Skip to main content

About us

Who We Are

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

How it all began

We are a charity that believes consumers, charities and companies can thrive together. Our range of products help raise much needed funds for UK based charities, schools and community groups.


Founded in 2006 by four Hertfordshire Dads who agreed to use their different business skills to benefit charities and schools rather than profits for shareholders. Since then, we’ve grown to become a larger team with an excellent mix of skills but with a passion to champion the thousands of causes that are part of our “Giving” nation.

Meet The Team

FOUNDER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Richard Morris

Richard is a co-founder and Chief Executive of the charity.  He’s a successful entrepreneur in business and technology both in the UK and USA and wanted to leverage technology for good with his co-founders.  He manages TheGivingMachine strategy, development programme, leads major projects and business development.  He also consults for businesses wanting to adopt a more people, planet, profit culture. Watch his interview with Julian Harris here.

In his personal time, Richard enjoys life messing about with his family, technology, table tennis, a bit of PC gaming and mentoring his dog, Sid, to be more productive.

HEAD OF OPERATIONS

Luisa Gatward

Our Head of Operations, Luisa, is responsible for the smooth running of everything we do at TheGivingMachine, from marketing and partner relationships, to the day-to-day coordination that keeps the machine running. Having joined TheGivingMachine in 2010, Luisa has seen the charity’s growth and continuous development. 

Luisa is a proud mum to two daughters. She has a passion for running, is a keen reader, often getting lost in a good book and loves spending time with family and friends.

GIVING DIRECTOR – NEW TECHNOLOGY

Nicola Chowings

As Technology Director Nicola manages our overall technology strategy and all new technology and development projects within the team and she ensures the ‘machine’ keeps running for all our supporters, causes and businesses.  Nicola is also an active IT consultant within the charity sector and works hard to help as many charities as she can on their digital journey.

Out of work, you’ll often find Nicola walking her lively Labrador, Red, taking part in dancing classes or enjoying being outdoors by the water, paddleboarding.

Social Media Co-ordinator

Michelle Logli

Michelle manages our social media platforms and provides support to the team across all aspects of administration. With a background in healthcare, she has a strong passion for helping others and a natural drive to make a positive impact. 

Outside of work, Michelle is a devoted mum to one human and one fur baby. She enjoys spending quality time with her family, heading out on long countryside walks. Michelle also has a love for writing, which allows her to explore her creative side.

Business Development Manager

Abigail Ward

Abigail is our Business Development Manager, leading on business development strategy, partnership building, and client engagement. She plays a key role in driving growth and creating meaningful connections that support our mission. 

Abigail is a keen travel enthusiast and a qualified scuba diver, always eager to explore new places and discover the beauty of the world. Her love of adventure matches her passion for social issues, nature, and wildlife. When she isn’t travelling, she'll often be immersed in a good book or unwinding with some gaming.

FOUNDER, GIVING DIRECTOR - FINANCE

Jonathan Bayly

Jonathan is a co-founder of TheGivingMachine and our Finance Director, bringing a wealth of expertise and experience to the role. As a former Council Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland, he has a strong background in finance, governance, and strategic leadership. 

Jonathan is married with two grown-up children. He has a passion for swimming and can often be found on the golf course or tennis court. Jonathan also has a love of the arts, particularly acting and singing.

Executive Assistant to Richard Morris

Yvonne Burgess

As Executive Assistant to Richard Morris, Yvonne plays a key role in supporting the smooth running of operations at TheGivingMachine. From managing calendars and coordinating meetings to handling communications and ensuring priorities stay on track, Yvonne’s attention to detail and proactive approach help keep everything running seamlessly behind the scenes. 

Yvonne enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and stepson. She keeps active with skipping and hula hooping, and finds joy in being part of her Afro-Caribbean book club - a lively group that celebrates storytelling, culture, and shared experiences.

Trustee - Chair

Nisar Ahmed

Nisar is the Chair of our Board of Trustees and is a registered member in practise of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). Nisar has many years experience working in senior financial positions  and is the director of an accountantany company.

Trustee

Rachel Jackson

Rachel worked for TheGivingMachine charity for a number of years and became a Trustee when she left. Rachel works as a Hypnotherapist and is completing her counselling training. she has two teenage children and a wonderful fluffy cockerpoo.

Trustee

Melvyn Manning

Melvyn joined us as a Trustee and has a background in Advertising, Marketing & Sales, having worked with many high-profile businesses. Melvyn has a passion for Art having completed a Fine Art Degree.

Volunteer

Sid

Sid's main role is to bark whenever the door goes, anyone comes in or out of the work-space or anything unexpected happens.  He is an unbelievably cheeky chappie.

Volunteer

Red

Red’s main role is to take a noisy drink and jump up whilst Nicola is on calls.  When not disrupting/entertaining the team on calls, she likes to chase her Uncle Hobson and force him to play with her.  She’s adorable and she knows it!

Volunteer

Stanley

Stanley’s main role is to demand attention at all times, eat, sleep, and repeat. Oh and to be super cute which comes naturally!

Volunteer

Tortellini

Tortellini’s main role is to eat leafy greens and take naps under her heat lamp. Tortellini is our youngest volunteer at only a few months old! She was found wandering in a local carpark, and thanks to being known as the person who takes in any and all animals, she quickly ended up with Abigail, and will now hopefully enjoy 50+ years with her!

More About The Team

Julian Harris interviews Richard about his career

In this interview, Julian Harris of The Human Edge engages with Richard to explore his early career in Silicon Valley, which laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial journey. Richard shares insights into how his experiences and learnings led him to form a team of four to create TheGivingMachine. Additionally, the conversation delves into Richard's other business interests, particularly his work in coaching and training leadership teams. He emphasises the importance of helping these teams operate more efficiently to enhance their effectiveness in running their businesses. This discussion highlights Richard's commitment to both philanthropy and business excellence.

Join us on social media

We value your privacy

We use technology such as cookies on our site to personalise content, provide social media features, and analyse our traffic. 

Learn more about how we use cookies to enhance your browsing experience.