The Steering Group brings together experienced OR professionals and charity leaders to help shape the Pro Bono OR programme and to support third sector organisations and volunteers in delivering impactful projects. Steering Group members, who are volunteers themselves, support the recruitment of organisations and volunteers, provide guidance on defining and growing pro bono opportunities, and work directly with charities to clarify challenges and ensure projects are set up for success before being shared with volunteers.

We recently welcomed five new members to the Steering Group and are delighted to introduce the full group below, listed in alphabetical order.

1. Owen Bowden, Insights and Analytics Lead at Mencap, sharing a charity perspective with the Steering Group.
2. Andrew Dobson, OR practitioner specialising in financial and statistical analysis, messy data, and information systems development, with extensive pro bono experience in Uganda and the UK.
3. Dr Matthew Forshaw, Senior Advisor for Skills at The Alan Turing Institute and Reader in Data Science at Newcastle University, working at the intersection of skills policy, AI assurance, and academia.
4. Hugo Herrera, Advanced Analytics Director at Sintec Consulting, with a background in economics and data analytics, who has led more than 70 projects applying AI, machine learning, and data strategy to drive operational and strategic impact across industries.
5. Dr Joanna Jordan, mathematical sciences knowledge exchange specialist, passionate about collaboration for social good.
6. Ruth Kaufman (Chair), public sector OR expert and experienced trustee across multiple charities, championing impact across civil society.
7. Dr John Lincoln, former project manager at Audit Scotland, specialising in evaluating public service effectiveness.
8. Ashleigh Monks, Director of Trym Consulting, applying data driven decision making in operational environments.
9. Dr Lucy Morgan, Analytics Manager (Simulation) at The Strategy Unit (NHS) and Honorary Researcher in the Department of Management Science at Lancaster University, specialising in simulation and stochastic modelling.
10. Jane Parkin, Associate Faculty at Leeds University Business School and Associate at Almond Tree Consulting, with more than 20 years of experience delivering OR across sectors.
11. Shamim Rahman, Deputy Director at the UK Department of Health and Social Care, leading multidisciplinary analytical teams that shape national policy on mental health, women’s health, neurodiversity, and disability.
12. David Woodcock, management consultant applying problem structuring and modelling across the public sector, and a dedicated Pro Bono OR volunteer.

We would also like to thank Mike Boyles, Kate Hammond, and Ian Seath, whose terms on the Steering Group ended last year.

The group brings a wide range of skills and reflects the breadth of Operational Research, from public services and healthcare to supply chains, AI skills, and civil society. Pro Bono OR continues to thrive because of people who believe analytical thinking can strengthen charities and improve impact where it matters most.

Please get in touch if you are a charity looking for support with a strategic or operational challenge, or an OR professional who would like to volunteer your skills. [email protected]