Gillian Dare New Beyond Conflict Chair

May 2025

Gillian Dare is Beyond Conflict’s new permanent Chair, taking over from the founding Chairman Edmund Newell. However, we are delighted that Ed remains on as a trustee. 

Additionally, Luke Tomkins, who served for six months as interim Co-Chair with Gillian whilst Ed was on sabbatical, has stepped down from the Board and we all thank him for his valued service and wish him well. Luke served for several years before as Treasurer and was succeeded by Adam Perkins.

Gillian said: “I am delighted to be taking on the Chairmanship of Beyond Conflict. Having spent a great deal of my professional life working in conflict zones, I witnessed at first hand the depth and extent of trauma suffered by innocent citizens, men, women and children. I have a deep sympathy and admiration for the courage and resilience of those who survive. The programmes facilitated by Beyond Conflict are critical to  the people of these countries. Helping people to deal with their trauma and mental health is the very first vital step to rebuild lives and communities once a measure of peace is established and helping to restore peace and normality. I am also very pleased that we in Beyond Conflict, are among the few organisations who also  address the trauma of those who minister to the victims: doctors and other medical staff and volunteers, emergency and frontline  humanitarian workers are often the most neglected.   Working with our local partners in Iraq, in Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh,  Ukraine, the West Bank and Israel we have sought to help these brave and selfless people. I am glad and privileged to serve.”

Co-Founder/Director Edna Fernandes said: “Beyond Conflict is delighted to announce Gillian Dare as our new permanent Chair. Gillian is one of our founding trustees and brings decades of invaluable insight and experience of working across the Middle East and elsewhere in the world during her long standing former career in the British Foreign Office. Her grasp of the issues faced by civilians and frontline workers in conflict zones means she is ideally equipped to steer the charity as it enters a new phase of development. I am grateful for her leadership, counsel and loyal support to the charity over many years and the invaluable insight and wisdom she brings.

“She takes over from  Ed, whom we all thank for his leadership, passion and hard work as our first Chair. The Charity remains indebted to Ed for his service and we will continue to benefit from his advice as a trustee. Our warmest thanks also to Luke for his dedication and hard work over the years, especially  in strengthening the charity’s financial oversight as Treasurer. Luke will always be part of the BC family in spirit.”