Meet the National Emergencies Trust’s Special Advisors

The National Emergencies Trust proudly welcomes eight new Special Advisors to our team; volunteers with significant, international experience who will use their expertise to support the Trust where specialist input is required.

Our Special Advisors come from a variety of backgrounds and sectors and bring valuable advice and surge support to the Executive Team. Their specialisms range from resilience to AI; data and finance to legal processes; and have dedicated their careers to specific sectors. We are grateful to welcome their guidance, insight and unique voices to the Trust’s projects and activities.

Photo top to bottom, left to right: Amrit Bangard, Christopher Querée, Bhagti Patel, David Mazzuca, Jasmine Yeo, Ewan Mitchell, Lindsay Gustafsson, Sarri Singer.

Get to know our Special Advisors:

Amrit Bangard is a strategy, policy, legislation and engagement specialist with over a decade of experience of crises and response at a national and local level. She was Deputy Director in the Cabinet Office’s Covid-19 Taskforce with responsibility for Ministerial decision-making during the covid pandemic response; led policy and engagement for the Home Office’s response in supporting the Windrush generation and driving transformation across the Home Office; and in the communities department led priorities on homelessness and rough sleeping, the response to the Grenfell Tower Fire and building safety. Prior to that, she spent four years in the Department for Business on a range of roles including social mobility, industrial strategy, Ministerial Private Office, and led legislation through parliament, including introducing gender pay gap reporting. She has long-standing interests in social justice, people-centred policy, and the value of kindness in public sector leadership.

Lindsay Gustafsson has over 20 years’ experience in both permanent and consultancy roles within Consumer Finance and Retail Banking. She has a proven track record of managing and delivering credit risk and fraud solutions in a financial services environment. She has an extensive specialist knowledge of the credit risk and fraud environments, including developing and managing the development of credit risk scorecards and Basel II models, credit risk decision strategies, fraud prevention models and associated strategies, and portfolio management in both prime and subprime environments. As a previous volunteer for National Emergencies Trust during the Coronavirus Appeal, she demonstrated how her analytical and risk knowledge could be utilised outside financial services and applied within a charity. From a teaching background, she possesses the much-sought ability of being able to translate complex technical methodologies into business language.

David Mazzuca is Lead Instructor at the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at the Columbia Climate School, Columbia University. He teaches a series of courses on whole community disaster response and recovery for US state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) jurisdictions. In 2022, David was a Hitachi International Affairs Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. He was in residence at the Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, where his research focused on community-led disaster risk reduction in Japan. From 2015 to 2019, David served as Assistant Director for Housing Recovery with the Sandy Recovery Division, State of New Jersey. In that role, he was responsible for administering the delivery of New Jersey’s post-Sandy US$1.4 billion housing restoration grant program portfolio. Prior to his tenure with the State of New Jersey, he supported FEMA's National Preparedness Directorate as a consultant with the US government services practice of BAE Systems.

Ewan Mitchell is an award-winning Data Science Leader with over a decade of experience. He specializes in MLOps and data innovation, currently leading AI and Gen AI initiatives within the Customer and Marketing function at Aviva. Ewan has successfully managed cross-functional teams and implemented innovative data solutions at start-ups, scale-ups and FTSE 100 companies. He is respected for his customer-centric approach and his ability to demystify data and AI for non-experts.

Bhagti Patel volunteered as a Paralegal with the National Emergencies Trust during the Coronavirus Appeal, and had the opportunity to assist with drafting contracts, managing grant distributions and developing internal policies. Her academic background includes studies in Law and Economics, complemented by practical experience in both paralegal work and Legal Technology. Originally from Zimbabwe, Bhagti relocated to the UK in 2008. She is deeply passionate about giving back to the community and constantly seeks ways to innovate and improve efficiency in processes. Outside of work, she enjoys the simple pleasures of solving puzzles, tending to her garden, and exploring her creativity through painting. She strives to contribute positively to the world around her, embracing opportunities for growth and learning along the way.

Christopher Querée has over 35 years’ investment experience and has worked directly with charities and endowments since 2001. He spent eighteen years as an Investment Director and Head of Charities at Ruffer LLP, where he was responsible for over £2bn of charitable assets. He was also lead manager on the Charity Assets Trust (Common Investment Fund). Chris started his investment career as a stockbroker and equity specialist, becoming a Member of the London Stock Exchange in 1991. He is CISI qualified and an MBA holder. He has a wide range of direct management experience in all major investment asset classes, from fixed interest and global equities, to currency and hedging strategies. He has worked with some of the largest third sector organisations in the UK ranging from Church bodies and Universities to major grant giving foundations. Chris also acts as Investment Advisor to The Stroke Association and The Normandy Memorial Trust.

Sarri Singer, born in Lakewood, New Jersey, is the daughter of New Jersey State Senator, Robert Singer. Until 9/11, Sarri worked two blocks away from the World Trade Center. Deeply moved by the tragedy of 9/11, Sarri decided to resign from her position in December 2001 and move to Israel to help victims of terror. While there, Sarri volunteered with various organizations working with victims of terror. Sarri survived a terrorist attack in Jerusalem on June 11, 2003. She was hospitalized for two weeks and then returned to New Jersey to be with family. In June 2004, she returned to the United States to take care of medical issues associated with her attack. Sarri is the Founder and Director of Strength to Strength, focusing on bringing together victims of terrorism together from around the world and assisting with long term psychological needs. Sarri has addressed audiences throughout the United States, Canada, South America, Europe, and Israel and continues to share her unique insight into the ongoing struggle for victims of terror in Israel and around the world.

Jasmine Yeo is a Fund Manager at Ruffer LLP, a global asset manager with a single absolute return strategy. She co-manages Ruffer’s investment trust (a FTSE-250 company), alongside two of Ruffer’s flagship funds including a charity investment vehicle with an ethical policy. Prior to her focus on fund management, she worked in Ruffer’s private wealth team looking after multi-asset investment portfolios for individuals, charities, and trusts, and has also held the role of Investment Specialist in the UK Wholesale team, working closely with fund managers, wealth managers, family offices, and financial advisor clients. Before joining Ruffer she graduated from Warwick Business School with a degree in International Business. She is a Chartered Wealth Manager and a member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI). She also holds the Private Client Investment Advice and Management qualification and the CFA Certificate in ESG Investing.