Chief Executive – Sanj Srikanthan
Sanj joined the ShelterBox team in December 2019. Sanj spent 10 years at the International Rescue Committee (IRC), where he was Senior Vice President, Europe and Executive Director, UK.
In a previous role at IRC as Emergency Field Director, Sanj managed responses in Mali, Syria, Liberia, Lebanon and Turkey. Earlier in his career, Sanj worked for UN OCHA (the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) and was previously a Captain in the British Army.
“It is a huge privilege to lead ShelterBox, an organisation with such a powerful clarity of mission – to turn despair into hope through shelter provision. Over the course of my career, I have seen first-hand the direct impact that quality emergency shelter can have in helping people begin to recover from disaster.”
Executive Team
Euan Crawshaw – Director of International Programmes
Euan Crawshaw is the Director of International Programmes at ShelterBox.
He has 15 years of experience in humanitarian programmes and emergency response, including as the former Humanitarian Lead at Oxfam, as a Country Director in the Philippines and as a member of Save the Children’s global emergency response team.
Euan has lived and worked in South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Iraq, Myanmar, Colombia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, managing large emergency programmes and field and area offices. He has held regional leadership roles in responding to the Syria refugee crisis and the wider Middle East region, with a particular focus on Yemen and Gaza.
“ShelterBox has one sole purpose – to provide emergency shelter and other essential items to people across the world who have lost their homes to disaster or conflict. The work we do to deliver lifesaving assistance is effective and efficient and the flexibility we have to respond is inspiring.”
Alice Byron – Acting Director of Fundraising & Communications
Michelle Saxby – Acting Director of Fundraising & Communications
Alice and Michelle are interim directors of Fundraising and Communications. They are responsible for setting and driving the income generation and communications strategy for ShelterBox.
Michael Collins – Director of Finance
Michael provides leadership to our finance, facilities, IT and legal teams.
He has 30 years experience across corporate services, at home and abroad, in the Not for Profit and Commercial sectors with prior experience also gained at a global humanitarian NGO.
“We work to ensure every donor gift is treated as a precious commodity, that is protected, kept safe, and utilised efficiently to maximise impact for those in need of shelter across the world.”
Natasha Eden – Interim Director of People and Culture
Natasha is ShelterBox’s interim Director of People and Culture, responsible for steering our People and Culture, and Facilities strategy and activities.
She has over 20 years’ experience supporting not-for-profit and private sector organisations to achieve operational excellence. She joined ShelterBox from Sanctuary, where she oversaw a multi-million-pound social housing decarbonisation fund, and a strategic partnership with Cornwall Council that will see £100m development investment in the county over the next 10 years.
“It’s incredibly motivating to work at a charity that has such a clear vision, no one without shelter after disaster. I am committed to collaborating with our global team and partners to strengthen our impact by achieving our strategic objectives effectively and efficiently, while also supporting our teams.”
Trustees
Claire Goudsmit – Chair
Claire brings a wealth of humanitarian experience to ShelterBox. Having spent her career working alongside communities affected by crises in different contexts across the Balkans, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, Claire has experienced first-hand the power of listening to people and putting their voices at the centre of humanitarian action.
Claire is recognised as a leader in accountability, safeguarding, and quality assurance in humanitarian aid. She works to shape global humanitarian standards and guides organisations to deliver accountable, equitable, locally led humanitarian aid that protects the dignity and rights of people affected by crises. She is passionate about ensuring ShelterBox continues to provide people-centred emergency shelter solutions that support people to rebuild their lives.
Working as an independent consultant for the sector, Claire supports organisations at the strategic and operational levels to improve practices for sustainable and accountable action. Claire is also an independent Senior Auditor for the Humanitarian Quality Assurance Initiative (HQAI).
Leo Skyner – Hon. Treasurer
Leo Skyner has spent the past 15 years in INGO finance and operations.
Most recently he was CFO of Oxfam International, and before that held leadership roles with CARE International UK, and Save the Children across the UK, Europe, and Africa.
Before moving into the INGO world, he was Finance Director of a global print, media and technology business.
After starting his INGO career in humanitarian response, he knows what a contribution ShelterBox can and does make in ensuring everyone has a home after a disaster or during a crisis.
George Pennock – Vice Chair
George manages Four Seasons Ventures, an early-stage investment firm. He has spent the past 20 years working with both entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs across a wide range of sectors, to help grow their operations.
He was previously a trustee at the Venture Partnership Foundation, one of ShelterBox’s early supporters and advisors.
“ShelterBox provides individuals and families hit by disaster with the security, privacy and dignity of shelter, from which they can go and out and start rebuilding their communities and livelihoods as rapidly as possible. I joined ShelterBox because I believe that it has developed an incredible level of understanding and expertise around how to support people efficiently and effectively, in the most challenging situations. I hope to use my experience of scaling businesses to help ShelterBox and its team expand its reach and resources, so it can offer its expertise and assistance to more families and communities across the globe.”
Yinka Babalola – Trustee
Olayinka (Yinka) Babalola is a Lead Facilitator, specialising in leadership coaching and change management for businesses and non-profits.
An accomplished Health, Safety and Environment practitioner, Yinka has extensive experience managing HSE in diverse, multicultural, large footprint operations. Yinka is a Past Vice President of Rotary International, ShelterBox’s partner in disaster relief. Having started his Rotary journey as a Rotaractor, Yinka is a member of the Rotary club of Trans Amadi, Port Harcourt District 9141, Nigeria.
Yinka has significant experience across the region through his time as the EndPolio Now Zone Coordinator for English speaking Africa, the Rotary International Reach out To Africa (ROTA) Water and Sanitation Coordinator and the Nigeria National PolioPlus Committee.
Steve Horan – Trustee
Steve Horan is the Chair Emeritus of ShelterBox USA’s Board of Directors and brings significant private and charity experience to the organisation.
Currently residing in New Hampshire in the US, Steve has led large organizations in the technology sector, while also volunteering for Peru Medical Mission and the Museum of Science, Boston. He has deployed to Nepal following a devastating 2015 earthquake for Habitat for Humanity.
Steve was drawn to ShelterBox because of the opportunity it provides to help those in need. “We all take shelter for granted,” he said. “Like the air we breathe and the water we drink, everyone should have access. It is a basic human right and need.”
Beyond his professional and volunteer work, Steve enjoys spending time outdoors with family and friends. He has also set out to hike all 2,200 miles of the Appalachian Trail over the next four years.
Srikaran Srivivekanadarajah – Trustee
With over two decades of dedicated service in international development, Srikaran stands as a pillar in the sector, championing both humanitarian and developmental initiatives.
As the current Head of Development Programs at Plan International UK, he oversees a diverse range of projects across 35 countries, demonstrating a commitment to the global betterment of girls. His career trajectory includes impactful tenures at renowned institutions such as Care International UK, where he led as Programme and Policy Director, and pivotal roles at Oxfam and the British Red Cross. He is an expert in commercial contracts, complex bid development and consortia programme management. Prior to his remarkable journey in development, Srikaran’s academic pursuits in genetic science laid a strong foundation for his analytical skills. Beyond his professional realm, he is a fervent advocate for gender equality and diversity, actively participating in related training and advocacy. In moments of tranquillity, Srikaran is an avid gardener, finding peace and fulfilment in the cultivation of his vegetable allotment.
“Joining the ShelterBox as a trustee is not just a role; it’s a commitment to humanity. Together, we stand at the forefront of compassion, ensuring that emergency shelter brings not only relief but dignity in the aftermath of disaster and conflict. Our partnership is our strength, reaching further, with the well-being of people and planet held firmly at heart.”
Matthew Carter – Trustee
Matthew Carter OBE is the Group CEO of Depaul International
Matthew joined Depaul International as Group CEO in September 2021. Depaul’s mission is to end global homelessness and change the lives of those affected by it.
Prior to Depaul International, Matthew worked within the international humanitarian sector for over 35 years undertaking numerous senior country leadership positions in complex humanitarian crises. He spent twenty years as CAFOD’s (Caritas) Humanitarian Director leading their humanitarian responses in Asia, Africa, Middle East, Latin/Central America and the Pacific.
He has been a strong advocate and practitioner for building national and regional humanitarian capacity, advocating for the international community to better support community and locally based organisations. Matthew has been an outspoken and strong advocate in promoting greater accountability to those people affected by crises and ensuring their protection.
He is passionate about the environment and integrating an environmental perspective into humanitarian action and ensuring a systems-based approach.
Matthew has worked as Country Director in DRC for Concern Worldwide, as a Senior Technical Advisor with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Bosnia, Somalia, South Sudan and Mozambique. Matthew started off his international career working as a water engineer with VSO in The Gambia.
In June 2023, Matthew was awarded an OBE in HM The King’s first Birthday Honours list for services to the global humanitarian sector.