Our Team
Our Team
Directors
National and Regional
Alan Tower
National Director
For a number of years Alan worked in Bolivia in Theological Education. This was followed by a role in the UK and international leadership team of Latin Link. Alan joined Friends International in 2016, firstly as a Regional Development Director and then later as National Director.
Iván Neira
Regional Development Director
(North, England & Wales)
Iván is from Chile and has spent more than half of his life serving in Global Mission. He joined OM Ships in 1989 and met his wife Joanne there. He served as Deck Officer, but from 2000 was part of the senior leadership team for OM UK. Iván joined Friends International in 2020.
Stephanie Knell
Regional Development Director
(South East England)
Steph grew up as a missionary kid and still loves having international friends. She was involved in volunteering with international students in her early 20s, but recently has been the Director of a Christian charity working with primary schools. She is married, with three (nearly) grown up children, is passionate about people, and enjoys both cooking and playing the piano.
Pete Edwards
Regional Development Director
(Scotland, Ireland, and NE England)
Pete has been with Friends International since 2002. He has experience in the university sector and has a deep understanding of both practical local ministry and strategic national ministry.
Lynette Teagle
Regional Development Director
(South West England & Wales)
Lynette is highly experienced in international student ministry with Friends International. Originally from Singapore, Lynette is already our Head of Learning and Development and adding the Regional Development Director role to her remit. Thank you Lynette!
TRUSTEES
The Board of Trustees
Geoffrey Spence
Chair of Trustees
Geoffrey is a Non-Executive Director of Jersey Ports, and the Nazareth Trust, a Scottish charity which owns and operates the Christian Hospital in Nazareth, Israel. He is Chairman of Elders at Danbury Mission Church, and has served as Global Head of Infrastructure, Resources and Energy for Lloyds Bank plc.
Ian Roberts
Ian spent his career working in the City primarily as a banking lawyer in private practice, specialising in Social Housing Finance for 20 years before retiring in 2017. He is a Non-Executive Director (and Deputy Chair) of Hornsey Housing Trust and was a Churchwarden (and trustee) of a large London church for 6 years. He is married with three grown up children and a number of grandchildren.
Rev Henry Lu
Rev Henry Lu serves as General Director of Chinese Overseas Christian Mission (COCM) in ‘reaching Chinese to reach Europe’, and has a Master’s degree from All Nations Christian College.
Matthew East
Matthew is a senior lawyer at the London office of a global insurance company. He is married to Claire and they have three school age children. He is also school governor and is active in his local FIEC church. Matthew is passionate about supporting initiatives which help spread the Gospel.
Cilla Slater
Cilla has served as a local Branch member for Friends International in Guildford and worked among students as a Staff Worker for Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship (UCCF).
Natasha Rayan
Natasha is the World Mission Minister at All Souls Church, Langham Place, a prominent and historically significant location for international student ministry. She has previously worked for Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship (UCCF) as Team Leader for London.
Jane Hutton
Jane is a professor of statistics at the University of Warwick. She's been in universities for 46 years. As a student, she was active in welcoming other international students. She continues to enjoyed hosting colleagues at home and by providing Sunday lunch at Holy Trinity Church, Coventry. She is keen to help people to explore their world views, and to encourage righteousness.
