Our Trustees

Philip became chair of trustees at The Brokerage in March 2018. Philip is an independent non-executive director and chair of the audit committee of Lloyd’s managing agent Argo. After qualifying as a barrister in 1980, Philip began his career in the insurance sector as a graduate trainee with Skandia Insurance and subsequently held numerous senior management and advisory positions in the London insurance market, latterly specialising in situations of organisational and operational change, including M&A and legacy issues.

Philip is a liveryman and a managing trustee of the Worshipful Company of Insurers.

David became a trustee of The Brokerage at the end of 2022. He has nearly two decades of experience working in Finance and Technology with an Undergraduate in Computer Science and Masters in Finance. He is currently working in Revolut’s Finance team in London.

Mohammed became a trustee with The Brokerage in July 2016. He is the director of intelligence and automation within the Royal Bank of Canada’s Wealth Management International (WMI) division, and launched WMI’s Artificial Intelligence project in 2016. He co-chairs RBC’s Multicultural Employee Alliance (MEA) in the UK.

Mohammed started his financial career in 2004 as a trainee with UBS Investment Bank and progressed to become one of its youngest associate directors aged 23, and in 2011 moved to the Wealth Management division as UK business development manager. Mohammed joined RBC in 2013 as business development manager.

Born in London, Mohammed graduated in Mathematics from Imperial College London and is an associate of the Royal College of Science. He has been programming computers since the age of five.

Sonia became a trustee of The Brokerage in 2023. Following a fast-tracked career in consulting, Sonia’s is currently Global Head of Reward, Wellbeing & Inclusion at FTSE 100 investment manager, Schroders plc. A member of the HR executive team, she is heavily involved in operational efficiency transformation and M&A negotiations in addition to her global strategic oversight for inclusion & diversity, compensation, pensions, mobility, benefits and wellbeing activities. Prior to Schroders she was in a reward and business change role with alternative asset manager, Investcorp, working across New York, Bahrain and London.

Sonia has an Executive MBA from Henley Business School, a first class degree from the University of Cambridge and won multiple prizes in her accountancy and tax professional qualifications. Published in the Financial Times on gender diversity and having partnered with a social enterprise to research socio-economic inclusion, she is interested in societal fairness in and out of work.

Sean has worked in the financial services industry for 20 years with international experience across financial markets in both Investment Banking and Wealth Management arenas.  He currently works with Finance specialists who engage private clients, charities, dedicated intermediaries, law firms, accountants & family advisers at Canaccord Genuity Group based in the City.

Previously held positions at UBS, Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank. Sean is chair of DFM Connect, the discretionary fund management Industry think-tank, sits on the CISI Wealth Board and holds trustee & advisory board positions at several charities, associations, City institutions.

Having been part of several inaugural Finance-led Diversity groups at several International banks, Sean first worked with The Brokerage in 2003. An advocate and supporter of STEM projects in the City and beyond – with the view that a person’s ability and aspiration alone determine their career path, not gender or background.

Claire became a trustee of The Brokerage in early 2021.  She is an experienced marketing and business leader with a career spanning nearly 20 years across the not for profit and healthcare sectors.

With significant experience at Board level within market leading organisations including Bupa and Lloyd Pharmacy, she is currently leading the Marketing, Communications and Events function at Business in the Community.

Manaal joined as a trustee at The Brokerage in March 2024.

Kahar joined The Brokerage as a trustee in March 2024. He is a Brokerage Alumni who has volunteered with the Brokerage for over a decade. Kahar is the Lead UX (User Experience) Researcher at Altruistiq, a climate tech startup.

After a successful placement with RBC in 2009 organised through The Brokerage, Kahar secured a place on the Lloyds Scholars Programme during its inaugural year. Upon graduation in 2014, he joined the Lloyds Commercial Banking Graduate Programme, eventually leaving to undertake a master’s and pivot into UX. Since then, Kahar has worked across different industries and sectors, including consultancy, civil service, healthcare, and tech. At the Department for Education, he co-established an employment programme to encourage young people from underrepresented communities into tech and digital careers.

Born in east London, Kahar graduated with a BA in Politics from the University of Sheffield and an MSc in Social Policy from the University of Amsterdam. His Master’s thesis examining the disparity between high educational attainment and low labour market prospects among young British Bangladeshis, was nominated for the University of Amsterdam Thesis Award.