Ian’s connection to KidsOut is very much a family one – his late father co-founded the charity, his mother was a Trustee for many years, and his brother is a KidsOut Ambassador.

Ian’s background is in corporate financial services where he began his career as an underwriter before going on to lead a pan-European business unit for one of the world’s leading product insurance brands.

Having retired from corporate life in 2016, Ian went on to co-found what has grown to become one of the UK’s leading property development training companies.

Ada Ibezi is the founder and CEO of Against Domestic Abuse (ADA), an NGO whose aim is two-fold. Firstly, raising awareness about Domestic Abuse and secondly, supporting women and children affected by domestic abuse. She is a Domestic Abuse Community Ambassador and a qualified Freedom Programme Facilitator. She is a Thriver after her own lived experience.

She is currently working alongside the Metropolitan Police as part of the MET’s community centred learning project. Ada has 17 years experience of teaching and leading in schools across three continents, she has been the designated safeguarding lead and delivered school-wide safeguarding and child protection training. She is also the founder and CEO of Fit Africa Warriors, a holistic fitness and well-being organisation.

Ada also volunteers for the charity Hestia, the largest provider of Refuges and Safe Houses for women and children in London and the South East of England.

Ada is a fitness enthusiast, who loves African fashion, writing and performing, photography, meetings new people and learning new things. She speaks fluent Igbo, a Nigerian language, English, conversational French and beginner Spanish. She is passionate about education, raising awareness of domestic abuse and supporting women and children affected by domestic abuse.

Eileen Barnes-Vachell has had a distinguished career of over 40 years in the Education sector. She started her career as a teacher in London and progressed to several leadership positions including Headteacher, Director of School Improvement for three large UK local authorities, Chief Executive Officer for a school group in the Middle East and Head of the International Inspection Team working with the Cayman Islands Government. She had a lead role as a policy adviser supporting the ‘Every Child Matters’ and ‘London Challenge’ initiatives, both of which have had a lasting impact today.
For the past 18 years Eileen has run her own consultancy business working at all levels in the education sector from individual schools to national and international governments. She has a clear moral purpose, and values led approach with a commitment to bring about social change and justice by improving academic and social outcomes and life chances for children and young people.
Eileen is delighted to be one of the KidsOut Trustees and will be able to contribute to their work in many ways as someone with an in depth knowledge of the impact of providing high quality, targeted services for vulnerable and disadvantaged children. She has a secure understanding of effective governance and the strategic role of trustees through her work as a board member and adviser to school boards. Other interests include running, yoga, travelling and novel writing.