LionHeart's Board of Trustees
As a registered independent charity, LionHeart is governed by a board of volunteer trustees, a number of whom are RICS professionals themselves. Please click on each photo to find out more about our current trustees.
You can find out more about LionHeart's governance here
CHAIR
Philippa Sampson-Bancroft FRICS
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Philippa has worked in housing, development and regeneration throughout her public sector career, qualifying as a Planning and Development surveyor in 2016 and achieving FRICS in 2024. Her roles have included senior positions with the Greater London Authority, Westminster City Council and the
Philippa became particularly aware of LionHeart's work when she was preparing for her APC.
She says: "As a trustee, I hope to support LionHeart's work both in helping as many people as possible through challenging times but also in building resilience in professionals to help prevent crisis. I'm honoured to be chair of the LionHeart board; we have a great team of trustees who are committed to stewarding the charity and ensuring that we continue to support surveyors and their families in times of need."
VICE CHAIR
Philip Nell MRICS
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Philip Nell has over 30 years’ experience in the real estate industry, spanning the private and public sectors. After previous director roles with Birmingham City Council and investment management firms, he is now director of Metro Dynamics, a market-leading consultancy supporting city growth and major regeneration schemes across the UK.
He is a former member of the Governance and the Regulations Committees of the Association of Real Estate Funds, the Build to Rent Sub-Committee of the British Property Federation, and the Academic Faculty of the Investment Property Forum. He is currently a member of the MSCI UK Client Group, the RICS Commercial Property Forum and Investment Property Forum.
He says: "I look forward to using my experience to support my involvement with LionHeart's Finance and Resources Sub Committee, as well as contribute to the lives of those in the surveying profession, and their loved ones."
James Baker FRICS
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James is a Chartered Building Surveyor and Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) with more than 25 years’ experience across the built environment, including senior leadership roles ranging from SMEs to multinational organisations. In 2020 he founded Invise, where he continues to advise clients and lead the business.
He has also held a number of voluntary leadership roles within RICS, serving on Governing Council from 2015 to 2019, as RICS Matrics National Chair from 2015 to 2016, and as Chair of the East Midlands Regional Board from 2017 to 2019.
He said: “Having long admired LionHeart’s commitment to supporting surveyors and their families, I was keen to become a trustee to help the charity continue its important work. I’m passionate about giving back to the profession that has supported my own career and believe that now is the right time to use my experience, leadership and governance expertise to support LionHeart’s future.”
David Balme CIPFA
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David joined the University of the Built Environment (then UCEM) in 2024 as the Chief Operating Officer. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA) and has extensive business leadership experience gained in the further and higher education sectors.
Prior to joining UBE, he spent six years as Chief Operating & Compliance Officer at a group of FE colleges in Newcastle, with previous roles at Sunderland University and KPMG.
Outside work, David is passionate about every person having access to educational opportunities and his previous board experience includes chairing an access to HE charity.
He says: “I was drawn to the LionHeart role as it provides a real opportunity to be part of an organisation that not only supports individuals when they need it but also enables individuals to take action to better their lives and prospects.”
Clare Clague MRICS
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Clare became a Chartered Commercial Property Surveyor in 2009 and has always had an interest in property and the built environment. She has extensive knowledge of the commercial property sector having worked in various Property Management, Landlord & Tenant and Lease Advisory roles in the North-West. After a period working as fundraising manager for Chester Cathedral, Clare returned to surveying and now works in the Property & Asset Management Team for BA Commercial in Chester. She remains involved in local fundraising efforts on a voluntary basis and brings valuable fundraising experience to the LionHeart board.
Clare says: "As a trustee of LionHeart I want to play a part in helping surveyors who may find themselves in need of advice or support. This incredible charity has transformed lives and will continue to do so. It is a privilege to be involved."
Dr Diane A Dumashie FRICS CEDR
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Diane has held presidential positions with the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) and has previously been on RICS Governing Council after many years on RICS regional and faculty boards and international expert group panels.
Starting her career in commercial property management she moved into the retail and hospitality sector. She gained her doctorate in coastal land policy and business strategy before joining the development consultancy division at Grimly JR Eve. She then founded her own practice supporting UK public sector client organisations in property development and regeneration. Internationally she works across Africa, helping public sector and multilateral agencies to benefit local communities through land and economic development, and supporting change programmes to assist African professionals and community groups.
She says: "The work LionHeart does is truly inspiring: the charity is an unsung hero of our profession. I am pleased to contribute."
Kevin Keane FRICS
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Kevin Keane FRICS is Director of Operations at Allied Surveyors Scotland, where he provides strategic leadership across the business. He serves on the RICS Scotland Board and the RICS Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Forum and is a passionate advocate for promoting a more inclusive profession.
Kevin holds a BSc (Hons) in Building Surveying from Edinburgh Napier University and was recognised as the RICS Young Surveyor of the Year (Valuation) in 2021. He brings a combination of operational leadership, governance experience and a strong commitment to creating positive social impact, saying: “As a trustee of LionHeart I hope to use my governance and leadership experience to support the charity's long-term sustainability, and maximise its impact for the surveying profession and their families.”
Caroline Legg FRICS
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After graduation from Sheffield Hallam University in 1999, Caroline started her career in social housing development which provided a varied experience base to enable her to complete the RICS APC process.
After qualification Caroline moved into residential survey and valuation work with Countrywide Surveyors in London, before moving back to her native Yorkshire with the same company.
She now works as regional surveyor for Paragon Banking Group, recently being made FRICS partly in recognition for the contribution she has made to diversity and inclusion within the profession and for her service to LionHeart’s governance over a number of years.
She initially became involved with LionHeart's work as one of our mental health ambassadors, later becoming a trustee to contribute further to work on wellbeing and mental health awareness in the profession.
Sam Palmes MRICS
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Sam is a chartered building surveyor with extensive experience working for commercial landlord/investors, combining technical expertise with a commercial, strategic mindset. He is currently director of technical services at M7 Real Estate Ltd, a pan-European investor and asset manager.
He says: "What I admire most about LionHeart is the breadth of support it offers; whether someone is just starting out on their APC journey or navigating challenges later in their career, it’s a genuine safety net and a source of encouragement. I hope to bring my own personal and professional experiences, both the wins and the lessons learned, to help support and champion the incredible work LionHeart does for our profession."
Ruth Redmond MRICS
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Ruth Redmond is a retired chartered building surveyor who worked for nearly 40 years in the East Midlands, mostly in SMEs and the public sector. She now sits on the RICS East Midlands Board and is an External Examiner for the BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying and Construction course at De Montfort University.
She said: “Having called on LionHeart’s services myself in the past, I want to help make sure the charity can continue to be there to support surveyors and their families during difficult times in the past.”
Sarah Sandbrook FCIPD
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Sarah is a Fellow of the Institute of Personnel and Development and has led HR functions and built teams both in the UK and internationally. She has experience of working with large corporates, SMEs and start-ups. She currently runs her own business, Hopdale Consultancy, providing strategic advice and support to a range of organisations.
Her connections to the surveying profession led to an awareness of LionHeart and the vital support it offers surveyors and their families at all stages of their careers.
She says: "I've seen in my professional life how, in today's changing and challenging world, people can quite suddenly find themselves in difficulty. They can however, with the right support, get back on their feet.
"It is a privilege being able to support the critical work LionHeart does in this field."
Neil Worrall FRICS
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A qualified accountant as well as a chartered surveyor, Neil Worrall has
more than 20 years' experience in UK real estate, holding senior positions at big name firms including JLL and Montagu Evans before establishing his own strategic consultancy firm, Neil Worrall Consultancy.
He has a keen interest in the importance of mental health, wellbeing, inclusion and sustainability within the surveying industry, saying: "The safety net and broad range of support that LionHeart offers, from the very beginning of RICS professionals' careers as an APC candidate or apprentice, right through to retirement is a critical pillar for many. As a trustee I hope a combination of my lived personal and professional experience supports the continued great work of the LionHeart team."
Nina Young FCA
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Nina is the founder of Surveyors UK, an independent platform and community supporting surveyors, students, and firms across the UK. A Fellow Chartered Accountant with a background in audit, risk management, and governance across both public and private sectors, she also has expertise in business strategy, digital marketing, and community building.
As a champion for the surveying profession, Nina is focused on elevating its visibility and helping connect surveyors across disciplines and generations.
She says: “I joined the LionHeart board because I believe its work is vital, providing real support when people need it most. I’ve seen the challenges surveyors face across their careers, and I want to use my experience to help future-proof the charity so it can reach more people, earlier, and with even greater impact.”
Emmy-Jay Butcher
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Emmy is Operations Director at Wyvern Surveyors, an independent residential surveying practice in Wiltshire, and holds an MBA in Senior Leadership.
Joining LionHeart as an associate board member, she says: “What I admire about LionHeart is the breadth of support it offers to surveyors and their families, not only during times of crisis but throughout every stage of their careers. I am delighted to become an associate and look forward to contributing my own experience, while also developing knowledge and understanding from the expertise of the Board.”
Alisha Miah
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Alisha Miah is a graduate surveyor at Savills in London, and is currently completing a graduate rotational scheme on the commercial real estate pathway. Outside of her role at Savills, Alisha serves as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Lead for RICS Matrics London and volunteers as a mentor with Sponsors for Education, supporting the development of future talent within the industry.
She is passionate about supporting those within the property profession and creating positive social impact, saying: “LionHeart's purpose strongly resonates with me, and I am excited to contribute to an organisation that provides meaningful support to surveyors and their families. I hope to bring a fresh perspective, represent early career professionals, and support LionHeart's continued impact across the profession.”
