Chair
Depaul UK has worked with homeless people for 30 years and supported over 65,000 beneficiaries. Their Mission is to end homelessness and change the lives of those affected by it. Depaul UK provides services and programmes across the UK – from education programmes in schools and emergency accommodation through the Nightstop network, to providing housing and support as well as reach into prison services. The charity is passionate about the difference they make, particularly for young people.
At this important time with a new ambitious strategic plan and with homelessness increasing in the UK, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, Depaul UK were looking for a Chair that shares a commitment to their mission and values. Depaul were also seeking an individual with experience of serving on high performing boards and an impactful leader with proven senior strategic ability.
Depaul UK appointed Sandeep Katwala who joined the board in July 2021. In his executive career, Sandeep was a lawyer and spent 25 years with the global law firm Linklaters LLP. At Linklaters he was part of the Executive Committee and headed up the firm’s Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa Region and India business. Previously he spent six years as a corporate financier with the NatWest Group.
Sandeep also brings extensive experience in non-executive roles in the charity sector where he is the current Chair of the Octavia Group. He has served as a Trustee and Deputy Chair for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity and was previously a Chair of the Mowgli Foundation, the charity Bail for Immigration Detainees, and a Trustee for both WaterAid UK and WaterAid International.
“Prospectus did an excellent job in helping us appoint a new Chair. They really listened and helped us to understand the qualities we were looking for and we have appointed an excellent candidate who completely fits the brief. Prospectus led us through the process sensitively and offered helpful guidance when needed. They provided a good pool of candidates and seemed to understand each of them well. They were always willing to further explore any concerns the Trustees had and to discuss the candidates’ strengths and weaknesses in a clear and open way. They also helped with the practicalities of the interview process. I would happily recommend Prospectus to other charities looking to recruit.”
Helen O’Shea Vice Chair, Depaul UK