Our Trustees

Ruth Leonard

I’ve worked in the charitable sector for over 20 years as a senior leader and also as a trustee, and I bring proven strategic leadership experience within complex teams. I am well-planned, thoughtful, and flexible—and am able to maintain a strategic overview while adapting approaches to changing circumstances. I have significant experience in providing leadership in involving and engaging people, and am committed to ensuring others are able to develop these skills.

I have held Head of Volunteering posts at UK-wide charities such as Macmillan Cancer Support and Samaritans, where my roles were to consider strategically where volunteering can add value to developing solutions and to ensure a supportive infrastructure so people who want to give their time can have a quality experience. I am currently working freelance, supporting organisations to develop Inclusive engagement strategies, enhancing efficacy and stakeholder satisfaction, and pioneering volunteer-involving offers and services. 

I’m fascinated by all aspects of volunteer involvement and the genuine power it can bring to communities in finding their solutions. I am the co-author of a book on Volunteer Involvement: an Introduction to Theory and Practice and am a frequent public speaker, appearing on podcasts and chairing conferences.

I love what VCKC is doing in this space and want to help it continue to forge its path. All the great things were created in 1969!

When I’m not working, I love music and am happy to be the first on the dancefloor (more enthusiastic than talented); I go walking and like trying new things – recently completed a solo camping tour in the Peak District, which was a first for me. I’m a compulsive reader and am attempting to write a novel!

Muskaan Khurana

I became a trustee for the Volunteer Centre very recently, when I was co-opted as the board member in early 2019. Having shadowed a couple of board meetings, I was impressed by the keenness and challenge each and every member brings to the discussions to make Volunteer Centre a thriving organisation for the benefit of it’s community.

With a background in mental health, I have been a volunteer for a significant part of my professional life and am grateful for the positive impact it has had on me. I have been working in Kensington & Chelsea for more than three years now, during which I have had several opportunities to work alongside the Volunteer Centre on a number of projects.

I can professionally vouch for the compassion and initiative which is embedded in all VCKC’s staff and volunteers, and that’s what drew me to try and utilise my community engagement experience and bring in the practice of a person-centered well-being approach into its governance.

I believe in co-existence and trust my work on sharing knowledge while utilising and strengthening the community-based assets to build resilience, practice empowerment and living with dignity.

I hope to tap into my professional learning and the insight and understanding of local network and systems along with the expertise of others in the board to solidify VCKC’s position even further.

Rossana Rocchini

After working for more than 20 years in corporate finance for large global corporations in several countries, Rossana retired and decided to dedicate some of her time to giving back to society. 

She joined the board of VCKC in mid-2020 during the Covid19 pandemic and it was almost a year before she was able to meet with the team and the rest of the trustees face to face.  A Global Chartered Management Accountant, Rossana is the current treasurer on the Board and is working on helping to shape and implement the digitalization of the charity in order to create efficiencies as well as to make back office work for the staff easier so that their time is spent on what they do best: helping the local community thrive. 

Born in Italy, she moved to the UK originally in 1991 but then moved to the Atlanta, USA in 2002 where her husband lived.  She worked for many years at The Coca-Cola Company in various finance capacities and was fortunate to travel and lived in Myanmar, Italy and Denmark.  She and her husband moved back to London in late 2019.  Rossana is passionate about travel, loves exercising, reading and learning new things. 

Anne-Hélène Biosse-Duplan

I applied to join the Board after I heard good things about the work of the Volunteer Centre when interviewing London institutions for a mid-career MSc dissertation on employment support services.  A long time Kensington & Chelsea resident, I wanted to contribute to organisations that are making a difference locally and I was honoured to become part of the committed, dynamic and professional team in early 2014 and Chair in 2018.

As a volunteer myself, fundraising for my daughter’s school, participating in local community life or delivering pro bono consulting assignments to various voluntary organisations, most recently through Pilotlight (a non-profit management consultancy which offers strategic business support to charity leaders), I have first-hand experience of the benefits of volunteering both for the community and the volunteer. This is why I firmly believe that the Volunteer Centre has a key role to play in the Borough.     

My professional background is in corporate finance and management consulting, specialising in the project management of large public sector projects, particularly procurements. The lessons from this 20-year experience prompted me to go back to school and study social policy research at the LSE with a particular focus on outcome measurement and payment-by-result for voluntary organisations. I later led on a substantial and complex funding application for West London Zone, a charity which works in schools and aims to bring the local community together so that every child can thrive. 

Apart from rejoicing in quality family time, I am a keen reader, passionate theatregoer, prudent sailor and dedicated, if easily exhausted, hiker.

Joseph Carim

I first came across the work of the Volunteer Centre Kensington & Chelsea when I was invited to participate on the Committee of one of its pilot projects called the City Skill Exchange. This was a potentially valuable programme which provided exciting volunteering opportunities for senior executives and professionals.

Although I am new to volunteering, during my career in the City I had often considered taking an active role in the voluntary sector and once I had met the volunteers and Trustees at the Volunteer Centre, I was very keen to translate this idea into practice.

Initially, I attended a Board meeting as an observer and I was delighted to see how professionally the Volunteer Centre’s operations are organised and how seriously the other Trustees take their responsibilities. I also visited local charities and not for profit organisations in the Royal Borough, finding out about their work, their priorities and their concerns.

These visits demonstrated how important the work of the Volunteer Centre is within Kensington & Chelsea. This has been an interesting time to join the Volunteer Centre’s Board given the recent deterioration in the economic climate, the coalition government’s proposed financial constraints and the likely effect upon the charities within the Royal Borough.

I hope that being a Trustee will enable me to use the skills and experience that I have cultivated throughout my career to help sustain and develop the Volunteer Centre’s operations through the difficult times that lay ahead.

Iuliana Dinu

I was delighted to re-join the VCKC team as a trustee in 2020 after being a member of the operational team for over four years. It is a great honour to be a trustee and I am happy that I can continue to contribute and support our organisation to deliver services for the benefits of residents and community in Kensington and Chelsea.

As a VCKC trustee, I have the opportunity to use the knowledge and skills that I developed through my direct work with clients as well as in my current role as Head of Engagement within NHS South East London Clinical Commissioning Group. My entire career has been shaped by the motivation of working and supporting volunteers.

One of my core values and beliefs is volunteering and for me this means support in helping other people, developing yourself and supporting communities. This volunteer trustee role offers me the chance to give back using my experience and knowledge within mental health, inclusion, health and wellbeing alongside with developing and learning new skills and accessing new opportunities.

Marley Obi

Marley joined VCKC as a board member in 2022. She has a wealth of experience in corporate communications and has worked in a range of industries spanning the public and private sectors.

As a trustee, she is committed to helping VCKC deliver on its vision by leveraging her expertise in strategic planning, project management and stakeholder engagement. With a background in journalism, Marley is a strong advocate of storytelling as a powerful tool to inspire action and create meaningful connections. She is working on helping VCKC articulate its strategic vision and tell the stories of the positive impact on the community it serves.

Marley is from London but currently lives in Amersham. Her favourite pastime is spending time with her family and friends. She also enjoys long walks, travelling and drawing.

Tina Learmonth

It was through volunteering with VCKC that I experienced firsthand everyone’s unwavering commitment to the local community. I learned that there is so much more to this organisation than the core services. The invaluable contributions of the specialist teams, all dedicated to working with clients who face significant barriers to social engagement and employment—barriers that all too often lead to further impairment of their well-being—are truly inspiring.

Their successes made me think about how we might engage with other local residents, from all walks of life, who are seeking to improve their own circumstances while also strengthening the community. With this in mind, I seized the opportunity to submit my application to become a trustee!

Karen Boecker

I first came across the Volunteer Centre at a Volunteer Fair in RBKC over 3 years ago.  Since then I have volunteered within charitable organisations  in various sectors such as art organisations, international human rights, children’s literacy, homelessness alleviation and environmental activities. These experiences have provided me with a valuable understanding of the challenges faced by non-profits and the importance of strategic planning, collaboration, and community impact. With an international family background and experience living, studying and working in several different countries, my professional career includes over 30 years of experience in private banking, focusing on supporting international clients achieve their financial goals.  I have always believed that teamwork and collaboration are crucial to achieve success both for the relevant organisation and its clients and employees within clear regulatory, risk management and governance frameworks.  

I was very pleased to be appointed to the board in January 2025 and I look forward to supporting the VCKC team and all its stakeholders.

Tristan Bungaroo

Tristan joined the board of Volunteer Centre Kensington and Chelsea (VCKC) as a trustee in 2025. With a background in corporate finance and investments, he brings a wealth of experience in managing projects, working with diverse stakeholders, and navigating complex financial and strategic challenges. Tristan also has a strong foundation in financial oversight, risk management, and governance, which he is excited to apply in his trustee role.

He is committed to supporting VCKC in its mission to create positive social impact and build stronger, more resilient communities. Outside of his professional life, Tristan enjoys travelling, hiking, and exploring the outdoors.

Kishma Smithurst

I am excited to be on the board of VCKC as I have a passion for volunteering, diversity, inclusion, and equity, and building strong, inclusive communities.
Having first volunteered in the 2012 Olympics as a Gamesmaker, I am an avid volunteering advocate and passionate about the impact that volunteering has on both those who benefit from it but also those who deliver it.
From leading stakeholder engagement to co-designing impactful programs, I demonstrate my ability to align diverse interests and deliver measurable results. I am skilled in managing cross-sector relationships and overseeing projects that enhance community wellbeing; skills that I am excited to bring to the board to support the valuable work that VCKC does.