on our board and look forward to working together.
You can see our full list of Trustees by visiting the 'Our people' page