Senior management team

"I am looking forward building on all the work that created such an extraordinary range of programmes embracing communities, learning, the environment and well-being. I am convinced that our strong emphasis on involving beneficiaries and users will ensure that BIG can bring lasting change for people and communities across the UK"

He has overseen development of “Big Thinking – a strategic framework to 2015” and the five funding portfolios within it (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and UK-wide). During this time BIG has also become an increasingly significant distributor of non-Lottery funds. He has championed the importance of effectiveness, efficiency and quality of customer experience, describing the role of the Lottery distributor as being about much more than getting cash out of the door.

Peter was previously a senior Civil Servant at the Department for Education, specialising in schools’ reform.

Between 1987 and 1998 Peter worked at the Treasury, operating in a range of roles including Head of Private Finance Policy and Principal Private Secretary to three Cabinet Ministers.

Peter is married with a ten-year old son. He was awarded the Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 2007 New Year’s Honours List for distinguished public service.

"I love my job. Key to our communications is raising awareness of all the great work being done by Lottery funded projects. It's a joy go work with BIG projects and to help showcase the difference funding can make to communities."

She was previously Deputy Director of External Relations and Head of Communications for the New Opportunities Fund.


Before joining the Fund, Linda was Head of Communications at the Communications Workers Union, where she helped oversee a merger between the unions representing Post Office employees and telecommunications employees.


Linda’s long career as a journalist involved senior positions on a range of titles, including national newspapers and magazines.

"BIG really makes a difference to people's lives - I want to see it do that even more efficiently and effectively so that every penny is well spent "

Mark has a wide range of experience across the commercial and not-for-profit sectors. Before BPIF he was Deputy Finance Director of Consumers' Association and its publishing company Which? Ltd.


Earlier in his career he was Finance Director of New Islington and Hackney Housing Association and Financial Controller of a large public sector consultancy firm. Mark has also held office as a London borough councillor.

"Our aim is to fund truly ground-breaking projects that empower people to transform their environment by making their communities better places to live, work and play"

Previously Ceri held senior management positions in Scottish Local Government, establishing a number of not-for-profit companies representing public, private and voluntary sector interests in tackling unemployment and community regeneration.


Ceri was nominated for Welsh Woman of the year in 2005 and until 2008 was a Non Executive Director of Bro-Morgannwg NHS Trust. Ceri has recently joined the Ministerial Advisory Group on Public Service Delivery and is a member of the Digital Inclusion Task & Finish Group.

"Putting people and communities in charge. Building the confidence, resilience and sustainability of those at the sharp end of need. Providing the glue of civic life through small grants. Enabling hope and opportunity to organisations that want to make a difference. Shining a torch on where change needs to happen and how - all of this gives meaning to working at BIG."

Before joining BIG Dharmendra was head of the Commission for Racial Equality Scotland and later the director of Countries, Regions and Communities GB-wide restructuring its regional structure; introduced Country Committees; developed the Commission's approach and policy to faith; youth, gypsy traveller, asylum and immigration issues; concieved and delivered Getting Results - outcome funding for racial equality bodies and established the Safe Communnities initiative. Until 1999 he was a director of racial equality bodies in Scotland and London.


He has chaired a number of voluntary community organisations in Scotland and London, and set up various community organisations dealing with employment training, youth mentoring, community advocacy and social housing.


Dharmendra has been an adviser to several statutory and voluntary organisations, the Scottish Executive and Whitehall ministerial groups. He is the Chair of the Scotland Funders’ Forum, and a board member of several arts bodies in Scotland.

"The projects we fund really touch the lives of the people and communities they support. I’m looking forward to helping that continue to happen, and ensuring that the lottery pound is well spent"

Having started as NOFs Head of Operations in Wales, he became Head of Programmes during the merger and later became Deputy Director, before starting his new role as Acting Director, and then Director, for Wales in September 2010.

Prior to this John enjoyed a varied work history including working as a chef and even door to door sales. After a period of overseas travel he entered Higher Education as a mature student where he studied in Environmental Systems and Applied Hydrobiology. Since graduating and prior to working for BIG John worked in the voluntary sector for 4 years before a 5 year stint with ENTRUST, the regulatory body working on the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme, where he was responsible for Wales, the West Midlands and South West England. In his spare time John enjoys gardening, cycling and providing a taxi service for his children.

"The work funded by BIG can have great impact on the lives of people, families and communities most in need. Our challenge is to identify, support and learn from those projects making the greatest difference"

As Head of Policy & Public Affairs for BIG in Scotland her remit included leading consultation, developing new programmes, learning and evaluation and wider engagement with funders, government and other stakeholders.

She was Head of Policy and External Relations for the New Opportunities Fund, developing a wide range of programmes and managing the Fund’s communications team. Prior to that, Jackie worked in regeneration and in the arts. Her academic background is in literature and culture, and she is a board member of two Scottish charities.

"Working for BIG not only offers me the chance to meet a wide range of stakeholders, but also to listen to the volunteers and the beneficiaries involved in the projects we fund. This gives me a real and valuable opportunity to understand the difference that lottery funding makes to communities in Northern Ireland and across the UK."

She has worked for BIG and one of the legacy bodies for the past 11 years. Prior to her new appointment she was responsible for policy, development and public affairs work in Northern Ireland.

Before joining Big Lottery Fund, Joanne lectured in European Studies and rural development and she worked as a consultant for a major private sector body in Northern Ireland.

Joanne has a Doctorate from the University of Ulster, in planning policy and legislative change in Spain.

"We have huge personal commitments to make a difference by helping communities and those most in need. I help ensure BIG stays on track to achieve its mission by managing some of the key management processes, including monitoring the delivery of BIG’s corporate priorities, and also striving to provide excellent service for our customers."

Immediately before joining BIG, Rob was Deputy Chief Executive at a district council in north Essex with responsibilities for implementing a major IT business transformation project and leading a strategic review of council housing, culminating in the transfer of the Council’s 8,000+ homes to a new community-based housing association. Until he left the council, Rob was seconded as Interim Chief Executive of the housing association.

Rob is married with two daughters. He has been an adviser to several local government bodies, a board member of the Strategic Planning Society and an associate of Henley Management College. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.