Investment Committee of the City Bridge Foundation Board

Henry graduated in law from Cambridge University, worked for 15 years as an insurance broker in various classes and then switched to underwriting.

After 20 years of senior roles in insurance firms based in London, Stockholm and Singapore he took on a number of non-executive roles.

Currently he is chairman of Lime Syndicate Management and a director of three other insurance firms – R&Q Capital No 1, Livery Companies Mutual and City RE.

He is the chairman of Mossbourne Federation of Schools in Hackney, and trustee of Wiltshire Bobby Van trust, which works to protect elderly and vulnerable people in that county.

Henry says:​“I wanted to ensure that the foundation is supported by a governance framework appropriate for its responsibilities, size and ambition to be a catalyst for change in London.

“We have started to put in place an investment strategy and asset allocation which meets the needs of the long-term aims of the charity, both as a bridge owner and a funder.”

Simon is managing partner and CEO of Findlay Park Partners, an investment firm focused on investing in sustainable American companies. He was previously chief investment officer at London-based multi-asset investment firm Newton Investment Management.

An elected member of the City of London Corporation, Simon is also a trustee of the Courtauld Gallery’s art collection, helping to deliver on the vision of its founder, the industrialist Samuel Courtauld, to make the collection accessible to the broadest possible audience.

Simon says: ​“In my role as a member of the investment committee, I hope to be able to contribute to increasing the investment returns generated by City Bridge Foundation’s endowment.

“Higher investment returns will mean more funds to support more charities across Greater London, and that’s something which is hugely motivating for me.”

Simon is an investment fund and AIM company director based in the City of London and has worked in the Square Mile for over twenty years.

A Cambridge University graduate, he became an elected member of the City of London Corporation in 2000 representing the Ward of Bishopsgate, and has served on a number of key local authority committees, primarily involved with policy, finance and investment.

Alison Gowman is a consultant at DLA Piper – one of the City of London’s largest international law firms – having been the company’s first female partner and a senior practitioner in commercial real estate and property.

A former chair of the City Bridge Trust Committee – the forerunner to the present board – she is an elected Alderman of the City of London Corporation and a member of Chapter and Lay Canon at St Paul’s Cathedral, and has been a trustee of organisations including the London Museum, Trust for London and the London Road Safety Council.

Alison says:​“I got involved with City Bridge Foundation because I wanted to engage with a wider community of people across Greater London, to ensure there was a fuller understanding of the needs of Londoners and that funding was appropriately distributed.

“The work of the board is now a lot broader than when I started and I’m excited by the chance to reshape the charity to be relevant and practical to address the challenges we face today, particularly the threats posed to our assets and our partners as a result of climate change.”

Profile to follow

Michael serves as a non-executive director at a number of property investment companies, and is chair of IDS – a small housing association based in Hackney.

He has previously enjoyed a long career as a chartered surveyor, culminating in a position as chairman of property advisors CBRE.

Michael says: ​“As a born and bred Londoner who has spent much of my career in and around the Square Mile, I am always interested in investment decisions and strategy, but find the work of City Bridge Foundation particularly fascinating.

“The foundation has an incredible potrfolio and the key now is to ensure that investments are aligned with the current needs and values of the charity.”

Hannah is chief investment officer, UK direct real estate, for CBRE Investment Management, having worked for the company since 2006 in various roles focusing on the UK and Europe.

A mother-of-three, she is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree in economics and politics from the University of Bristol and a Master of Art degree in real estate investment and finance from Reading University.

Hannah says: ​“Being on the City Bridge Foundation investment committee provides a really valuable opportunity to gain exposure to a different perspective and a diversity of thought, as well as giving me a chance to use my skills to benefit the charity.”