Nomination candidates' statements

This year there are five vacant places on the Council of Management, and we have received four valid nominations.  The AGM will be asked to approve the appointment of these four candidates to the Council.  

Please find below the statements from each of the nominated members.

Mark Luetchford
I have been a member of War on Want since 1986 and have been on the Council for about 20 of those years.  I am the joint author of the official history of the organisation and have a clear understanding of the unique contribution that War on Want has made over the last 60 years by remaining true to its original purpose  -  a campaign against world poverty. It was set up to help mobilize the British people to create a more just, equal and peaceful world and can be justly proud of its contribution. I have often been able to remind the current Council of this history and helped apply my institutional memory to interpret the challenges we face in setting strategic direction for War on Want today. The most important thing is that we must remain unafraid to stand side by side with the organisations of the oppressed in challenging a world economic system that extracts profit for the minority by exploiting the majority.  It must continue to play its part in forging a global movement that can challenge the forces of globalization but the Council must also exercise caution to make sure that our ambitious aim does not overstretch our resources. Careful stewardship of the funds our members and donors entrust us with will see us through. I am chair of the Western Sahara Campaign, a member of Prospect, and would like the opportunity to continue as a member of War on Want’s governing body.

Anna Morser
I have been involved with War on Want for many years, through working there and subsequently as a member.  I worked in both the Programmes and Campaigns departments, so have knowledge of the excellent work War on Want does with our admirable partner organisations and through its campaigns for global and economic justice in the UK.  I have a background in and passion for development issues, having completed an MSc in Development Management and a PhD in Economics. Since leaving War on Want to complete my thesis on economic development in Cuba, I joined a strategy consulting firm.  My work there has included developing a 5-year strategic plan for a UK-wide charity, as well as private sector projects.  I have the background and skills to make a valuable contribution to War on Want, and I would be honoured to have the opportunity to become a member of the Council of Management and contribute to the ongoing struggle for global justice.

Steve Preston
It has been my privilege to have been a Council of Management member for the last three years. Last year my fellow trustees chose me to be Chair of the Council and in the previous two years a Vice-Chair. I have been active in seeking to maximise the Council's effectiveness and in working positively and cooperatively with the Executive Director and the War on Want team.

Additionally, my several years as a volunteer have given me close experience of the actualities and challenges of War on Want's work.

If elected my priorities shall be:

• fostering War on Want's radical and progressive voice, to actively counter the underlying causes of poverty, injustice and inequality
• strengthening its impact and influence ensuring a sound financial basis for its future as well as its current activities
• increasing the spread and diversity of its supporter base
• fostering its close links with the activist and trade union movements
• maintaining the Council's effectiveness in its proper roles of providing strategic direction and managing risk to War on Want's work and identity.

My background is as an active trade unionist in PCS and its predecessors, firstly as a lay representative and later a senior employed official. I have direct experience of strategic decision-making and planning in democratic and collectivist bodies.

I believe I have demonstrated my strong commitment to War on Want. I ask for your support to continue this commitment as a Council member.

Guillermo Rogel
Dear friends,
By standing as candidate to the Council, I would like to bring my large experience of activism to War on Want. I am currently working at Amnesty International, supporting activists in many countries where Amnesty works. In the recent past I have been Programme Director at War on Want, where I managed to bring the voice and hopes of social movements and trade unions into the heart of our work. Under my leadership, the programme department grew substantially, supporting activists in their fight to change unfair economic and social policies, improving the lives of hundreds of thousands people across the world. As a member of the Council of Management in the last two years I have worked to ensure War on Want keeps working with trade unionists, activists and social movements in the global south and north so that their perspective informed our strategies.
As a member of the Council of Management I will bring all my experience to help War on Want and I will ensure that their voices are heard by War on Want governance structure and by corporations and governments.  Working together we will make a difference to the lives of millions.