Trustees – Pen Portrait.
Richard Taylor
As a commercial financial leader with over 25 years of experience, Richard Taylor brings a wealth of expertise to Kinetic, where he serves as a trustee with particular focus on the aiding Kinetics’ management with financial reporting and stewardship. His extensive background in finance and leading multi-national operations positions him to help Kinetic navigate the financial landscape and to help Kinetic operate with a strong financial foundation for growth.
Richard’s career has spanned several blue-chip companies and has involved overseeing complex finance and operational teams. His role at Kinetic is to provide financial, commercial, and legal assistance, helping to ensure that the charity meet its financial goals, responsibilities and obligations.
Richard currently serves as the international director for TopCashback as well as being a founder and co-owner of an ecological surveying business based in the highlands of Scotland.
His commitment to leadership in both the corporate, ecological and non-profit sectors highlights his dedication to making a positive impact in various fields. Whether he’s guiding a multi-national business to success or supporting youth initiatives, Richard approaches each challenge with a focus on strong financial underpinnings to create sustainable growth that benefits all connected parties.
Oliver Ragg
Oliver Ragg is a purpose-driven entrepreneur. As co-founder and CEO of TopCashback, a money-saving website, he and the whole team have helped millions of people save, whilst growing the company into a UK leadership position and an international success story while embedding ethical and environmental responsibility at its core, following their ‘Fair Play’ ethos.
Oliver’s passion extends beyond business, with a strong commitment to sustainability and social impact. He instigated the launch of TopCashback’s Green Cashback initiative, encouraging eco-conscious shopping, and is proud to have co-launched Fair Play Clean Energy, a Joint Venture alongside Thrive Renewables plc which is an £80 million renewable energy company, set to help drive the UK’s clean energy transition.
As a trustee at Kinetic Youth, Oliver brings his business acumen, with an emphasis on ensuring future financial sustainability. More widely he champions initiatives that benefit individuals, communities and the environment aiming to make a meaningful and lasting impact.
Dr Lynn Furber
I have spent most of my career in the public service sector and, for the past six years, have been running my own not-for-profit organisation. My passion lies in helping healthcare professionals enhance their communication skills—giving them the confidence and strategies to have better conversations with patients, colleagues, and the public.
Through training and facilitation, I focus on making meaningful interactions easier and more effective, ultimately improving experiences for both professionals and the people they support.
Esther Horner-Aird
‘With over 25 years of experience in youth work, Esther has worked across local authority youth services, the voluntary sector, and the private sector. This diverse background has given her valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities youth workers face today, as well as a deep understanding of the complexities involved in building strong, effective, and collaborative cross-sector relationships.
Esther began her career as a part-time youth worker at the London Borough of Bexley, where she gained her JNC qualification and progressed to the role of Youth Development Officer. She went on to lead the national social enterprise Kinetic Youth Ltd for over a decade, overseeing the development, delivery, and evaluation of youth services against measurable outcomes.
In 2022, Esther joined the NYA as Deputy Director of Youth Work, with a focus on Quality and Standards. Passionate and proactive, she is committed to ensuring the sector has access to relevant, achievable, and well-funded opportunities that enhance the quality of youth work practice across the country. She now serves as the Strategic Youth Voice Lead for the NYA while also leading the National Youth Council to the UK, overseeing youth voice engagement across the UK, Europe, the Commonwealth, and the UN.
Esther is also a trustee at Kinetic Youth Ltd, supporting the growth and development of youth work within the Youth Justice sector. She brings a wealth of senior management experience, backed by a Level 7 Chartered Management qualification.
At her core, Esther is a youth worker—driven by a vision of a fairer, more equitable, and progressive society for young people.’
Hannah Smithson
Hannah is Professor of Youth Justice at Manchester Metropolitan University. She has over 20 years of experience undertaking research with justice-involved children. Her work is underpinned by advocating for children’s rights. She brings her considerable experience of working in the youth justice system to the Kinetic Board.
Outside of work she likes to drink gin whilst camping in the family camper van.
Sarah HK Barley-McMullen
Sarah HK Barley-McMullen is a dynamic leader and advocate, devoted to advancing inclusion, equity, and community empowerment. A professionally qualified Youth and Community Worker, and HE academic Sarah has spent her career creating safe spaces and nurturing a sense of belonging for marginalised communities.
Her professional journey spans both academia and activism, including her roles as a Senior Lecturer in Youth Work and Community Development and Diversity and Inclusion Lead at the University of Derby. In these positions, she taught at post UG and PG levels, as a programme and module leader. Sarah encouraged the development of Staff Employee Networks across the University in her role as Diversity and inclusion lead and was awarded many whole staff awards including Change Maker of the Year, and Outstanding Contribution to Liberation. She was also made a Stonewall Role Model of the Year in 2019. Despite navigating the personal challenges of Long Covid, Sarah continues to champion change, offering her expertise as a Patient Partner with the Post Covid Clinical Society UK and volunteering with the charity Long Covid SOS.
As Chair of the charity board of trustees for Kinetic Youth, Sarah supports the CEO and Trustees to develop and deliver transformative youth work services. She also leads Pride in Belper, voted one of the UK’s most inclusive Pride events, which welcomes thousands annually and embodies the principles of accessibility, sustainability, diversity, and inclusion. A proud gay Christian, Sarah is married to her wife Helen, and together they remain unwavering in their shared mission to amplify voices, break barriers, and inspire meaningful change