Rays of Sunshine appoints new trustees

Jane Sharpe and Divyesh Popat join the Board of Trustees

Today, on Monday 14th December, Rays of Sunshine announce changes to its Board of Trustees. The charity is pleased to welcome new Trustees, Divyesh Popat, partner at IWG LLP, and former Chief Executive Officer at Rays of Sunshine, Jane Sharpe. The charity also says goodbye to long-standing Trustees, David Joseph CBE, and Nick Davis.

Divyesh Popat joined IWG LLP, a firm of commercial lawyers based in Holborn in London in 1996 when he qualified as a solicitor and has been a partner since the year 2000. He specialises in commercial litigation and dispute resolution. He is father to 18-year-old Raul, who is currently living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Rays of Sunshine granted Raul’s greatest wish to be a mascot for Manchester United in 2013.

Jane Sharpe has been a passionate and dedicated member of Rays of Sunshine since 2003, initially as a volunteer, and then from 2010 to 2019 leading the charity as its Chief Executive Officer. During her time as CEO the charity granted over 7,000 wishes and reached over 60,000 seriously ill young people.

Divyesh and Jane join alongside the current members of the Board of Trustees: Stephen Allan, Chair of the Board, Daniel Coleman, and Justin Randall.

Stephen Allan, Chair of Board of Trustees at Rays of Sunshine, said:

I am delighted to welcome both Divyesh and Jane to the Board of Trustees. Divyesh not only brings his legal expertise and vast knowledge of working with charities in a similar space, but also a unique, and invaluable, perspective of experiencing the charity’s work first-hand. Jane brings her wealth of experience leading and growing the charity over the past nine years, to help us shape the future. I would also like to thank both Nick Davis and David Joseph for their long service and dedication to Rays of Sunshine throughout the years. We know they will both continue to be friends of the charity. We’re looking forward to the future and continuing our mission to bring joy and hope to children and families when they need it the most.”

Commenting on his appointment, Divyesh Popat, said:

I am humbled, honoured and excited to be joining ROS as a trustee. I am in awe of the amazing work that the charity does and the happiness it brings to the lives of so many sick children and their families. I experienced this firsthand when Raul was granted his wish and I know he still looks back on the experience with a smile on his face.  I am very much looking forward to working with the team and it will be a privilege to contribute.

Jane Sharpe added:

It’s a privilege to be joining the Board of Trustees and working with the team to ensure we continue our mission of brightening the lives of seriously ill children across the UK. I have seen the incredible impact the charity has on the children we support throughout my time with the charity and I am looking forward to helping shape its future and help it continue to grow and evolve.