Meet our Executive Leadership Team
Samaritans Central Charity (SCC) provides support to branches and the organisation as a whole. SCC is led by our Chief Executive and comprises four core areas, each of which is headed up by an Executive Director, and three nations teams that lead Samaritans strategy for our nations: Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Julie Bentley, Chief Executive Officer
I have long been a supporter of Samaritans and in fact applied to be CEO 14 years ago – second time lucky! I believe the simple act of one human listening to another is so powerful and really can and does save lives. I am tremendously proud to lead this fantastic organisation of amazing volunteers and staff across the UK and Ireland.
Julie Bentley
Julie has been a charity CEO for over twenty years and has led some of the UK’s most well-known charity names including Action for Children, Girlguiding, Family Planning Association, and the Suzy Lamplugh Trust. She has been CEO of Samaritans since November 2020.
She has been a Trustee and Vice Chair of the housing and homelessness charity Shelter, and National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO).
Through her career, Julie has earned a reputation for her passionate advocacy of the voices of those with lived experience being at the heart of a charity and for her commitment to meaningful equity and inclusion. She has a reputation for driving change; at Girlguiding she created headlines when she described the century old charity as “the ultimate feminist organisation.” She is also known for the authenticity she brings to her leadership; modelling a very down to earth approach rooted in her working-class background.
In 2014, she was named by Third Sector as the ‘Most Admired Charity CEO’ and in the same year was a castaway for BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs. In 2019, she was awarded The Charity Times Awards for ‘Outstanding Individual Achievement’ and was voted by Charity Times readers as one of the sector’s Most Influential Leaders.
Julie lives on the Essex/Suffolk borders with her partner and when not working loves to walking, reading and trips to the movies.
Graeme Danton, Executive Director of Corporate Services
I am inspired by our work and feel it is needed now more than ever. Listening well is an incredible gift. Thank you to all of our volunteers, supporters and staff that make this possible.
Graeme Danton
Graeme started his career in the public sector, working on economic policy and risk management at the Bank of England. More recently, he has worked in the charity sector, in executive roles at education charities, including as COO of Teach First and Executive Chair of Now Teach.
Graeme enjoys spending time with his family in the Lake District.
Lis Skeet, Executive Director of Operations
I’m both delighted and honoured to be joining Samaritans as the organisation takes forward its new strategy and commitment to reduce the number of lives lost by suicide. I know from my own experience how unique Samaritans’ service model is and how committed colleagues are to ensuring we continue to be there for the people who need us, now and in the future.
Lis Skeet
With over 25 years combined charity, commercial and statutory experience, Lis joined Samaritans from Help for Heroes where, as their Services Director, she led the transition to community and digitally delivered services and increased the focus on evidence-based practice across the range of support, including mental and physical health and safeguarding. This also involved developing the charity’s focus on suicide risk and prevention for the Armed Forces Community, working collaboratively with others.
Lis is a Trustee of Designability, a charity that enables disabled people to live with greater independence and is also an active listening volunteer at Bath Samaritans.
Sonya Trivedy, Executive Director of External Engagement
From a young age, hearing the journey of my family and then stories from the voluntary sector gave me an urgency to work for a charity. I have a passion for causes that challenge stigma and discrimination and promote an inclusion agenda. And I believe innovation is a key factor to drive change. It’s my absolute privilege to work at Samaritans and work on all of these things.
Sonya Trivedy
Sonya has been in the UK voluntary sector for 20 years. She has worked in both international development for organisations such as British Red Cross and UNICEF and for domestic causes including HIV and sexual health, and domestic violence. She leads our external communications, income generation and influencing work.
Sonya met her partner just before joining the voluntary sector and they have identical twin boys. Her favourite place to visit is the V&A.
Tiger De Souza, MBE, Executive Director of People and Culture
Samaritans is a charity incredibly close to my heart and I feel humbled and honoured to have joined the Samaritans family. I am looking forward to playing my part in supporting this great organisation to reduce the number of people who die by suicide.
Tiger De Souza
Tiger joined Samaritans in April 2023 from National Trust where he led on inclusion, volunteering, reward and engagement in his role as People Engagement Director.
Tiger has had a wide-ranging career in the non-profit sector working at Royal Institution for Chartered Surveyors, NSPCC and England Netball. Tiger has held a range of trustee roles within the voluntary sector including ACEVO, NCVO and Volunteering England.
Tiger was awarded an MBE in 2020 for services to volunteering.