Meet the Team

The UK COCO team is below. Click 'Meet Our Partners' to learn about our team in East Africa.

Board of Trustees

Chair

Steve is the Chairman and Co-Founder of COCO and one of the UK’s most well-known Olympians. Since appearing aged 17 at the Commonwealth Games in 1978, Steve’s many achievements include six Gold medals at the Commonwealth Games and the European and World Championships. At the 1984 Olympic Games he earned a Silver medal in the 1500m, and the following year he broke world records in the 1500m, 2000m and Mile. Since retiring from competitive athletics Steve has become a very successful television commentator.

Steve Cram CBE

Christine is a Trustee of COCO. Christine is a qualified Chartered Accountant at KPMG and spent 13 years working with KPMG before moving into the industry. She currently works for Wilton Universal Group as Finance Director. Outside of work Christine enjoys running, regularly seen sporting Team COCO colours around the North East and beyond. She has also recently developed a love of golf, following the Steve Cram Celebrity Golf Day. She lives with her husband Dave in Newcastle, and is looking forward to trekking Wadi Rum for COCO in November.

Christine Stobbs

Matt Baillie Smith is Professor of International Development at Northumbria University, where he co-directs the Northumbria Centre for International Development. Matt works in partnership with a range of development organisations in the UK and internationally, and his academic research has focused on issues including NGO strategies for engaging the public in development, development education, and volunteering in humanitarian and development settings.

Matt Baillie-Smith

Safeguarding Trustee

Chris Dixon is the Public Benefit lead for Vodafone Foundation, a UK-registered charity that uses technology to address some of the world’s most pressing issues, and co-ordinates Vodafone Foundation’s digital education programmes in Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa. He has more than a decade’s experience managing governance, risk and compliance matters in both the private and charitable sectors. He is a strong believer that access to quality education is fundamental to building an inclusive and prosperous society.

Chris Dixon

Since graduating from Strathclyde University with a BA in Psychology, Rebecca has worked in the Financial Services Business Development sector for over 30 years, primarily as a Business Development Director. Since joining Curtis Banks in 2015 as a Key Account Director, Rebecca has been responsible for the relationship and business development of one of their largest client bases. Rebecca brings enthusiasm, networking and event management to the COCO Board. As a keen hiker and occasional runner Rebecca has climbed Machu Picchu and taken part in the GNR for COCO.

Rebecca Brennan

Carsten has enjoyed an award-winning career of over 25 years in the payroll industry. No stranger to fundraising, Carsten has also donned the orange Team COCO jersey on many occasions, running the Barcelona, Amsterdam and Kielder marathons (to name but a few), cycling across Kenya and leading a winning Coast to Coast team. A native of Denmark, Carsten is an adopted Geordie with a legendary zest for life. Firmly believing ‘we make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give’, his generosity and enthusiasm endear him to everyone he meets.

Carsten Staehr

Ida is a seasoned development professional with over 15 years’ experience managing diverse

Community programmes in Kenya.

She currently works as a Markets Engagement and Strategic partnerships Manager in the GSMA Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation (M4H) programme. She has been instrumental in shaping and driving adoption of mobile and digital technology in the delivery of Humanitarian assistance.

Ida is passionate about communities transforming into self-sufficiency leading to reduced inequalities.

Ida Juma

UK Office

Pip joined COCO as Impact and Partnerships Officer in July 2023, becoming Impact and Partnerships Manager in April 2024. She has experience working overseas and within other non-profit organisations, and has PhD from Newcastle University which focused on Female Empowerment in India. She has previously worked in Uganda, Tanzania and India and is passionate about tackling gender disparities. Pip is also a huge animal lover!

Impact and Partnerships Manager

Pip Chapman

Suzanne was delighted to join COCO in January 2025 as a part-time Administration Assistant. She brings with her a wealth of experience, having spent 25 years at Cintra HR and Payroll Services, where she held the roles of Operations Director and later Director of Culture. During her time at Cintra, Suzanne supported COCO through various initiatives and collaborations.

In 2022, she made the unusual but exciting decision to step away from office life and venture into the world of hospitality. Alongside her partner, Carsten Staehr, she purchased a small wine bar in Heaton—a total change of direction!

Despite this, Suzanne remained closely connected to COCO, serving as Company Secretary for two years and continuing to support events and campaigns. She is extremely proud to now be part of the COCO team and describes every day with the charity as “a delight!”

Suzanne Cowen

Now acting as our Interim CEO, Carsten is taking COCO into the future with energy, heart, and vision. Firmly believing that ‘we make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give’, his generosity and enthusiasm endear him to everyone he meets.