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Meet the team

Chris Mould

Chief Executive

I have over thirty years’ experience developing and leading organisations in the public and voluntary sector. I am passionate about social justice and never happier at work than when I am in some way or other involved in trying to build a better world now. I spent the last 10 years working with the Shaftesbury Partnership and leading The Trussell Trust, as we created and developed the UK Foodbank Network.

It was through the Trussell Trust in 2005 that I first engaged up close with the devastating problems poverty, exploitation and marginalisation cause for so many people in Southeast Europe. We set up FSCI as a Bulgarian NGO in 2008 to expand the work and to develop informed and effective responses. I am delighted to be able to lead FSCI Bulgaria and its UK counterpart, House of Opportunity, on the next stage of its journey.

In my earlier career, I held both Chief Executive and Chairman roles at local and national level. I was Chief Executive of Salisbury Healthcare NHS Trust for ten years and the founding Chairman of  Healthwork UK. Immediately before leaving public services, I was Chief Executive of a new non-departmental public body responsible for police training across England and Wales which I was charged with setting up as part of the Police Reform Act 2001.

I have led twenty four start-ups and mergers and have substantial experience in professional development, skills and employment.

I studied Modern History at Magdalen College, Oxford. I hold an MSc in Social Policy from the London School of Economics.

chris.mould@houseofopportunity.org

Rich Parsons

Operations Manager

I run the day-to-day activity of House of Opportunity (FSCI UK) and work with the team in Southeast Europe. I also lead our annual Christmas Box Appeal.

I worked for The Trussell Trust between 2003-2017. I was part of the foodbank team until 2008 when I began working for the “Bulgaria” dept. as it was then. I am enjoying this new phase of the work very much and excited by the prospect of our team being able to help more marginalised and at-risk people in the future.

In a previous life I worked in agriculture and horticulture, along with a host of other jobs.

rich.parsons@houseofopportunity.org

Maria Montgomery

Fundraising Manager

I have worked for NSPCC and Combat Stress, among others, and have lots of experience of working with donors and supporters, helping to build strong relationships between them and their chosen charity.

I’m really excited at the prospect of helping House of Opportunity to deliver its mission along with supporters who want to do something positive to prevent the exploitation of vulnerable young people.

maria.montgomery@houseofopportunity.org

Meet the FSCI Bulgaria team.

House of Opportunity’s sister organisation, FSCI Bulgaria, began its work in 2009.

Trustees

Bernard worked for thirty-eight years in manufacturing, principally in the Oil and Gas Industry. His career began for a multinational company developing new underwater valve technology as part of the research and development team.

Bernard then joined the family business which manufactured high pressure air and gas purification equipment, becoming Joint Managing Director in 1989. He was instrumental in the company diversifying to produce small bore sub sea gate valves for the Oil and Gas industry, becoming the first company worldwide to offer this specialised niche product to the large equipment manufacturers. The business enjoyed exceptional growth over many years eventually requiring external funding to take it to the next stage. By this time Bernard was CEO and oversaw a successful sale of the company to a larger group.

Subsequently Bernard has been pleased to assist and encourage other businesses including taking non-executive director roles. He is an active member of his local church where he also serves as a trustee and volunteers as a Street Pastor.

Ray’s  background is in applied research, first with the Institute of Aviation Medicine, then with National Coal Board’s Institute of Occupational Medicine and then with CASPE Research and the King’s Fund.  While with the King’s Fund he became director responsible for their learning programme.  Ray has considerable experience of strategic programme design and facilitation and has worked with Boards and Senior Management Teams over many years both in the UK and internationally.

In his independent practice, his interest widened to explore how professional and public services can work most effectively in partnership with clients, carers and the wider public to bring about change and promote personal and social well-being. This often requires taking the longer and wider view of people’s life experience and co-designing solutions with them to address issues which are often complex.

Ray has been a committed Christian for many years; seeking to put faith, hope and love at the heart of his work.

Steven is an executive coach and board advisor with Praesta Partnership LLP. He is passionate about helping young adults fulfil their potential. Steven has over 30 years of corporate work experience in strategy, marketing, product and customer management, and business development, in multi-nationals such as Experian, Standard Chartered, IHG, Booz-Allen and HSBC. His interest in the Balkans started at Visa Inc. (2006-2013), where he was initially Regional Head of Marketing, Products and Innovation and, later, General Manager for Visa’s Central & Eastern European business (based in Moscow), which covered Russia, Ukraine, Central Asia and the Balkans. Steven has recently re-trained as an executive coach and psychotherapy counsellor. He is a Trustee of The Audience Agency (audience development agency for England and Wales), as well as Supervisory Board Member for Citibank Ukraine. Steven is a Fellow/Chartered Director at the Institute of Directors and holds an MBA from INSEAD Business School and Degree from Oxford University.

Elizabeth was a founder partner of Gore Browne Investment Management.  She is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment and is involved in the day-to-day management of private client portfolios.

She has worked in the investment industry for over 35 years. After eight years in the City with Brewin Dolphin and Raphael Zorn, she moved to Salisbury in 1987 and joined Cobbolds. In 1991 Elizabeth helped set up Cazenove’s first regional office. She left in early 2001 along with other Cazenove colleagues to become a director of a small new investment management company.

Elizabeth was a trustee for over 21 years of the Trussell Trust, the Salisbury-based charity now running a network of over 420 food banks across the UK.