Get emergency foodThe new recruits bring a wealth of expertise to the charity, with insight ranging from the Head of Strategy at the Premier League to an expert with lived experience of having to turn to a food bank to get by.
Trussell has announced that Val McKie (lived experience speaker), Ed Matthews (Head of Strategy and Planning at the Premier League), Ross Maloney (CEO of The Ramblers), Emma Galloway (Chair of Trustees at Edinburgh Food Project) and Andrew Reaney (Trustee of Wokingham Foodbank) will be joining their Board of Trustees.
Val McKie said: “When I was forced to turn to a food bank, it was one of the worst times of my life. We had never had a lot, but we had always had enough to meet our needs. Then my husband, John, was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer and I gave up work and became his full-time carer, draining our savings to pay for extra treatments and all the other household expenses that we faced. In the years that followed his death, I was consumed by grief and barely scraped by. I had no option but to turn to a food bank.
“Since then, I’ve worked with the charities that helped me back on my feet to drive systemic change – because no one should have to turn to a food bank to get by. Being appointed to Trussell’s Board of Trustees is a huge honour for me. I am looking forward to ensuring that lived experience remains embedded in everything Trussell does and using my knowledge of the social security system to inform our work.”
Ed Matthews said: “I’m thrilled to be appointed as a trustee of Trussell, a charity very close to my heart. It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to contribute to the vital work Trussell does to work towards a future where no one needs to turn to a food bank to survive.”
They join the Chair of the Board Natalie Campbell and fellow trustees: Duncan Shrubsole, Sarah Elliott, Thomas Gibbs, Sashareen Morgan, Suresh Ariaratnam, Louise Hickman and Beverly Thomas.
Natalie Campbell, Chair of the Board of Trustees at Trussell said: “We are delighted to welcome such a passionate group of trustees to our board, whose expertise and commitment will help us achieve our mission of ending hunger in the UK."
Notes to editors
Val McKie is a lived experience speaker and advocate for social justice, particularly focusing on poverty and the inadequacy of the UK's social security system. Her personal experience of having to turn to a food bank to get by has propelled her into working alongside organisations like Trussell to drive systemic change. For the last four years, Val has worked closely with Trussell’s executive team to provide valued insight and expertise.
Ed Matthews is the Head of Strategy and Planning at the Premier League, where he leads the Project Management and Strategy team. His team is responsible for overseeing the planning, execution, and evaluation of strategic initiatives that enhance the league's operational efficiency and football development.
Ross Maloney is Chief Executive of the Ramblers, Britain’s leading walking charity, since July 2022. Previously, he was Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer at The Scouts and also served as Chief Executive of the educational charity WorldSkills UK.
Emma Galloway is the Chair of Edinburgh Food Project, a charity dedicated to providing emergency food and support services to people and families facing hardship across Edinburgh. Under her leadership, the organisation has expanded its services to include seven food banks, a money advice service, and the "More Than Food" programme, which offers additional support such as toiletries and household essentials.
Andrew Reaney is a trustee of Wokingham Foodbank and has been for five years. He has held leadership positions in various organisations including as a Director of Centrica, an energy company. During the first year of the pandemic Andrew led Centrica’s support of Trussell to coordinate a national fleet of furloughed British Gas engineers to deliver food to Trussell food banks and to people’s homes during lockdown. After working with Trussell as a corporate partner Andrew approached his local food bank about becoming a trustee.