Our People

Sean Ryan MBE – CEO

Sean has had an eclectic career spanning professional theatre and music, teaching, corporate law, refugee resettlement, nursing, palliative care, work with young offenders, people with learning disabilities and mental ill health.

Awarded an MBE in 2018 for his pioneering work on Community Sponsorship, Sean was Catholic National Coordinator for refugee resettlement for 7 years prior to joining UKWR. In that time Sean launched and trained over 60 CS projects and co-wrote a Catholic National Safeguarding Policy and National Volunteer Manual.

Sean’s deep faith has helped his family overcome great difficulty and underpins his commitment to loving the stranger, civic renewal and the common good.

Hei Chow – Programme Manager

Hei is a registered Social Worker and lecturer with many years’ experience both in Hong Kong and the UK. Hei acquired over 15 years’ experience in youth, community and social work in Hong Kong before moving to the UK with his family under the BNO Visa Scheme. Hei is driven by his belief in the maxim ‘’Good people joining forces can change the world’’. Hei is especially passionate about recruiting and organizing volunteers, and about training and supporting social workers at all levels, from students to those with management level experience.

Read more here.

Ho Auyeung – Project Leader

Ho is an experienced Social Worker and counsellor from Hong Kong. Hei brings over 14 years of expertise in providing support services for the elderly and those with mental health needs; with a particular focus on depression and anxiety. Ho strongly believes in three core principles that underpin his work with every individual – joy; fairness and safety.

After migrating from Hong Kong to the UK, Ho has been actively involved in various community initiatives, serving both the Hong Kong community and other diverse groups.

Ho believes in empowering individuals to discover their abundant choices in life, not least by addressing their mental health and well-being and by connecting them with other people and the wider community .

Jenny Harvie – Finance, HR & Compliance Manager

Jenny is an experienced marketer, proofreader and copywriter with an eye for detail. Having worked predominantly with financial and technology companies, as both freelancer and employee, Jenny brings wide-ranging experience to the UKWR team.

Jenny is Secretary and Trustee of The Westgate School, Winchester’s Parent & Staff Association (PSA), which aims to support and enhance pupils’ education. Favourite quote: “Fairness does not mean everyone gets the same. Fairness means everyone gets what they need (to be successful),” Rick Riordan.

Jenny has a BA(hons) degree in Business Studies and a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing (DipM) from the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Mark Wiggin – Chair of Trustees

Mark recently retired from his role as CEO of Caritas Diocese of Salford – one of the largest Caritas agencies in the UK with a commitment to providing professional and voluntary services to address exclusion and inequality though the practical application of Catholic Social Teaching.

Previously Mark was CEO of Catholic Care, Leeds and before that Assistant Director of Caritas Care, Lancaster.

Mark has been a senior leader for Caritas agencies for over 25 years.

Read more here.