Our Trustees

Beanstalk has an experienced, dedicated and specialist Board of Trustees who volunteer their time to govern the organisation and direct our stategy. 

Jamie Pike
Chair

Chairman of RPC Group PLC, Tyman PLC and Lafarge Tarmac. Senior Independent Director Spirax Sarco. 

Paul Dean 

Treasurer


Non Executive Director and Audit Chair at Polypipe plc and Porvair plc. Previously Chief Financial Officer of Ultra-Electronics plc and Foseco plc.

Magdalene Bayim-Adomako 

A senior legal counsel with over 25 years of experience in international financial markets. She was most recently head of the London Banking department at White & Case. She is currently a freelance consultant and trustee to a number of charities

Siobhan Kenny

CEO of RadioCentre, representing the interests of the commercial radio sector in the UK. Previously held board-level communications roles at HarperCollins Publisher, Walt Disney TV and the Government Department for Culture, Media and Sport, following five years in the No 10 Downing Street Communications Team. Formerly a reading helper at a London school.

Catherine Roe

Director of CMR Consult Ltd. and has 20 years' experience of creating, developing and leading foundations and advising philanthropists and not-for-profits. Previously Director of the Said Foundation and a British Diplomat.

Viral Mehta

Investment Director at private equity firm, Bridgepoint. Currently on the Board of Oasis Dental and Care UK, and previously a trustee of Ocean Maths, a charity focussed on improving maths attainment levels through combined parent and pupil teaching methods.


Jill Pay



Appointed as the first female Serjeant at Arms in the House of Commons in 2008, retiring in 2012. Currently Chair of the businesswomen's network The Pink Shoe Senate and also a Beanstalk reading helper.

Jared Brading 

Executive Headteacher of two highly-rated schools in Battersea, including St Mary's, a flagship school in the Get London Reading campaign. Chair of the Battersea Schools cluster and Trustee of the School Food Matters charity.

Ian Mecklenburgh 

Experienced Digital Media Executive, currently Special Advisor to the DTG (Digital Television Group) and a range of clients. Previously senior level positions with Sky, Virgin Media, BBC and Cable and Wireless delivering TV, Internet and digital services product and strategy.