Our board of trustees

Moray Macdonald - Chair

Moray has over twenty-five years' experience and an award-winning record of innovation and delivery in public affairs and public relations, including as a senior political adviser in Scotland and New Zealand. 

He is Group Head of Public Policy at international business communications consultancy Instinctif Partners.

He previously worked at Weber Shandwick as Managing Director, leading the agency’s content production studios across the UK and Europe. And for eight years he was Managing Director of the firm’s three offices in Scotland. 

In 2019 Moray completed two terms as Chair of the Board of Trustees for Scouts Scotland.

He is a regular panellist on the ‘Shereen Show’ on BBC Radio Scotland and on BBC Scotland’s ‘Seven Days’ news review programme.

Su Crighton

Su Crighton is a technology consultant with KPMG. Her background is in technology and transformation leadership. She has worked across a number of industry sectors, including three years as Chief Information Officer for Cancer Research UK.

Su is keen on cycling, and when not navigating the cycle paths of London on her commute, can often be found on the quieter cycle routes near her home in South Gloucestershire.

Alistair Gibbons

Alistair has worked in the charity/not-for-profit sector since qualifying as a Chartered Accountant at PwC at the start of his career. His experience includes finance, governance, organisational development, IT & systems, strategy and insight.

He is currently at Smart Energy GB which is supporting the national drive towards sustainability and better household energy management.

When not working, Alistair can be found huffing and puffing on a bike somewhere or jogging, increasingly slowly, along a London canal.

Rhona Marsland - Advisory Member to Sustrans’ Estates Committee

Rhona is a Chartered Engineer with over fifteen years’ experience, primarily within the railway engineering industry in the UK, Ireland and Canada.

She is currently a Civil Engineer and Earthworks & Drainage Asset Lead at the Office of Rail and Road.

Rhona is passionate about professional development and is Vice Chair of the Institution of Civil Engineers CPD Panel and a Professional Reviewer.

She enjoys running (at the weekend) and cycling (to and from work). 

Heather Preen

Heather is a communications and engagement professional, with a special interest in building relationships with local communities.

Heather worked at a very senior level as a national newspaper journalist, before moving to Thailand with her family where she became the Director of Communications and Marketing at a major international school. She joined Transport for London in 2015.

Heather lives in London. She has a dog, a pair of walking boots and doesn’t own a car.

Helen Simpson

Helen is a dispute resolution specialist. After a law degree at Oxford University, Helen trained and qualified at Linklaters before moving to Dentons, where her roles included Partner, UKMEA Board member and leading the firm’s Disputes Division in the UK.

She is a CEDR qualified mediator and advises a range of organisations on investigations and crisis or risk management issues. 

Helen is a former school Chair of Governors with experience of organising local community sustainable travel initiatives.

She has lost track of her family’s collection of bikes and muddy boots.

Frank Swinton

Frank is a hospital consultant in anaesthetics and intensive care. He is also the regional lead for climate change within health and social care in West Yorkshire and Harrogate.

Since working for the British Antarctic Survey for two years, he has been trying to reduce the impacts of his home and work.

He sits on the environment committee of the Association of Anaesthetists, has an MSc in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability and is a (very) amateur beekeeper.

Fiona Westwood

Fiona is a chartered accountant and partner at MHA Monahans. Prior to this, she headed the national charities technical team at PwC before gaining more experience at a 'Top 10' firm. She has a wealth of experience in the charity and not-for-profit sector which she brings to Sustrans.

She is Chair of the local Governing Body at Barton Hill Academy and is a member of the Finance Committee of the Venturers Trust.

Fiona is dedicated to walking and cycling, often found with her family on her local stretch of the National Cycle Network, the Strawberry Line.

Nicola Wood

Nicola is the Senior Independent Director at the UK Information Commissioner’s Office. She has more than a decade’s experience of leading public sector boards and is a former solicitor.

Nicola has a disability and was attracted to join the board of Sustrans because we include everyone.

Benita Mehra

Benita Mehra is a chartered engineer by background, who has operated between several engineering disciplines including mechanical, civil, electrical and electronic and is a Fellow of IET, IHEEM and Royal Society of Arts. Has held senior roles within the airports, housing and health sectors.

Benita is a key advocate for females to join the engineering disciplines and has acted in a non-executive capacity within housing associations and is also the immediate past president of the Women’s Engineering Society.

Is a social cyclist, who only started cycling in London within the last eight years, with the support from her son. She is keen to encourage people to enjoy the outdoors either walking or on two wheels and to find ways to encourage shared spaces for walking and cycling.

Carol-Ann Boyter

Carol-Ann Boyter is the Director of People and Culture for Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans, joining the Charities in 2022. During her early career in the retail sector through finance and life sciences sectors Carol-Ann has led large, multi-disciplined HR and operational teams for well-known organisations such as John Lewis Partnership, Aviva, Aegon and Valneva. Carol-Ann has a strong track record of leading people functions and developing strategies at time of complex change which she finds both fascinating and varied.

She is passionate about helping to unlock the true potential in people, developing them to contribute in their best way and feels deeply privileged to work with people in Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans who are passionate about what they do.

Carol-Ann is a member of the CIPD, a member of the British Psychological Society, a trained Counsellor and a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Remuneration and Appointments Committee for Social Investment Scotland.

Zahir Nayani

Zahir is an equity partner at national law firm Foot Anstey LLP.  He provides strategic counsel to investors and financial institutions on real estate driven transactions with a particular focus on Islamic and ethical financing arrangements.  A passionate advocate for health equity, Zahir is the founder of a global grassroots cycling collective which promotes everyday cycling as a tool for empowerment and wellbeing for minoritised communities.

Zahir can be found on the school run with his daughters on their cargo bike, or poring over out-of-print editions of the Rivendell Reader.

Ibrahim Ali

Ibrahim is currently the Finance Director at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, an international law firm. 

Prior to that he held various roles at UK listed consulting organisations covering M&A, strategy, operations, and finance.  Ibrahim trained as a Chartered Accountant at UHY and then worked at KPMG within the London Audit and Advisory practice. 

He has been involved in the charity/not-for-profit sector throughout his whole professional career and is currently involved with a number of other charities in various capacities, including Equally Ours as a trustee.

Ibrahim joined Sustrans given its focus on communities and healthier active lifestyles for all.

Tessa Dwyer

Tessa is a chartered accountant and change management specialist whose career in financial services has spanned investment banking, audit and private equity.

Having grown up in South Africa, with its history of inequality, she is particularly passionate about diversity and inclusion and one of many things that drew her to Sustrans was its genuine commitment to inclusivity - "being the charity that makes it easier for everyone to walk, wheel and cycle". 

As a keen long distance runner, hockey player and qualified pilates instructor, Tessa shares Sustrans desire to encourage and facilitate physical movement into everyday life for everyone.