Our team of executive directors

Xavier Brice, Chief Executive

As CEO, Xavier’s job is to get the best out of the fantastic team at Sustrans through his leadership of the Executive team. He is accountable to the Board of Trustees for delivering our strategy and works closely with our trustees and external stakeholders.

Ever since childhood, Xavier has been fascinated by transport’s impact on society. He believes that how we get around shapes how happy we are as individuals, and how happy and healthy our society is. He thinks we could all be a lot healthier and happier and is thrilled to be an organisation making that happen.

Xavier joined Sustrans in June 2016 from Transport for London where he held a variety of roles. This included leading the modernisation of London Underground's stations, and developing a new cycling strategy for the city, which led to the introduction of the Cycle Superhighways and Cycle Hire Scheme. Before this, he advised international businesses and organisations on their strategies.

Xavier is a lifelong cyclist and a bit of a transport geek. He's a long-term Sustrans supporter and has too many cycles of various shapes and sizes. He's married with two young girls and lives in Surrey.

John Lauder, Deputy Chief Executive

John has been with Sustrans since 2005, first as Director for Scotland and now as Deputy CEO and Executive Director for Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

He believes that one of Sustrans' great strengths is the ability of our people to deliver practical and collaborative projects that demonstrate how things can be changed for the better and that the status quo can be challenged sensibly and practically.

John leads our teams across Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. He supports them to build partnerships, engage with local communities, and design and build infrastructure - rejuvenating the National Cycle Network so that it works for everyone. 

He says it’s a privilege to lead such teams and he is constantly blown away by how creative, impactful and ambitious our projects are.

John is a country boy at heart, born and bred in the rural Scottish Borders. He grew up walking and then cycling everywhere and the habit has never left him.

Now, cycling is a way to get exercise and head-space. He lives near many fantastic Network routes and wants that for everyone.  

Susie Dunham, Executive Director of Impact

Susie is an impact-driven leader with over 15 years’ experience in the sustainability field, across public, private and third sectors. She has been in a variety of roles with Sustrans since 2007.

Prior to Sustrans, Susie was a resource efficiency consultant, leading communications projects focused on waste minimisation and recycling for public and private sector clients.

Susie is passionate about the role that walking and cycling can play in making places healthier, and people happier. She began cycling at university and has never looked back. Today she spends her free time trying to encourage her 4-year-old son to get on his bike and discover the same freedom and joy.

Matt Winfield, England Director

As Executive Director for England and Northern Ireland, Matt oversees the delivery of a great deal of Sustrans’ work. He is passionate about creating liveable cities, connecting people and helping to make a healthier, more active and positive future for ourselves and our children.

Matt joined Sustrans in 2006 as a route manager, before becoming London Director in 2017. Prior to Sustrans, he spent two years in Washington DC, working for a coalition of walking and cycling groups lobbying Congress on transport legislation.

Now based in east London, Matt is currently working towards a master’s degree in Sustainable Planning and Transport at the University of Hertfordshire. He spends his free time with his partner and two children, going on bike rides, travelling and supporting Arsenal (who he claims are the Pride of London).

Sal Copley, External Affairs Director

Sal leads Sustrans’ External Affairs directorate, comprising talented colleagues and teams working on strategic communications, policy, public affairs, fundraising and supporter engagement.

Previously the Director of Policy, Campaigns and Partnerships with Alzheimer’s Society, she focussed on growing their Dementia Friends programme. She brought lived experience to the forefront of their work and ensured the Government did all it could to fix dementia care.

During the last year, Sal was the Political Advisor to the Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities and she has been Chair of Oxfordshire Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre since 2016.

Originally from Bradford in West Yorkshire, Sal now lives in Oxford with her two sons who are already, distressingly, considerably taller than her. She claims to be able to drink her own body weight in tea, although she admits that this can be quite challenging while running marathons and wild swimming.

Harry Hayer, People and Organisational Development Director

Sustrans is a reflection of its great people – those that bring diversity, talent, energy, drive and commitment to making a difference. Harry’s role is to provide a framework in which our employees and volunteers can thrive.

With an Indian heritage and lifelong disability, Harry is passionate about Sustrans being a charity ‘for everyone’. One that brings together diverse life experiences and voices to enrich the work that we do that helps others to walk, wheel and cycle.

As a Board Director of numerous companies and organisations for over 25 years, his experience spans the charity sector, national and local government, academia, the NHS, regulation and the music industry.

Born in Coventry and now based in Bristol, Harry has travelled extensively with his work. He's led large-scale strategy, mergers and acquisitions, transformation, restructuring, organisation development, turnaround and change programmes.

In his spare time, Harry loves chatting with his mum and dad, travelling the world, producing dance music and living the highs and lows of being an Arsenal fan.

Sam Kemp, Executive Director of Finance and Resources

Sam joined Sustrans in 2021 and leads the Finance and Resources Directorate, comprising Finance, IT, Commercial and Business Services and Project Assurance.

Prior to joining Sustrans, Sam worked for Save the Children for 10 years, most recently as Finance Director for the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

Sam has a master’s degree in Environmental Conservation and is very concerned about the climate and nature crises that we are facing. He sees Sustrans as part of the solution.

Originally from Lincolnshire, Sam has lived in Uganda, South Sudan, Papua New Guinea and Jordan. He recently moved back to his home county and spends a lot of time walking, cycling (very slowly), wild swimming and gardening (#alwayslearning).