Our team

The Board

Jonathan Buckingham

Chair of the Board of Trustees

Jonathan has now been appointed Chair of the Board of Trustees, having joined the Board in 2014.

Jonathan specialises in providing property advice to both private and public sector clients involved in major regeneration schemes across the capital. He is able to provide commercial knowledge as a highly experienced and qualified chartered surveyor.

Jonathan has been involved in not-for-profit and voluntary organisations as chair or board member for over 30 years.

Jacqui Wilkinson

Trustee

Jacqui joined the Board in February 2015 and is a Westminster City Councillor for Warwick Ward.

She has significant experience of contributing to the strategic oversight and development of organisations in the public and not-for-profit sectors as trustee and chair. She is a highly qualified and experienced policy expert in her professional roles and is a long time resident of south Westminster.

Richard Walters

Treasurer

Richard joined the Board of Trustees in February 2015.

He began his professional career in investment banking in 2007 before transitioning to investment management four years later. He is currently a portfolio manager in the multi-asset team of a UK insurer. He brings a broad range of experience from across the financial sector.

Dom Gilchrist

Trustee

Dom has been a trustee since April 2019.

Dom is a civil servant at the Cabinet Office where he works on Education, Jobs and Skills policy. Prior to becoming a trustee, Dom supported the Abbey Centre’s Hot Meals Service for two years.

Sherree Westell

Trustee

Sherree joined the Board in Spring 2021.

Sherree works as a solicitor advising a range of clients on technology and commercial contracts and related legal issues. Having spent over a decade as a partner in City law firms, Sherree has worked as consultant with Belgravia law firm Woodroffes for the last 12 years or so. She hopes to use her legal background and commercial experience to contribute to the work of the Board.

Rohitha Perera

Trustee

Rohitha (Ro) joined the Board in July 2021.

Ro was a Vice President with IBM Consulting where he helped leading banks and financial markets firms to deliver transformational change. He has extensive experience bringing together senior stakeholders to achieve material profit improvement. Prior to this, Ro was a construction manager working on some of London’s largest commercial developments and then even larger infrastructure projects in China.

Ro has worked in Greater China for over 8 years living in Hong Kong and Beijing.  He is married and has one son.  He is a keen walker and skier.

Ro is currently completing an MA in Chinese Studies at SOAS.  He is also an active volunteer in the community, serving as a Covid Marshall and a walking companion.

Observer

Tim Mitchell

Councillor Tim Mitchell has been a Council-nominated observer on the Abbey Centre Board since 1998.

He represents St James’s Ward where the Abbey Centre is located and is currently the Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Adult Social and Public Health. He is a self-employed computer consultant and is married to a teacher.