Howden Foundation welcomes new Vice Chair and Trustees to the Board
Howden Foundation is delighted to welcome Dr Tom Mitchell as Vice Chair, together with Rachel Turner CBE and Nick Stace OBE, who join the Board as trustees.
As the independent corporate foundation of global insurance group Howden, Howden Foundation extends the charitable work of the business and its people worldwide. Driven by a vision of a world where everyone is resilient to climate change, the foundation supports people and communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis to prepare for, adapt to, and recover from extreme weather, particularly extreme heat and drought. Since 2014, it has awarded more than £10 million to charitable partners across the world.
Dr Tom Mitchell is Executive Director of the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), one of the world’s leading independent policy and action research organisations. A globally recognised expert on climate resilience, systems innovation, and disaster risk reduction, he previously held senior roles at Climate‑KIC, including Chief Strategy Officer, where he helped shape a transformative innovation agenda, and led the Climate Change and Environment Programme at the Overseas Development Institute. Dr Mitchell has advised the UN on disaster risk reduction, served as a Coordinating Lead Author for the IPCC Special Report on Extreme Events and Disasters, and has published widely on climate resilience. He holds a PhD in climate and disaster risk management.
On his appointment, Tom said:
I’m delighted to be joining the Howden Foundation as Vice Chair at such a pivotal moment. The foundation has already built an impressive portfolio of grantees working to unlock breakthroughs in scaling climate resilience with the people and communities on the frontline of climate impacts. Yet the pace and intensity of those impacts are outstripping the ability of many to cope. I’m excited to help shape the foundation’s ambitions and amplify the positive change it can deliver, both directly and in partnership with others.
Rachel Turner CBE brings more than 35 years’ experience in international finance and public policy, with a strong track record of translating complex financial frameworks into real-world impact for vulnerable communities. Formerly Director of International Finance at the FCDO, she led a global portfolio spanning development, disaster risk, and green finance and has led humanitarian work in Africa. She now serves on the board of the International Finance Facility for Immunisation, with extensive board and governance experience, including with the African Risk Capacity and the Centre for Disaster Protection.
Nick Stace OBE is the newly appointed Chief Global Impact Officer at Howden, driving the Group’s agenda to be a force for good. Previously Head of Social Purpose and Sustainable Finance at Barclays UK and CEO of The Prince’s Trust, he brings senior experience across business, regulation, and social impact. Nick is Chair of the Prison Reform Trust and The Conduit and has sat on the boards of the Financial Conduct Authority and the National Trust.
Commenting on the new appointments, David Howden, Chair of the Howden Foundation, said:
These are world‑class leaders in climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and social impact. The fact that they’re joining us says a lot, not just about how far the foundation has come, but about the scale of what we’re ready to take on next. The foundation’s work isn’t abstract. It’s farmers becoming more resilient to drought, women and children staying safe in extreme heat, and communities gaining reliable access to clean water. These appointments strengthen the foundation’s ability to do more of this, do it better, and do it in a way that feels truly Howden: understanding risk early and acting on it to build resilience wherever we can.
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