David Carrington has been an independent consultant since 2001 and draws upon 25 years' worth of charity experience in senior management positions.

He won the Outstanding Achievement Award at the 2013 Charity Awards for his huge and diverse contribution to the sector over 45 years.

Prior to going freelance, Carrington was chief executive of the Health Foundation for three years, director of the Baring Foundation from 1992 to 1998 - during the disastrous collapse of Barings Bank - and before that CEO of the Housing Associations Charitable Trust.

He is currently chair of the Alliance Publishing Trust, a non-executive director at Big Society Capital, chair of Bridges Charitable Trust, a member of the Centre for Effective Philanthropy Advisory Board, chair of the Inspiring Impact Programme Board, a member of Triodos Bank's supervisory board, and a trustee of Gulan and SOFII.

His enormous CV also boasts a host of past board and committee volunteer memberships, including chair of the BBC Appeals Advisory Committee, a trustee of BBC Children in Need, chair of the Charities Aid Foundation Grants Council, director of the Community Channel and founding chairman of the Media Trust.

Image by Fergus Burnett