Our trustees all have senior level business backgrounds with an outstanding commitment and track record in supporting charities. Their experience is of enormous value to the Startup management team in enabling them to meet their aim of developing a long-term strategic solution to significantly reduce re-offending.

James O’Hara – Co-chair of Trustees

James O’Hara started the Trident Safeguard Company in 1985, specialising in the management of security for major art galleries and banks in London. It became part of the Mitie Group in 2003 and James remains its Chairman today.

James has been involved in entrepreneurial activities over the last 40 years including running the trading activities of Ralli International/Bowater and later the London and European Group (1977-80).

James is a supporter of several charitable projects and is actively involved in Brent Opera and Floral Opera. He also supports the Nicholas Boas Trust and the Royal Opera House. Since Startup’s beginnings in 2003, James has been Chairman of Startup’s supervisory committee and has sat on the judging panel of three Prisoner Entrepreneurship Days. He has also introduced invaluable contacts to the Startup team.

Jo Owen – Co-Chair of Trustees

Jo Owen is founding director of Teach First, an innovative programme to attract the UK’s top graduates into teaching in disadvantaged London schools. He is also a founding director of Future Leaders and of founding Chairman of Teaching Leaders which respectively develop senior and middle leaders for challenging schools. Previously, he was strategy partner for financial services at Accenture and before that at Cap Gemini, where he built the firm in Japan and Asia. He gained an MBA from London Business School, and has worked at Procter & Gamble in brand management; he was also head of research for the SDP in the British Parliament. He created a new banking proposition, which was bought out by HBOS and is now Bank of Scotland business banking. He is author of several bestselling business books including ‘How to Lead’, ‘How to Manage’ and ‘Tribal Business School’.

Michael Hamilton

Michael Hamilton has been active in international investment banking for more than 35 years having worked for American, Canadian and, at present, a Portuguese investment bank. His activities have involved him in a wide variety of businesses, the most recent being the development of privately financed infrastructure in more than ten countries.

Michael is active in charitable work where he is presently the Chairman of the Guildhall School Trust, the Kempton Great Engine Trust and the University of Western Ontario UK Foundation. He has also been a member of the judging panel for a Prisoner Entrepreneurship Day.