Our Team

Patrons:

  Peter Penfold CMG, OBE: A valued advisor to DST, Peter is a retired Diplomat and former British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone. He is also the Founder for the UK Association for Schools for the Blind in Sierra Leone. Peter was closely identified with the country's attempts to embrace democracy and achieve stability and lasting peace. In recognition of his efforts he was appointed a Paramount Chief by the Sierra Leone people and made a Freeman of the city of Freetown.
Julius Julius Nye Cuffie LLB: The first trained and qualified disabled lawyer in Sierra Leone, and also the first disabled Honourable Member of Parliament (MP) in Sierra Leone (SL); Julius is a committed Disabled Rights advocate.

 

Trustees:

Abs portrait

Abs Dumbuya - CEO Sierra Leone: Abs is the Founder of DST and is the Charity’s CEO in Sierra Leone. A disabled individual himself, Abs is committed to DST and Disabled Rights, devoting his time trying to change the plight of disabled people in Sierra Leone. Click here for more information on Abs' story.

 Rob Rob Lea - Chairman & Treasurer: Rob spent 25 years working for ICI in sales, marketing and training, where his job required him to travel to many countries around the world. Before he left ICI in 2000, he spent 2 years on secondment in Singapore as Marketing Manager for Asia. Since 2000 he has been self employed as a business and training consultant. These days he spends much of his time on voluntary work. In addtion to his work with DST as Chairman, he is the treasurer and one of the leaders at Easthampstead Baptist Church in Bracknell, UK.
 Andrew Andrew Brown - Secretary: Andrew is an healthcare Information Management and Technology professional. Andrew is a very strong supporter of Abs, whom he met in Kettering in 1993. As Secretary of the Dorothy Springer Trust, Andrew is keen to see the charity move forward and making a real impact on the lives of disabled people in Sierra Leone. Andrew lives in Kettering with his wife and two children.    
 Margaret Margaret Atkins - Advisor: Margaret is the daughter of Dorothy Springer. She spent 25 years as the Administrator of a small private College with an international student body before taking early retirement in 1996 to care for her disabled husband who died in 2005. She is now very involved with groups in Our Lady of Victories RC Church in Market Harborough, UK, particularly the Third World Group, as well as giving time to her family and to hobbies such as gardening, learning a new language and travelling.  
 Mary Mary Calvert - Advisor: Mary is the widow of Brian Calvert, aviation expert and pioneer Concorde pilot, who was Abs’ friend and mentor since he first met him at the Leonard Cheshire Home. Mary is a professional games inventor.
 Mark Mark O’Kelly - Advisor: Mark is Head of Finance at The Barrow Cadbury Trust, which provides grants to grassroots voluntary and community groups working in deprived communities in the UK. Mark previously spent 14 years with Leonard Cheshire International, supporting the development of services for disabled people around the world. During his time with Leonard Cheshire Mark made a number of visits to Sierra Leone and other countries in Africa. Mark lives in London with his wife and two children.

Local Liaison Committee, Sierra Leone:

 

 Solomon Lebby, MBE

 

 Mrs Melrose Cotay, JP

 

 Rev. Tannie Barbington Johnson

 

 Rev Reginald Spain-Pratt

 

 Dr Montgomery Harding

 

 Samuel Valcarcel

Dr. Kitty Fadlu-Deen

Dr. Kitty Fadlu-Deen

 

DST Volunteers:

Phil Cluer & Sarka Pechova, Sierra Leone Volunteers (Fundraising, Research and Media Communication) 

Ko Sakamoto, UK Volunteer (Developmental Economics)

Samuel McEdwards, Sierra Leone Volunteer (IT specialist)

The Strechemesser Family, Volunteer