Meet the team

Biography

Alan has extensive international business experience, having been responsible for operations in Europe, USA, Asia Pacific, Middle East, East Africa, the subcontinent of India and BRICs.

His business career is wide ranging. He was a Partner with PwC (1979 - 1995), which included five years’ residence in the Asia Pacific region; then became Corporate Development Director of a FTSE 100 integrated energy group, TXU Europe (1996 - 2002), and was CEO of a mid-cap hi-tech engineering group (Hamworthy Combustion, 2003 - 2009) under private equity ownership.

Currently, Alan is also a trustee of Voice of the Listener and Viewer, 2018 (which represents the citizen and consumer interest in broadcasting, working for quality and diversity in British broadcasting). Previously, he was Chairman of the Advisory Board of the University of East Anglia Business School 2012 - 2017, Deputy Chairman of the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution 2013 - 2017 (which promotes, conducts and disseminates best practice mediation as an alternative to arbitration or litigation); trustee of the charity Saferworld 2010 - 2014 (which works to prevent violent conflict and build safer lives); and, Executive Chairman of the East of England Energy Group, a 380-subscription member trade association for the downstream energy sector, 2010 - 2012.

For the UK Foreign Office and Department of Industry, he was chairman of the Hong Kong Business Advisory Group and council member of the China-British Trade Council (1992 - 2001).

He completed his doctorate degree in economics from Oxford University and his BSc from Salford University.

He is author of "Profiting from Integrity: How CEOs can deliver superior profitability and be relevant to society". Routledge, 2018.

What does Integrity Action mean to you?
"Our pro-integrity approach reduces market inefficiency especially for the most vulnerable cohort of society." - December 2015

Biography

Dr Sam De Silva is a Partner in the IT and Outsourcing team at leading international law firm, CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP. Sam specialises in strategic and complex IT and telecommunication projects and also regularly advises on data protection, privacy, cyber-security and PCI DSS issues.

Sam is deeply immersed in the technology sector and at the forefront of related policy issues, representing the UK on the EU Commission’s Expert Group on Cloud Computing Contracts and the IT Law Committee of the Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE). Sam is also the Co-convenor (with the Chinese) on a proposed new ISO Standard on managing contract and legal risk. At the national level, he is the immediate past Chair on the Law Society's Technology and Law Committee (but still a committee member) and a committee member of the EU Committee of the Law Society. Sam is on the Board of the IT Faculty of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales. Sam has recently been elected as a Trustee to the British Computer Society (BCS) and is on the BCS Council. He is a former Global Board of Trustee for the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS).

Sam has written and spoken extensively on IT, outsourcing data protection and cyber and is regularly called upon by the industry as a thought leader in these areas. He has been interviewed in the press, on the radio, and webinars and on television (including BBC Click and Channel 4 Dispatches). Sam is one of very few solicitors to be a Fellow of CIPS (FCIPS), Fellow of the British Computer Society (FBCS) and a Chartered IT Professional (CITP). Sam has post-graduate degrees in information technology and business administration, so he is well aware of the commercial, business and technical issues facing both users and suppliers of technology. Sam has had in-house industry legal experience, having been seconded to Accenture UK for 9 months as a Senior Legal Counsel.

Sam is named in Who’s Who of Data Privacy and Protection 2019, the Who’s Who of Data Security 2019 and the Who’s Who of Information Technology 2019 as one of the world’s leading lawyers in those areas of law. In addition, Sam has been listed in Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders – Global Elite 2019. As well as being an English qualified solicitor, Sam is also a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand and a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Australia, and has been involved in some of the most cutting-edge IT and outsourcing projects in those jurisdictions.

Biography

Gail serves as a NED, Board Advisor and Trustee with a select group of businesses and NGOs who are well placed to make a significant difference to create ‘A Better Flywheel of low carbon, inclusive Growth’.

Gail also serves as “Special Advisor: Sustainable Economic Zones and Clusters” for SYSTEMIQ, an advisory and investment company founded to create good disruptions in economic systems that will speed the achievement of the UN Global Goals. She has also recently served as the Business and Transformation Director for the Business and Sustainable Development Commission, which made the 12 Trillion$ case for the business benefit associated with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Previously Gail served as Executive Director for Old Mutual PLC, leading their global customer, brand and digital portfolio. Under Gail’s leadership, Old Mutual developed their Positive Futures Plan, which promotes inclusive growth and responsible investment. Prior to that, Gail held the role of Chief Sustainability Officer at Unilever, positioning the group as a pioneer in corporate, social and environmental stewardship. Earlier, Gail led a number of Unilever’s businesses including as executive vice president for Unilever's Global Savoury category and CEO of the group’s South African business.

What does Integrity Action mean to me?
Integrity Action has a solution that can help address two of the most significant issues facing our world: the lack of trust in institutions and a sense of hopelessness that individuals and communities feel about changing what’s around them. These issues drive so much of the discord we see in our communities and countries across the globe, as citizens quite rightly say no more. Integrity Action builds trust and hope. This is why I feel proud to be involved with this organization.

Biography

Merryl Lawry-White is a Senior Associate at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP and a member of the International Dispute Resolution Group based in London.

Ms. Lawry-White has particular experience across different areas of public international law, including years of practice advising clients in investor-state disputes brought under bilateral investment treaties and investment laws, and on issues related to transitional justice. Ms. Lawry-White is the co-lead associate in London on Debevoise’s Business Integrity Initiative. She is also a member of the Justice Rapid Response Roster of Experts that may be deployed to assist in the investigation, analysis and reporting of human rights, international humanitarian law and international criminal law violations. Ms. Lawry-White has an active pro bono practice, most recently advising the interveners on questions of state responsibility and international humanitarian law in R (Campaign Against Arms Trade) v Secretary of State for Business Innovation & Skills, and on an amicus brief relating to reparation under international law for sexual violence against girls in schools.

Prior to joining Debevoise, Ms. Lawry-White was a Juriste Adjointe at the International Court of Justice in the Hague, where she worked as the Legal Officer to the Former Vice-President of the Court, and, upon his retirement, to his successor.

Prior to working at the Court, Ms. Lawry-White was an associate in the Public International Law and International Arbitration Group of a leading international law firm. Ms. Lawry-White also had an active advisory practice, frequently advising state and commercial clients on issues of jurisdiction, conflict of laws, enforcement of arbitral awards, drafting arbitration clauses, as well as advising governments on issues of international law, transitional justice and treaty drafting.

Ms. Lawry-White has also worked with a human rights NGO in Nepal, advising on the international law aspects of two strategic litigation projects; with a leading transitional justice NGO in New York; and as the Project Coordinator of an HIV/AIDS Prevention Project in Rwanda.

Ms. Lawry-White frequently presents at conferences on issues of international law, transitional justice, business and human rights and commercial arbitration. Ms. Lawry-White holds degrees from Cambridge (MA) and New York University (LLM), where she was a transitional justice scholar. She speaks French and Spanish.

Ms. Lawry-White is admitted to practice as an Attorney in New York (New York Bar) and as a Solicitor Advocate in the UK.

Biography

Paul Maassen joined the Open Government Partnership in June 2012 and is currently the Chief, Country Support (CCS). The CCS leads on the implementation of the strategy for OGP’s engagement with and strategic support of all OGP stakeholders at the national and local level. His team with staff in over 10 locations supports global efforts of open government champions, primarily of government and civil society, in using Open Government Partnership to further their objectives on transparency, accountability and participation. Before assuming this role Paul was responsible for overseeing the OGP support to civil society across the globe. Paul has a long track record in the role technology and media can play in changing people’s lives and the societies they live in.

Prior to joining OGP Paul worked as Head of Finance and Partnerships for WWF International’ Global Climate & Energy Initiative, working primarily with WWF offices in emerging economies to strengthen the design and sustainability of their programs. Before joining WWF Paul worked for 7 years with Dutch development organisation Hivos, as program manager for the global ICT & Media program. This is where he learned the ropes of being a funder and got a deep understanding of the complexities of realizing change in developing and repressive countries.

Paul strongly believes in the potential of individuals to make a difference if they set their mind to it and get the tools – including technology – to realize their potential. He was also involved in the establishment of the East African citizen agency initiative Twaweza. Paul attained private sector experience with Dutch telecom company KPN. He holds an MSC in industrial engineering and management. Paul is based in Brussels.

Biography

Siobhan has extensive business experience in both the corporate and not-for-profit world. She qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young in 1994, and worked in Corporate Finance with them and Hambros.

She moved to Greenalls Group, followed by EMI where she was VP of Investor Relations. Between the two, she had personal experience of integrity challenges, with six very unhappy weeks at a (now-defunct) listed company that tried to pressure her into misleading the market.

For nine years, she was the Executive Director of the Institute of Masters of Wine, an international not-for-profit organisation promoting excellence and integrity in all aspects of the wine trade. Since early 2013 she has been a freelance consultant, helping small to medium-sized businesses in the wine trade with strategy and communications, and advising private individuals on their wine cellars.

What does Integrity Action mean to you?
"On the larger scale it is the work of Integrity Action itself, striving to build integrity into development. This enhances value for money. However, beyond that, it enhances trust, which enhances community, which reduces conflict. Stepping back, it means conducting our own business with integrity in everything we do. Finally, on a personal level, it means striving to conduct myself not only in my role as a trustee but in all my interpersonal dealings with the integrity we strive to promote." - December 2015

Biography

Philip is a Business and Economics Graduate from the University of Southampton, with a specialist module on aid to the 3rd World; Post graduate degree was in Personnel Management at the University of Westminster. As a member of the CIPD, has Philip has 16 years Generalist Human Resources experience working in a number of sectors including recruitment, education and financial services. More recently was a Divisional HR Director within the IT industry and is currently working in HR Operations in the oil and gas industry. Specialisms include change management, HR transformation, talent and performance management, and the build and running of HR shared services. Philip is married with two children.

What does Integrity Action mean to me?
"The impact of aid money is notoriously difficult to measure and easy to 'fudge', Integrity Action provides a tool that helps overcome this, which leads to a virtuous circle of more donor confidence and therefore more donations. Corruption occurs when the powerful have power over the powerless; compounded when there is secrecy. DevelopmentCheck is a great leveler, providing transparency as well as transferring power into the hands of the powerless.

Sustainability comes from education, and educating the local communities and especially the youth as to what is rightfully theirs, empowering them to question and to hold officials to account. Partnering: Integrity Action is not about 'doing to' but 'working with'" - December 2015