Meet the Team

Garry has over 35 years’ experience in retail and procurement, having been group sourcing director for both Primark and M&S. More recently European CEO for Li and Fung Europe, he is now board advisor and consultant to several companies. For many years he has been involved in charity fundraising through rugby, heading up the Sunshine Sevens at East Grinstead RFC, where Matt was Head coach. This event raises money to support children in Sussex facing challenges. Over almost 70 years of fundraising, they have raised over £500k. Believing there is a real need now, more than ever, to support young people who face challenges, he is continually motivated to introduce his network to the Foundation.

Sean has 25 years’ experience as a business leader in financial services, financial technology, workplace education and educational travel for young people.  He’s a builder of diverse multicultural companies with happy, motivated and productive teams. Sean is a qualified Leadership and Executive Business Coaching Practitioner and has delivered personal development programmes to school-leavers to help them in their transition to the workplace. Sean remains a committed and competitive rugby player who exemplifies the phrase ‘never too old to learn new skills’ and is an excellent role model to younger teammates both on and off the pitch. He holds dear the true meaning of ‘community’.

Ian has spent many years in sport in various roles – but his first love was, and remains, rugby. As CEO of the British Athletes Commission Ian worked with Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson producing a review for government on Duty of Care in Sport (published 2017). In 2017, Ian founded DOCIAsport, a multi–award-winning consultancy working with clients in high performance and community environments in the UK. The focus is on wellbeing whether that’s athletes, participants or ‘the people looking after the people’ – the current or next generation of coaches, officials or administrators. As a director of MRRF, Ian is passionate about collaborating with others to support children and young people, especially those in under-represented groups. 

Ben has over 25 years’ experience in the financial services industry, having built his career as a lawyer leading award-winning international legal teams, before going on to become CEO and founder of an investment management business. During the COVID-19 lockdown, he founded The Winchester, a private financial services networking group that has since grown into a platform for charitable events, raising more than £1 million for rugby-related causes over the past six years. Ben is deeply committed to supporting charitable initiatives, with a particular passion for fundraising through the rugby community.

Murph freelances as a content writer and media manager, specialising in sport. He plays his rugby at London Irish, where, as part of the Vets family, he was privileged to have Matt as a teammate. Splitting his time between London and Achill on the wild west coast of Ireland, his interests include trad music, long-distance hiking and kayaking. To these disciplines he brings tireless enthusiasm but only modest ability. In his Foundation role, Murph remains fiercely committed to connecting a rapidly growing audience with Matt’s vision and with our work to deliver it.

Amy's career path has been varied, encompassing education, sport, academia, mentoring, and mental health awareness. She is particularly interested in issues of social and criminal justice and their impact on violence reduction, she has experience supporting prison experienced people both during and after release and supports a number of knife crime awareness initiatives. She has 26 years of experience in education, including completing a PhD and MA in Education at King's College London in psycho-social linguistics and MFL Education - with a focus on social justice and language and power.

Following an undergraduate degree in  French and German, at Cambridge University, Amy became a teacher and was Head of Modern Foreign Languages (French and German) at a large, boys’ comprehensive school in London. Amy later took time away from full-time teaching to care for family members and completed qualifications in T.E.F.L and post-natal and baby yoga teaching. She has been coaching rugby at all ages and to all genders for 12 years, is an England Rugby Mentor and has won awards for social inclusion. She was the first female Chair of her rugby club where she started the first ever girls’ rugby section. Amy runs England Rugby’s Rugby United program at county level, which aims to encourage traditionally under-represented groups of people to become involved in rugby in any and all capacities. Amy is Chair of Leadership and Succession, as well as Inclusion and Diversity at Surrey Rugby and is a member of the England Rugby Women’s Leadership Collective. A Women of the Year and 93% Club Alumna, Amy is proud of her state school background and is now Co-President of The Newnham Associates, a group of Cambridge graduates. In this role she supports and mentors young women from all backgrounds to apply to and thrive at Cambridge. Amy believes strongly in the power of community and belonging and particularly enjoys nurturing this aspect of her work in the foundation.

Caitlin joins the Matt Ratana Rugby Foundation having recently completed her degree in English Literature with Creative Writing at Newcastle University. She first discovered her passion for this work during her placement year, where she worked as Marketing and Communications Officer for our partnered organisation, The Atlas Foundation, and as Parliamentary Researcher in the House of Lords.

Beyond her professional experience, Caitlin has built a strong track record of grassroots community work. At Newcastle University, she volunteered with NEST (North East Solidarity and Teaching), delivering education and support to refugees in Newcastle Upon Tyne. She also played a key role in Wiltshire Council's HAF (Holiday Activities and Food) programme, recruiting and onboarding the delivery team, leading their training, and ensuring under-resourced children across Wiltshire had access to enriching, supportive activities during the Summer school holidays of 2023.

Her background as a children's football coach and volunteering for girls' empowerment groups has further deepened her belief in the power of inclusive, educational activities to transform young lives. Passionate about youth empowerment and social equity, Caitlin brings a combination of strategic communications experience and hands-on community work to the Foundation, and a genuine, personal commitment to the values that sit at the heart of everything we do.

Pete has worked within the logistics industry for the past 20 years, mainly in the communications sector. HIs main passion is grassroots rugby and supporting local communities in the South East. Rugby is in his blood as a retired semi-pro player, having represented both Richmond and Blackheath. He now coaches at intermediate level at East Grinstead RFC, where he got to know Matt. Pete's main role at the Foundation is heading up our successful Ratana Toa 7s teams, a vital pathway from our academy to senior rugby. He’s also central to our annual Whānau Cup fixtures, taking care of endless organising of players and officials.

Antony has over 30 years’ experience in journalism and more than 35 as a volunteer with various charity organisations, many involving young people. Away from his work as a journalist, Antony has significant experience in the areas of charity governance and as a grant-giver with the National Lottery Community fund. Dad to East Grinstead flyer Henry, Antony helped set up the Supporters Trust at Crawley Town Football Club and was involved as an external trustee in his former University Students Union, an organisation he also served when he was studying. Committed to community projects and sport, Antony now brings his wealth of media knowledge to the Foundation. In his spare time, he's an enthusiastic long-distance runner as well as a season ticket holder at both Crawley Town and Tottenham Hotspur.