Trustees and Patrons
Our Board of Trustees and our Patrons play a vital role in the governance and strategic direction of Regain. Comprised of individuals with diverse backgrounds – including athletes, business leaders, and those with lived experience of tetraplegia – our leadership ensures that our charity remains accountable, impactful, and deeply rooted in the needs of our community.
Our trustees provide the oversight necessary to safeguard our funds and ensure that every penny raised goes toward transforming the lives of people living with high level spinal cord injuries.
Ivan Jones CB became Chairman of Regain Sports Charity in 2024, bringing with him a wealth of leadership experience from a distinguished military career. Commissioned into the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in 1986 and later transferring to the Royal Engineers, Ivan held numerous senior command roles over his 35-year service. His deployments included active service in Afghanistan, where he was awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in 2008. Rising through the ranks, Ivan served as Commander of the 8th Force Engineer Brigade, Chief of Joint Force Operations, and ultimately as Commander Field Army, one of the most senior positions in the British Army, before retiring in 2021.
Beyond his military accolades, including being appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 2018, Ivan has continued to serve in honorary and advisory roles, including Honorary Colonel of the Engineer and Logistic Staff Corps and Colonel Commandant of the Adjutant General’s Corps. As Chairman of Regain, Ivan is deeply committed to supporting people with spinal cord injuries through sport and fitness, and plays an active role in the charity’s strategic development and fundraising initiatives.
Lord Ivar Mountbatten (President)
Lord Ivar Mountbatten is the longest serving of Regain’s Trustee having been first appointed to the board in 1994. He became Chairman in 1999. Ivar is also a trustee of the “C Group” a subsidiary charity of the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund; the C Group’s looks after the welfare of injured Royal Marines. Ivar is a geologist by profession and worked for many years in South America before returning to the UK where he has worked in many diverse areas of business, such as Corporate entertainment, Self Storage, Music and Farming.
Ivar is an active participant in many of Regain’s fund raising activities having entered several teams for the Snowdonia Challenge over the years, as well as several of the overseas bike challenges. In fact his team was the first winner of the Snowdonia Challenge in 1993.
Rob Smith (MBE)
Rob Smith MBE broke his neck in a cliff fall accident in 1996. He has a degree in mechanical engineering which he uses creating products for those with reduced hand function as the CEO of The Active Hands Company. He has been a high level athlete in both wheelchair rugby and wheelchair racing and still competes today.
He has travelled extensively as a back packer in a wheelchair, been a DJ and events organiser and is now a husband and father to Jacob and Xanthe. Rob has been on many Regain overseas challenges including Cuba, China, Brazil (where he proposed to his wife), and London to Paris.
Miles Dean
Miles is a Partner, Head of International Tax at Andersen LLP. He is the co-author of International Tax Systems and Planning Techniques (Sweet & Maxwell) and The Principles of International Tax Planning (Corpus), as well as numerous academic articles.
Miles has a varied client base ranging from owner-managed businesses to international investment funds, real estate businesses, supermodels, golfers, models and racing drivers. Miles has been vocal in the tax avoidance and is frequently asked for comment by the national daily papers, TV and radio. Miles specialises in finding bespoke, commercially workable solutions that create significant tax benefits for individual and corporate clients.
As well as being a Dad to Jim and Tom, Miles enjoys; Yorkshire cricket, Nottingham Forest FC, the West Highlands of Scotland, food and travel as well as buying random music from Amazon and tinkering with Ebay.
Paul Coleman
I was introduced to Regain by my cousin, Dominic, one of the “older” crop of Trustees. Spending time with Dominic was my first exposure to the life-changing impact spinal cord injuries inflict not only on the individual but across their family and friends. It’s also been a privilege to witness at first hand the resilience and practical fortitude shown by Dominic and other beneficiaries of Regain, as they adapt to living with tetraplegia.
As a day job, I run an early-stage investment firm that builds technology companies. I started my career as a research scientist working on tropical diseases before spinning out a biotechnology from Oxford University and moving over to the commercialisation of research. Since joining Regain, I’ve been working with Gwynne and the other Trustees in developing a new business plan that should enable the charity to grow and be in a better position to help more people.
Sport has always played a central part of my life (although my achievements probably peaked early aged 11 when representing St Helen’s School at rugby league) and it’s inspirational working with Regain to help get people back into sport and regaining as much of their independence as possible. Together with my wife Andrea, I’m now passing on my sporting passion to my three young daughters, Cleo, Thea and Orla, although they do seem more inclined to tennis than rugby league!
Stephen Killick (Treasurer)
Regain welcomed Stephen Killick to the board of Trustees in April 2019. Stephen joins the board with a wealth of experience in financial management. Stephen is 1st Option’s Finance Director and is a chartered management accountant and a CIMA member in practice. After qualifying he gained experience in a variety of commercial organisations covering all aspects from financial control in SMEs to corporate finance and acquisition work in a large multinational. Stephen joined the BBC in 1992 where after working to establish the case for commercialising a £350m division he was then appointed as Finance Director of the newly incorporated entity and as part of that management team turned round the company to sustained profitability, enabling the sale of a division into the private sector and the significant repatriation of funds to the shareholder through restructuring equity and contracts. Stephen is responsible for 1st Option’s strategic finance and also advises on contracts, insurance and other related finance issues.
“ I am delighted to be a member of Regain Trustees and am looking forward to helping the Charity achieve its financial goals in the next few years.
Dominic Coleman
Dominic Coleman has been a trustee of Regain for almost 20 years. Dominic broke his neck in a sporting injury in 1993 becoming tetraplegic at a C-5 level.
Dominic is a great support to our Regain tetraplegic community and is the weekly host of our online Tetra Talk, which is a great support network. He also has an incredible knowledge of anything to do with adaptive equipment and he headed up our grants programme for many years.
Outside of Regain, Dominic is a keen hand cyclist and he has even cycled around Bali and Kenya to raise funds for the charity. He is also an avid rugby and Formula 1 motor sport supporter and he can regularly be seen at rugby matches and the race track.
Simon Killick
Simon Killick joined the board of Trustees in June 2025. Simon is a Solicitor in England & Wales having qualified in 1985. He adds considerable experience in legal matters having left private practice as a Partner in Olswang LLP, London (now CMS Cameron McKenna). Simon then joined a fund management group in London as Group Legal Counsel, focusing predominantly on the Structured Finance Division. Since 2008 he has been engaged in structuring and financing asset-backed and other operating businesses in the UK and Europe with both equity and debt.
Simon has been Chair of Governors of a Tower Hamlets school, trustee of the Institute of Social and Ethical Accountability and trustee of Positive East (a London based AIDs charity). Since appointment the role has extended to constitutional changes, registration in Scotland and ad hoc regulatory advice and assistance. Simon looks forward to playing an active role on all matters legal.
Will Weston
Will brings a unique synthesis of senior healthcare leadership, rigorous professional training, and profound lived experience to the Regain board. This integration allows him to identify hidden challenges and untapped opportunities, ensuring solutions are not just compliant on paper but deliver genuinely viable results in the real world.
His professional background spans a 15-year career at the highest levels of the NHS, most recently as a Medical Services Director at a children’s hospital and major trauma centre. His expertise is grounded in strategic planning, financial oversight, and clinical governance. This approach is underpinned by three university degrees, ensuring his leadership across an array of complex hospital programmes is analytical and evidence based.
Crucially, Will’s professional acumen is underpinned by the lived experience of his C5/C6 spinal cord injury, sustained in 2006. This ‘Reality Lens’, which informs his work in accessible design and litigation through his consultancy – All Ways Access – ensures his strategic recommendations are based on a deep understanding of the functional reality, holistic needs, and complex systemic challenges faced daily by tetraplegics.
Based in the North-East of England, Will enjoys spending time with his family, exploring the outdoors, and enjoying watching England play cricket. He is passionate about ensuring every tetraplegic is given equal opportunity to lead a full, independent, and fulfilling life.
Stevie Antonioni
A commercial and marketing leader with over 20 years’ experience across organisations including LADbible Group, The Spectator, and Telegraph Media Group. Brings a strong track record in developing sustainable revenue strategies, building partnerships, and leading high-performing teams in fast-changing digital environments.
Experience spans major corporate milestones, with particular expertise in audience growth, digital transformation, and income diversification. Offers a deep understanding of the UK advertising and media landscape, alongside experience guiding organisations through change and identifying new opportunities for growth.
As a trustee, brings a practical and commercially grounded perspective, supporting the charity to strengthen its financial sustainability, expand its reach, and maximise its impact.
Patrons
Brough Scott
In February 1962 Brough Scott won a point to point at his very first attempt. If that was something of a miracle, he only had to wait a month before receiving an even more generous gift from fate he walked away from hospital a day after falling and cracking a bone in his neck. Since then, through 8 years as an amateur and professional jockey and then nearly 50 as a broadcaster and journalist, he has never forgotten his good fortune. He has ridden at Cheltenham, Aintree and far beyond. He has broadcast all over the world. Brough says ” I have greatly admired the way Regain has given tetraplegics who have had a sporting accident opportunities to show that “incapacity” is an inappropriate word. For me supporting Regain is not just necessary, it is an inspiration.
Mark Foster
Mark Foster is one of Britain’s most respected sports media personalities. As a five-time Olympian, World, European and Commonwealth Champion and holder of eight world records in a career spanning 23 years, Mark Foster is one of Britain’s most successful swimmers. In 2008 Mark was chosen as the flag bearer for the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony which he cites as one of his proudest moments. Since retiring Mark has cemented himself as a regular commentator on our screens around major international swimming events, a brand ambassador, an inspiring keynote speaker in both in the corporate world and to aspiring youngsters through his swimming academy.
In 2017 Mark spoke publicly about his sexuality revealing to the wider world he was gay. Mark says “ I am very proud and honoured to be a patron of Regain. I recognise that many tetraplegics who receive support from Regain have had an accident through diving. I believe the work they are doing in educating young people about the danger of diving into shallow water is vital in helping to prevent more spinal injuries.
Paul Sculthorpe
Paul Sculthorpe is the man who was born to be a superstar. Touted as a future Great Britain skipper before he even played his first game as a professional, he has more than lived up to the billing over the ensuing years.The only player to ever be named Man of Steel in successive years, the St Helens captain is arguably the most talented man to grace a rugby league field in modern times. Yet Sculthorpe did not always have his sights set on Challenge Cup and Grand Final glory. 4 x Super League titles, 4 x Challenge Cup winners, 2 x World Club Challenge winners, 6 x England Caps, 26 x Great Britain caps and St Helens & Great Britain captain. ‘I’m honoured to be a patron for Regain and support a fantastic charity. I’ve had teammates who have suffered life-changing spinal injuries and seen first hand the challenges they face, so it’s a pleasure to help where I can and back an amazing team at Regain’
Charlie Hodgson
Retired English Rugby Union Player, Charlie Hodgson, is the leading premiership points scorer of all time – and now a patron for Regain. Having been the Fly Half for Sale Sharks and Saracens, he also played for England, before announcing his international retirement in 2012.
Charlie says: “I was honoured to be asked to be a patron of Regain. Having played at a high level of sport, I recognise how devastating it must be to have a spinal injury as a sports player. I know that Regain helps many tetraplegics, who have sustained an injury playing Rugby. To be supported to get back into playing sport at any level after your injury is a great thing.”
Luke Tarrant
Luke Tarrant is an adventurer, storyteller, and former investment banker whose life took an extraordinary turn in May 2024. While motorbiking solo through Colombia on the way to Antarctica from the US, he was involved in a near-fatal crash that resulted in the loss of his left leg, multiple fractures, and a fight against sepsis.
Luke’s response? To lean into uncertainty, rebuild from the ground up, and share it all with raw honesty and unexpected humour. Within weeks, he was walking again. Months later, he had built a powerful online community of over 650,000 people, drawn to his bold take on life after trauma.
Now partnering with leading lifestyle and fitness brands including Samsung, Lululemon, and PureGym, Luke continues to travel, train, and inspire through a message rooted not in limitation, but in possibility. His story is a testament to the human spirit: that even in the face of life-altering events, you don’t have to wait for the perfect moment to keep moving forward.