Engage 2024 - Speakers

Andrew is lead Policy Trustee for DSC. He was an international Board Member (and Vice Chair) of the global development charity ActionAid from 2013 to 2020.

He is a former Chair of Safe Passage International, ActionAid UK and of three other UK charities, a Deputy Chair of two others and a former Board Member of the Charity Commission and of the Parole Board.

A former fast stream civil servant, he has held senior leadership positions in NCVO, CPRE, and the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund and been a special adviser to the Archbishop of Canterbury about the world outside the Church.

He was a p/t adviser to The Samworth Foundation on their grants policies and has been a governance consultant to charities including YHA and OxfamGB. He is a Trustee of the charity Choose Love and of his local Church of England church.

Andrew is a contributor to Civil Society News and blogs about the campaigning role of charities and charity regulation at www.andrewpurkis.wordpress.com.

Since starting as a Researcher in DSC's Liverpool Office in 2003, Jay has had several roles in research, policy and as a media spokesperson.

He loves the buzz of big ideas and debates about policy, public affairs, research, campaigning, politics and social issues generally.

Jay's favourite thing about DSC is connecting with the awesome people in our charity sector, learning about what they do, and building relationships that make things happen.

You might come across Jay's quotes in the sector press, his tweeted blogs and opinions, or as a speaker, chair and panellist at events.