The Rt Hon Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom, Chairman and Trustee
James Arbuthnot was appointed Chairman of the trust in March 2019. He was a Conservative MP for 28 years. He held a number of ministerial portfolios between 1994 and 2001 and served as Chairman of the Defence Select Committee from 2005 to 2014. In 2015, he became a member of the House of Lords where he chairs the Risk Assessment and Risk Planning Select Committee. He also chairs Electricity Resilience, the Advisory Panel of Thales (UK), the Nuffield Trust for the Forces of the Crown, and the Information Assurance Advisory Council. He is an Advisory Board member of strategic intelligence firm Montrose Associates, and of the Royal United Services Institution (RUSI).
The Rt Hon Lord Bew of Donegore, President
Paul Bew is a Northern Irish historian who has worked at Queen's University, Belfast since 1979 and is currently Professor of Irish Politics, a position he has held since 1991. He was appointed to the House of Lords as a Life Peer in February 2007 and sits as a crossbencher. Paul Bew took over as President of the Trust from Lord Mayhew in May 2012.
Michael Bottenheim, Trustee
Michael Bottenheim is a retired M&A banker, having held senior appointments at Lazard and Citigroup. In addition to his role with the trust, he is a director of Montrose Associates, a strategic intelligence firm based in London. He is also a judge of the Airey Neave Book Prize.
Michael Burton, Trustee and Treasurer
Michael Burton took over as Treasurer in March 2019 and is a Senior Investment Manager at JM Finn, having joined in 2012 from Investec/Williams de Broe. He has over 25 years’ experience as a private client stockbroker.
The Hon Patrick Neave, Trustee
Patrick is Airey's eldest son and has spent his career in the City in commodities, investment banking and in trade associations. A Chartered Secretary and MBA, he is currently a school governor.
Sebastian Neave, Trustee
Sebastian is Airey's grandson. He is a director in the disputes practice at GPW, a London-headquartered intelligence and investigations firm. A Russian speaker, Sebastian specialises in CIS related matters, particularly those with a strong political component.
Sir Kevin Tebbit KCB CMG, Trustee
Sir Kevin Tebbit was Permanent Secretary at the UK Ministry of Defence from 1998 to 2005, following a period as Director of GCHQ. His initial career was with the Ministry of Defence, then, from 1979, with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Sir Kevin is now engaged in a variety of business, academic and associated activities, including as Senior Vice President for Corporate Affairs at Smiths Group Plc. He is also Chairman of RISC, the Trade Associations for the UK Security Industry, a visiting professor at King’s College London, and a fellow at RUSI.
Hugh Tilney, Vice Chairman and Trustee
Hugh Tilney has been involved with the Trust since its inception. First, as Chairman of the Refugee Trust which was set up very shortly after Airey Neave’s assassination and then as a Trustee and Vice Chairman of the Trust. Hugh spent 28 years in the insurance industry before moving to live in New York where he now runs an investment management company. He has two married sons and four grandchildren all of whom live in England and who he and his wife visit regularly.
Sir David Veness CBE, Trustee
David Veness served as Under-Secretary General of the UN Department of Safety and Security from its creation in 2005 until 2009. This role carries responsibility for UN operations globally. Prior to this appointment, he was Assistant Commissioner (Specialist Operations) New Scotland Yard from 1994-2005. He is also a judge of the Airey Neave Book Prize.
Edward Webb, Trustee
Edward Webb is Airey's grandson and became a Trustee in 2016. He is the Chairman of Webbs Garden Centres Ltd, and is a member of the Commercial Board of the Royal Horticultural Society.
Dr Tim Wilson, Trustee
Tim Wilson is a historian and academic. He is a Senior Lecturer and the Director of the Handa Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence at the University of St Andrews.