Who we are

Andy, who is Chief Executive Officer at Tideway, will lead the charity’s Boardof Trustees, having been elected into the role at LYR’s recent Annual GeneralMeeting (AGM).

In his role at Tideway, Andy has witnessedthe work of LYR closely over recent years, with the company building London’ssuper sewer having supported the charity in a long-term partnership since workon the infrastructure project started, including funding the Active Rowprogramme for four years. During that time the Tideway team, including Andy,has supported LYR through volunteering and fundraising at many events.

As well as being Tideway CEO, Andy wasCo-Chair of the Construction Leadership Council from 2018 to 2022 and has beenhonoured with a CBE for Services to Civil Engineering.

Jim Downing founded LYR in 2004 and is now President of LYR.

Jim also serves as a Non-Executive Chairman for Native Land Ltd while participating as a Non-Executive Director and adviser to a number of other companies including Andrew Martin Ltd, Cydar Ltd and Essex Group Asia Pacific Ltd. Until July 2016 he was Non-Executive Director and Acting Chairman of Winsway Enterprises.

From 2001-2003, he was Deputy Head of JP Morgan Chase & Co's European Investment Banking group. Prior to the merger of JP Morgan & Co. with Chase Manhattan Bank in 2000, he worked as their Co-Head European Investment Banking.

Jim obtained an MBA from Yale in 1982 and a BSc. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1976.

Akash is a Corporate Banking Analyst at Citi in the Global Subsidiary Group in London.

He is an avid sailor, sailing regularly off the English and Irish coast.

Akash holds a Bachelors degree in Biomedical Sciences from Kings College London and rowed for his university team. Originally from Mauritius, he enjoys spending time snorkelling and being on the water.

Avril moved to London, from Canada in 2003 to complete an MSc from Imperial College. It was meant to be a one year stay, but she fell in love with the city and failed to return home.  She’s spent the last 18 years working in finance, focussed on complex international energy issues, most recently decarbonization / energy transition. 

She started sculling in 1995, as a junior, at the Calgary Rowing Club and been on the water ever since.  The Thames (and her single scull) has become one ofher favourite places to be for a quiet break from London’s chaos.  She lives in Putney with her husband and two young children. 

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Ian Pickup is Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Students) at The Open University, supporting the university’s mission of enabling all students to achieve their academic and life goals. Ian is a National Teaching Fellow, a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Professor of the Student Experience in Higher Education, having held leadership roles at Roehampton University, University College, Cork, SOAS, University of London and The University of East London. Ian is a passionate advocate for the role of sport and physical activity in education, having worked as a schoolteacher, teacher educator and coach.  

John started his career as a journalist, working in regional newspapers before becoming Editorial Director of Teletext on ITV and Channel 4, the national interactive TV service, for 10 years. He is now a leader in the Corporate Responsibility field, leading CR for Tideway, the company building London's "super-sewer" underneath the River Thames. He has significant experience in community partnerships and in companies delivering social value.

John's sporting passion is cricket - he is still playing, just, and he has discovered the challenges and joys of rowing through Tideway's Oarsome Challenge charity marathons along the Thames.

Karen Morris has over 25 years' experience in sponsorship, both in media (at Classic FM as Head of Sponsorship), WPP and brandmeetsbrand, which she founded in 2003, as well as later taking over Sponsorship Consulting to expand further into European sponsorship.

Karen has a wealth of experience in sponsorship strategy and acquisition across all sectors including arts, entertainment, charity, not for profit, media and sport.

Marianna, originally from Poland, graduated in law and focussed her studies on the phenomenon of doping in law. Since moving to the UK, she has been an advisor on sports governance. She is a member of the Inclusion Advisory Group of the Middlesex FA and a former Non-Executive Director of the British Kickboxing Council. 

Marianna is passionate about how sport and physical activity can break down social barriers and increase participation in sports, especially among young people regardless of their background or physical abilities. Marianna is a Funding Manager focusing on Children and Young People at the London Marathon Charitable Trust. She manages grants supporting ambitious projects across the UK that will challenge inequality of access to physical activity and reflect the spirit of the London Marathon.

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Sarah is a chartered civil engineer with over twenty years' experience in project management working primarily in the construction and maritime sectors.

Sarah graduated from Bradford University in 1997 having spent time as a postgraduate researcher in Japan for a civil engineering firm and went on to work in private consultancy and for the Environment Agency.

She spent ten years between Cumbria, Lancashire and the Thames Barrier working in flood risk management before moving to the Port of London Authority (PLA).

Most recently Sarah was the PLA's Asset Strategy Manager and during her time there developed a love of rowing, primarily in the PLA's traditional cutters. Sarah has recently become director of Hawkshill Consulting Limited, a multidisciplinary consultancy offering project management and organisational change management services.

Sophie Hosking MBE, joined LYR's Board in May 2018. Sophie is a retired rower, having won a Gold medal for Great Britain in the Lightweight Double Scull at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

In the 2013 New Year's Honours, Sophie was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to rowing.

Sophie originally studied for her undergraduate degree in chemistry and physics at Durham University, but has since qualified as a Solicitor. She continues to be a member of London Rowing Club, where she served as the first female Captain from 2014 to 2016.

Umer Mansoor is the entrepreneurial founder and CEO of Construction Helpline. Umer provides dynamic leadership and believes in streamlining card acquisition and training in construction, using inventive technology-based applications and well-thought-out processes. Umer has been the driving force behind Construction Helpline and is looking toward shaping the construction industry further by accelerating digitalisation in training. Umer understands the disadvantages tradespeople — site workers, project managers and architects — face. That’s why Umer is using his platform to promote effective change for a stronger, efficient construction workforce.