OUR TEAM

Dave is Chief Executive Officer at Waverley Abbey and was appointed in January 2023. Dave has worked in the private sector for most of his career. He is ACA qualified and brings a wealth of commercial and non-profit leadership experience in turnaround and growth at organisations such as Arthur Andersen, Virgin Retail, City Gateway and Tearfund (in the latter two organisations, Dave remains a non-executive Board Director). Dave attends St Luke’s church in Kentish Town with his wife Fatima and their three children.

Bev is Head of Personal and Organisational Development, supporting and caring for staff and helping to develop a positive work environment. Previously she was a Senior Pastor of Sutton Vineyard Church with her husband Jason. Bev has a Doctorate in Leadership and Spiritual Formation, and she is a qualified Enneagram coach. She is married with three adult children and is part of Emmaus Road Church, Guildford.

Jason is Principal and Head of College, responsible for all our courses and training, and leading on the strategic direction of the College. He holds two PhDs and was previously Pastor at Sutton Vineyard Church, having been involved in church planting and leadership for many years. He is married with three adult children and worships at Emmaus Road Church in Guildford. 

Peter works as our Chief Financial Officer at Waverley Abbey and has been here since July 2020. Prior to his role here he worked at CPO as Finance Director, and in the commercial field Peter held strategic planning roles with a number of companies including AZ Electronic Materials and Timberland. Peter is married, has three children and serves at Christ Church, Brockham Green.

Janette is Head of House and Estate at Waverley Abbey and oversees hospitality, events and the operational management of the House and grounds. She has previously worked at Rolls-Royce Aerospace, creating and developing global events as well as managing customer training for aero engines. Janette is proud of her Northern roots and being immersed in family life.

Peter joined Waverley Abbey as Head of Marketing and Communications in July 2023, responsible for growing our audiences, supporters and customers. Previously he co-founded a church training platform, Digital Church Toolkit, and creative agency, Common Good Studio. He and his wife recently moved to Surrey and worship at Emmaus Road Church in Guildford. 

Jill is Head of House of Prayer at Waverley Abbey and leads the Waverley Abbey Community. Jill serves on the international team of 24-7 Prayer and is Global Convener of the Order of the Mustard Seed. She is a spiritual director, teacher and author. Jill and her husband moved from Canada in 2018, and they attend Emmaus Road Church where Jill serves as Director of Prayer and Spiritual Formation.

Ken joined Waverley Abbey Trust as a Trustee and Chair in August 2022. Ken operates at the intersection of the sacred and the secular: the world, work and worship. Spirituality and spreadsheets. The City and the Church. As a Christian strategist, communicator, and leader, he has spent over 40 years working in finance while preaching and teaching.Ken’s work centres around encouraging this dialogue with the passionate belief that to know your why is to know your way. Finding and fulfilling your calling will revolutionise the way you do life.Ken is particularly committed to his work connecting Millennials with their purpose in an increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex, and anxious world.

Pete joined Waverley Abbey Trust as a Trustee in August 2022. Pete is the founder of 24-7 Prayer, Senior Pastor of Emmaus Rd church, and a Director of Waverley Abbey. He co-hosts the Lectio365 daily devotional and the Wildfires Festival. Pete is also an Ambassador for the NGO Tearfund, and a member of The Order of the Mustard Seed. His award-winning books include Red Moon Rising, God on Mute and How To Pray. He and his wife Sammy – a professional counsellor – split their time between a barge on the River Wey and an island retreat where they host and mentor leaders.

Simon joined Waverley Abbey Trust as a trustee in July 2021 and is chair of the Finance and Audit advisory group.Simon is a Chartered Insurance Broker running a company in Croydon with Charity clients across the UK. He is a business coach and a Director of an Almshouse Charity in Surrey. He takes an interest in developing charities for operational excellence.

Chris joined Waverley Abbey Trust as a Trustee in August 2022. Chris is an impact investor and philanthropist, investing his time in a portfolio of activities focused on three areas: Impact Investment, Philanthropy, and supporting faith-based organisations. Chris works with impactful companies and funds providing consulting, capital and advisory services. He is a member of Mercer’s Advisory Panel for their PE fund of fund range.Chris supports a variety of philanthropic endeavours, with a focus on Christian development projects. Chris is also currently a Trustee of 24-7 Prayer.

Karen joined Waverley Abbey Trust as a Trustee in June 2022. Karen is an award-winning Writer and Executive Producer. She began her career in advertising before moving to BBC as Story Editor of flagship TV serial drama programmes. Karen then moved to NBCUniversal/CNBC where she led the International Content Studio for several years, creating and producing purpose-driven content across all platforms and sectors for a worldwide audience.She currently collaborates with global clients (e.g. Google, Wall St Journal, BBC) and unknown industry disruptors to create content for social good. Karen is a member of St Peter’s Notting Hill church, based in London. Her interests include film-making, exploring the outdoors and anything related to innovation/the future.

Bob joined Waverley Abbey Trust as a Trustee in November 2019. Bob has been involved in local church leadership over many years, both as an Elder and as a Trustee, and is passionate about leadership – having spent much of his career supporting leaders in the military, in the NHS and in church life. Bob’s early career was in the army, prior to joining the NHS and he currently works as the Chief Operating Officer at a local NHS Hospital Trust.Bob is married to Sarah, lives in Farnham and they have 4 children.

Jani joined Waverley Abbey Trust as a trustee in July 2021 and is chair of the People and Organisational Development advisory group. She is an organisational psychologist who has been an international consultant since 1989. She has her own business which incorporates leadership development training, facilitation, executive coaching and mentoring. She works in a variety of industries which include multi-nationals, international charities, financial sector, public sector, and was an associate of London Business School for 23 years. She has previously been a trustee of The Matrix Trust and 24-7 Prayer. She has an MSc in Organisational Psychology.

Fergal joined Waverley Abbey Trust as a trustee in July 2021 and is chair of the Waverley Abbey College advisory group. Following two and a half years of Training towards Jesuit priesthood, Fergal was a teacher and Head teacher for 15 years before moving into business support for education. In 2007, he founded The Key, which became a staple in the toolkit used by more than half the country’s Heads and Senior managers in schools.

He sold his stake in the company in 2018 and has since worked as a business adviser and executive coach. He chairs a multi academy trust of 15 schools in the Guildford area. He plays saxophone in a big band, and is a regular, rather than proficient, golfer. Fergal is widowed and has three children, the youngest of whom is at university. He worships at Emmaus Road church, Guidford.