Fundraising Regulator appoints three board members to start in 2026
The Fundraising Regulator is pleased to announce the appointment of three new members to its board to help shape the organisation’s strategic direction. Josephine Swinhoe, Ian Karet and Barbara Kasumu bring a range of diverse expertise across charitable fundraising, law and regulation to the board. They will commence their new roles in 2026 and replace Suzanne McCarthy, whose term ends at the end of 2025, and Margaret Moore, whose term ends at the end of 2026.
Jo Swinhoe joins the board with substantial experience in charitable fundraising, governance and commercial leadership within regulated industries. She has spent over 20 years in the sector, working in small charities and she has held senior roles including Director of Fundraising and Marketing at Alzheimer's Society and she was the first woman to hold the role of Executive Director of Income Generation at the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC). Jo has also worked with the Chartered Institute of Fundraising (CIoF) at both a local and national level and is currently a Fellow of CIoF. She has also held non-executive roles in commercial companies in regulated industries, charities, and has chaired a number of membership reviews including for the Institute of Directors.
Ian Karet brings extensive legal knowledge to the Fundraising Regulator’s board. He is currently a solicitor and partner at Linklaters LPP, specialising in Intellectual Property and Technology. He is also Deputy High Court Judge and has previously been a member of the Civil Justice Council, an advisory public body with responsibility for co-ordinating the modernisation of the civil litigation system. Additionally, Ian brings expertise in charity regulation and governance, having been a Legal Board Member of the Charity Commission for England and Wales between 2019–2023, where he was also Interim Chair between 2021-2022, and former Co-Chair of the British Museum Independent Collection, Security and Governance Review. Ian has also sat on several charity boards, including for Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and is currently a board member of the Aurora Orchestra and the Salters Institute.
Barbara Kasumu brings significant leadership experience in charity governance and fundraising for major hospital foundations and in higher education. She currently serves as Interim Chief Executive of King George & Queen’s Hospitals Charity at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, leading strategy and operations across fundraising, grants and partnerships. From 2022 Barbara became the first Executive Director of Charities at Guy’s & St Thomas’ Foundation, overseeing the Guys & St Thomas Charity, Guys Cancer Charity and Evelina London Children’s Charity to deliver outcomes for patients and their families. Previously, she held executive roles at the Association of Commonwealth Universities and at the National Union of Students. Barbara has also held several board roles including with the Youth Hostels Association (YHA), the Kids Network and the Foyer Federation.
Lord Toby Harris, Chair of the Fundraising Regulator, said:
“We are delighted to welcome three new members to the Fundraising Regulator’s board, each bringing considerable experience across charitable fundraising, governance, regulation and law. The unique insights and perspectives of Jo Swinhoe, Ian Karet and Barbara Kasumu will be invaluable to our governance, especially as we implement the new Code of Fundraising practice which came into effect on 1 November.
“These board appointments further strengthen our board and demonstrate our continued commitment to ensuring the public has confidence and trust in fundraising, and the charity sector can prosper, by upholding high standards in charitable fundraising. I look forward to working closely with our new board members as we continue this important work.”