CEO & Executive Leadership Team

Gemma has held a number of positions in her 16 years at Save the Children UK, most recently as Executive Director of Fundraising & Marketing. She has also been a member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) for the last 5 years. Gemma has driven and supported many cross organisational projects including work on digital and data, innovation and culture. 

Prior to joining Save the Children in 2007, she worked at the NSPCC, Cardinal Hume Centre and WaterAid.

Gemma's Executive Assistant is Mary Bose (Monday-Wednesday). 

Francis is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Save the Children UK. He was appointed Chief Financial Officer in 2020 - responsible for the organisation’s financial operations, financial reporting, forecasting and budgeting, having previously served as Financial Controller. Since September 2022 Francis is also responsible for the Digital, Data and Technology team.

Before joining Save the Children, Francis worked for a number of years at Diageo Plc, a FTSE 100 global premium drinks company. He first qualified as an accountant in an accountancy and business advisory practice in 2002. Francis is also a trustee of the Lord’s Taverners.

Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns

Dan Paskins is Save the Children's interim Executive Director for Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns. He leads Save the Children's programmes supporting families across the four nations of the UK and teams delivering award-winning policy, advocacy, campaigns and media on climate, inequality, poverty, conflict, health, education, hunger and nutrition. 

Dan joined Save the Children in May 2020 as the Director of UK Impact.  He led on our work to support families across the UK during the Covid-19 pandemic and through the cost of living crisis.

Before joining Save the Children, Dan worked for the National Lottery Community Fund as the Senior Head of Portfolio Development, and for local and national anti-poverty charities.  Dan started his career by working on playschemes for children with disabilities in south east London.

Organisational Effectiveness

Pria joined Save the Children in April 2021 and is the Executive Director of Organisational Effectiveness. She comes to Save the Children with a background of people and organisational systems change leadership in organisations working in international education and housing. 

Pria is actively involved in governance of third sector organisations and is a trained systems coach. Her expertise and values lie in a people-centred approach to leadership, and by her ability to combine vision with a practical understanding of change processes.

Global Programmes

As Executive Director of Global Programmes at Save the Children UK,  Adam is responsible for leading Save the Children UK’s International Programming work, working with colleagues from across the wider Save the Children movement.  Adam recently led Save the Children UK’s Guiding Star 2030 visioning process, articulating the big shifts the organisation will need to take to remain impactful in the future, as well as the development of SCUK’s new Partnerships for Impact Strategy, with the aim of diversifying and strengthening the organisation’s partnership base.

Adam has worked in the international development and humanitarian sector for approximately 20 years, including postings in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Australia, working for a number of International Non-Government Organisations.  Since joining Save the Children in 2009,  Adam has had several different roles, including the creation of Save the Children UK’s Humanitarian Technical Unit, leadership of Save the Children Australia’s Technical Department, and supporting Save the Children UK’s Humanitarian Partnerships Platform – an incubator for humanitarian global good initiatives including the Start Network, Elrha and the Humanitarian Leadership Academy.  Before stepping up as Executive Director of Global Programmes,  Adam led SCUK’s Programme Partnerships Department where he was responsible for strengthening SCUK’s strategic partnerships and providing oversight and support to Save the Children UK’s international programmes portfolio.

The Fundraising & Marketing division will be managed by the Fundraising & Marketing Senior Leadership Team on a rotating basis.

Please contact Sara Voice with any questions.