Meet the Mission Motorsport Team
Mission Motorsport is run by by a team of professionals - with a combined military service of over 150 years between them. We’ve a unique mix of industry, commercial, recruitment, coaching, mentoring and instructional experience but with a common thread of really, properly caring about those whose lives have been affected by military service.
Having served 17 years in the Royal Tank Regiment, he returned from his last tour of Afghanistan in 2011 determined to help those whose lives he had seen impacted by military service. A Grade A race instructor, his enthusiasm and vision - to harness the power of sport for wider good - drives the organisation to this day. His determination to put duty of care for those in need first, sets the tone for everything that the charity does. Rather than talk about PTSD his is a story of Post Traumatic Growth, and he works hard to promote the same in others.
James Cameron, CEO, Founder
After a successful 20yr career in the Army with the majority of that time spent in the Royal Logistic Corps. Mark previously worked for four years as the Workshop/ Project Manager for a global market leading classic car restoration company. A massive supporter of the charity, Armed Forces community and lifelong petrolhead. Mark spent five years of his service in Germany and is no stranger to the Nürburgring covering in excess of 1000.5 laps and the occasional meet and greet with Germany’s finest Armco. Undeterred, Mark can often be found on a UK racetrack where he races his Honda Civic Type R competitively in the Armed Forces Race challenge. Mark considers himself to be ridiculously honoured to be a part of the Mission Motorsport team and looks forward to being able to put some smiles on some faces.
Mark White, Operations Manager
Steve left the British Army in 2013 having served over 20yrs as an Infantry Officer. Since leaving the military, he has worked in several management roles until joining Mission Motorsport in July 2018. Passionate about veteran welfare, he now heads up Jaguar Land Rover’s Armed Forces Engagement Programme, providing vocational advice and support to service leavers and veterans.
Steve Lees, Armed Forces Engagement Manager, Jaguar Land Rover
Aston volunteered at Mission Motorsport’s launch back in 2012 as a serving soldier. He retired after 24 years of service as the highest qualified Welfare Senior Non-Commissioned Officer in the Army and assumed a full time role looking after the fleet and the delivery of the charity’s sporting output.
Aston Dimmock, Workshop Manager
Jonathan came into the world of the Armed Forces charity sector in 2016, when he was employed at the Poppy Factory, as a Project Manager and Business Analyst, working for a pan-organisation collaboration WIS Veterans Employment Group. He then went to work as a PMO Project Manager for Help for Heroes, followed by PMO Business Partner at the Royal British Legion. He had previously worked in different roles at the University of Oxford, finishing as a Project Manager in IT Services. Jonathan is now getting stuck into project work in Mission Motorsport, looking to contribute to the great work of encouraging service leavers and veterans to seek opportunities available to them.
Jonathan Marks, Project Manager
Kate joined the MM team in November 23 as an Armed forces Engagement Lead for Mission Community after working for 6 years as a Regional Employer Engagement Director for South East Reserve Forces’ & Cadets’ Association delivering Defence Relationship Management and supporting organisations to sign the Armed Forces Covenant and move through the Employer Recognition Scheme.
Prior to this she ran her own events business delivering large outdoor public events specialising in live music, food & drink, chef demonstrations and local craft beers.
In addition, she co-founded The Real Business Club with two colleagues in 2009 and ran a training/networking CiC delivering support and bespoke courses for those considering/starting their own business funded by local authorities and corporates going through a time of redundancies.
A prolific networker and collaborator she looks forward to continuing to work with employers and organisations to help make the UK the best place to be a Veteran.
Kate Lole, Armed Forces Engagement Lead, Mission Community
Brian left the Army in 2013 following a 36-year career in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Since leaving the Army he has held directorships of two companies delivering services and consultancy into in high-risk industries. Brian has a passion for charitable work, being awarded the BEM in the Queens Birthday Honours List in 1992 for services to charity, supporting various charities for over 40 years - the last 3 years as a volunteer of Mission Motorsport.
As a double cancer survivor, and having suffered a major accident while in service, Brian has witnessed how important it is to properly care about those whose lives have been affected by military service. Brian joins the team as the Mission Community Chief of Staff.
Brian Penfold, Chief of Staff - Mission Community
Laura joined Mission Motorsport in November 2020. Wife of a veteran Royal Engineer and beneficiary, she is no stranger to military life or the work that Mission Motorsport does. Joining the team first as Executive Assistant and Comms lead for the charity, she is now the Community Manager.
Finally fulfilling her lifetime dream of working with injured service personnel and their families, Laura is passionate about helping veterans and their families on a journey of recovery.
Laura Westrope, Community Manager
Rachel joined Mission Motorsport in February 2022 having previously been involved as a volunteer. Having completed her first biathlon of foolishness in 2021 there was no going back !
Whilst not having a forces background, Rachel has always been close to all things automotive as her father was a mechanic for over 50 years helping friends build and mend their F3 cars.
Rachel has Type 1 diabetes which was diagnosed when she was only 5 years old, but this doesnt’t stop her from making the most of life. In 2018, having suffered a severe hypo attack, Rachel was left with a brain injury as a result of complications. It is this has driven her passion to support beneficiaries with similar hidden injuries.
Rachel Hale, Accounts Administrator
Joining the Mission Motorsport Team in August 2021 , Lee has over 30 years experience having worked at a variety of companies including VGL and Sign Language Ltd (CGI) . Passionate about cars and motorsport, Lee is keen to teach and provide training opportunities for others.
Lee Winstone, Livery Manager
Jonny’s civilian career has seen him run campaigns at every level of government and across the veterans’ sector including project managing Deloitte’s Veterans Work campaign and as a consultant to Defence charities. Vitally, his experience from the time he led an MOD’s employer relationship management team has meant that he has become a trusted networker within the armed forces community. His lengthy Army Reservist service includes operational tours of Northern Ireland and Afghanistan. In 2013, following a tour of Afghanistan the previous year, he was awarded a Commander Land Forces’ Commendation for his work as a Pashto Linguist and Intelligence Analyst. This resume of political experience, veterans affairs knowledge and military service places Jonny in a unique position as the UK’s pioneer of transferable military skills to wider UK civil society. He has been the Reserve Forces Reserve Mentor on Reservist Mental Health at the MOD, work that helped extend the offer of ‘Op Courage’ to the Reservist community, and is host of ‘Veterans In Politics’ podcast, interviewing veterans from across the globe who have ‘stood up to serve again.’ In 2023, he was selected for Team UK for the Invictus Games as part of his own recovery journey through sport.
Jonny Ball, Consultant - Mission Community
Anne is an Occupational Therapist with over 20 years experience working in a variety of clinical settings including trauma orthpaedics, pain management, hand therapy and rehabilitation. She currently works at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre as the Professional Lead for Occupational Therapy and has been volunteering at Mission Motorsport since 2015.
Anne has supported our beneficiaries with physical and mental health needs providing advice and treatment; as an occupational therapist Anne looks at activities that we all do in life and barriers that may impact on us achieving our goals and how we can overcome them. Ps she knows nothing about cars
Anne Segalini, Lead Occupational Therapist
Francis first became involved with Mission Motorsport in 2021 as a volunteer prior to taking up the role of CFO in June 2022, leaving that role in Dec 23. He returned to the fold in Aug 24 on a part time basis to oversee the finance function.
A chartered accountant with over 20 years experience in a wide variety of companies and industries he is committed to ensuring that Mission Motorsport maintains a sound financial footing and that maximum benefit is derived from all the charities resources.
Francis Hale FCA, Head of Finance
Jill has a background in military and civilian charities, raising awareness and supporting the needs of forces families, and those vulnerable in society. Her most recent post included being responsible for fundraising and reporting. Whilst her husband is now a veteran, Jill now has a son serving in the Army, and is keen to use the knowledge built up in her previous roles to support the beneficiaries of Mission Motorsport.
A keen Stoke city fan, Jill has 3 dachshunds, she mostly spends her spare time trying to get them to stop barking!.
Jill Baines, Head of Grants, Donations and Sponsorship
Charlotte joined Mission Motorsport in January 2024 as the Fundraising and Events Assistant. With a diverse background including graphic design and as a military magazine editor, Charlotte brings creativity and attention to detail to her role. As a military spouse and mother of two, she understands the importance of adaptability and efficiency. Charlotte is known for her exceptional organisational skills and her willingness to get involved in any aspect of a project. If you have a fundraising idea, she’d love to help!
Charlotte Wilson, Fundraising & Events Assistant
Duncan joined the RAF in 1985, serving 24 years, mainly in Logistics. Subsequently he worked in the NHS Primary Care arena for a number of years, as well as in private Education and also British Airways. Alongside his career roles, he has worked as an expert witness, supporting veterans who have been wounded and/or injured. Duncan joined ghe team in July 2023 and is tasked with promoting the benefits of employing members of the Armed Forces Community in the Renewable Energy industry, through Mision Renewable.
Duncan Forde, Armed Forces Engagement Lead, Mission Community
Sarah joined the MM team in November 23 as an Armed Forces Engagement Lead for Mission Community.
The founder of ‘Supporting the Unsung Hero’, the first business start-up programme for families of the Armed Forces community, her passion for supporting individuals into business has enabled over 2000 families start and grow in business where she has provided guidance, training, and mentoring.
A member of the MoD Partner Employment Steering Group, Sarah formed the Partner Employment Working Group bringing Armed Forces organisations together and launched the first-ever families’ awards - Celebrating Forces Families.
A strategic player on the West Midlands Employer Engagement group and Chair of the Defence Relationship Management Gold Award association groups, Sarah launched the Chamber Military Network to further advocate the Armed Forces Covenant via the Chamber of Commerce network, supporting 52 chambers to improve their pledge to the Armed Forces and to support the British Chambers of Commerce to lobby issues to Government.
Sarah Walker - Armed Forces Engagement Lead, Mission Community
Ed Tilston, Commercial Consultant
