Our Team
Core Team
Michael Holmes
Chief Executive
After a career in design and the communications industry Michael left his role as Director of Citigate Communications and transferred to the charity sector over ten years ago. Since then he has worked almost exclusively with vulnerable children oversees with a particular interest in Ethiopia. Married to Jane and with two adult sons, Michael is passionate about how the teaching of Jesus should motivate people in the west to share their expertise and resources with the most vulnerable in our world.
Diane Davidson
Finance Officer
Diane is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland and a member by examination of the Institute of Credit Management. She has worked in the charity sector since 2008. She has extensive experience in managing budgets for Educational and Healthcare projects in Ethiopia and has seen first-hand the challenges of life in Shashemene. Married to Jonathan they have 3 teenage children.
Keren Roebuck
Donor Care
Keren has worked in the communications and fundraising sector since 2018. She enjoys telling stories and engaging people with the projects she is working on. She has a background in film production, but she has since branched out into all forms of media and communications. Keren loves charity shops and enjoys searching to find that hidden gem…!
Board Members
Richard Crowe
Board Member
Richard is an Assistant Director with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. He is current Chair of the NI Rural Valuers Association specialising in rural land, property rental and mediation issues. In Ethiopia he has helped to develop community food growing opportunities alongside local Ethiopian government officials in Shashemene.
Steven Hunter
Board Member
With thirty years of experience selling within the design sector Stephen hunter is currently head of sales Ireland for walker Greenbank an international luxury furnishings group. He is married to Zoe and has two daughters. In his spare time he is an active member of the Kings Moss Cycling club.
Stephen Hamill
Board Member
Stephen trained as a Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse and then joined McLaughlin & Harvey in 1987 where he was Finance Director until his move to semi-retirement in 2015.He and Mildred have one married daughter and two sons as well as Boris the dog, who particularly enjoys his walks with them on the North Antrim Coast! They are both actively engaged in his local church in Ballycastle.
Al Bennett
Board Member
Al is currently an RE teacher in Carrickfergus Academy who has a deep passion for Ethiopia since his first visit to the country in 2009. Since then Al has lead a number of teams to various regions of Ethiopia, including our first football academy in Shashamene back in 2017 as well as running lots of fund raising campaigns to support vulnerable children and families.
Chris Jamison
Board Member
Chris has been working in The Sea Fry fish and chip shop for more than 30 years where he is now in partnership with his brother Robin. He first travelled to Ethiopia in 2008 with Men on a Mission and has returned many times, even convincing his wife Judith to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary there. He has 4 children and 2 grandchildren and a growing Ethiopian “family”.