Richard Guest and Deb Ralls

The Children’s Trust welcomes two new trustees

Published on: 09/07/25

Press release

News

The Children’s Trust are delighted to announce the appointment of two new trustees to the board.

Deb Ralls and Richard Guest will be joining our board of trustees.

Deb Ralls

Deb is a purpose-driven business leader, with a 25-year marketing and brand building career for companies including Costa Coffee, Britvic and Guinness (Diageo plc). As a seasoned marketer and innovator, she’s been instrumental in delivering growth for brands and in her recent role as Global Sustainability Director, she’s been responsible for delivering growth that’s good for people, planet and profit and overseeing environmental and social impact programmes internationally.

During her time at Costa, she led the Costa Coffee Foundation, a charity that builds schools and supports education of secondary-school children in coffee growing regions across Sub Saharan Africa and South America. During the three years she was responsible for fundraising, the charity enjoyed record levels of income and opened tens of new schools.

Deb Ralls

Deb Ralls shares: 

The Children's Trust is such an amazing national charity. As a local Surrey resident, I see how important their work is to children, families and supporting services. I am excited to have the opportunity to support their work as a trustee and look forward to bringing experience from my personal life and professional work to support the charity’s success.

 

Richard Guest

Richard Guest is a management consultant and accountant with more than 15 years' experience of working in health, including leading EY’s public sector health advisory practice, and being Chief Financial Officer of Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust.  

Richard is also a Non-executive Director at Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust, and Vice Chair of the inclusion health charity, Pathway.

Richard Guest

Richard Guest says:

I am excited to bring my knowledge and skills to support The Children’s Trust, and to improve the lives of children with brain injury. I have been aware of the charity for a number of years and I am looking forward to working with such a highly regarded charity and supporting them in the important work they do.

 

Mike Thiedke, Chief Executive of The Children’s Trust, says: “We are delighted to welcome Deb and Richard to our board of trustees and look forward to working with them to give children with brain injury and neurodisability the opportunity to live the best life possible. The strategic leadership and expertise they bring to the organisation will help drive us forward. We are extremely grateful to all our highly dedicated volunteers, staff, and supporters who continue to work hard and support The Children’s Trust’s vital work.