Our team of executive directors

As CEO, Xavier’s job is to get the best out of the fantastic team at Sustrans through his leadership of the Executive team. He is accountable to the Board of Trustees for delivering our strategy and works closely with our trustees and external stakeholders.

Ever since childhood, Xavier has been fascinated by transport’s impact on society. He believes that how we get around shapes how happy we are as individuals, and how happy and healthy our society is. He thinks we could all be a lot healthier and happier and is thrilled to be an organisation making that happen.

Xavier joined Sustrans in June 2016 from Transport for London where he held a variety of roles. This included leading the modernisation of London Underground's stations, and developing a new cycling strategy for the city, which led to the introduction of the Cycle Superhighways and Cycle Hire Scheme. Before this, he advised international businesses and organisations on their strategies.

Xavier is a lifelong cyclist and a bit of a transport geek. He's a long-term Sustrans supporter and has too many cycles of various shapes and sizes. He's married with two young girls and lives in Surrey.

Sustrans is a reflection of its great people – those that bring talent, energy and commitment to making a positive difference to lives across the UK. Since 2019, Harry’s role as Executive Director, People & Organisation Development was to provide a framework in which our employees and volunteers could thrive. In the autumn of 2024, Harry took on a key leadership role of a complex and extensive change programme that will result in a new operating model for Sustrans, aligned to its new 5-year strategy.

Born to first-generation Indian immigrant parents, growing up on a council estate and as a disabled person, Harry is passionate about Sustrans being a charity ‘for everyone’. One that brings together diverse life experiences and voices to enrich the work that we do that helps others to walk, wheel and cycle.

As a Board Director of numerous organisations for over 30 years, his experience spans the charity sector, national and local government, academia, the NHS, regulation and the music industry.

Born in Coventry and now based in Bristol, Harry has travelled extensively with his work. He's led large-scale strategy, mergers and acquisitions, transformation, restructuring, organisation development, turnaround and change programmes.

In his spare time, Harry produces dance music, loves the art of street photography and lives the highs and lows of being an Arsenal fan. 

As COO, Matt oversees Sustrans’ operational delivery across the UK, working with national and regional Directors, and the Head of Northern Ireland. He is passionate about creating liveable cities, connecting people and helping to make a healthier, more active and positive future for ourselves and our children.

Matt joined Sustrans in 2006 as a route manager, before becoming London Director in 2017. Prior to Sustrans, he spent two years in Washington DC, working for a coalition of walking and cycling groups lobbying Congress on transport legislation.

Now based in Somerset, Matt is currently working towards a master’s degree in Sustainable Planning and Transport at the University of Hertfordshire. He spends his free time with his family, going on bike rides, running, travelling and supporting Arsenal (who he claims are the Pride of London).

Paul has been a charity leader for nearly twenty years. He has led communications, policy influencing and campaigns in a range of different areas including human rights, inclusion, criminal justice, health and social care. Before working in the charity sector, Paul worked in local government and politics.

Paul is big believer that social change happens when you build a diverse movement of people working to achieve something that matters to them, and that’s what Sustrans is doing by empowering people to make where they call home healthier and greener for them, their family and their community.

Paul grew up in Kent and now lives in Brighton with his husband. He loves taking his over-energetic labradoodle for walks in the South Downs and along the coast, but hasn’t tried her out on his paddle board and kayak yet because she’s way too bouncy. He’s a politics geek, loves reading, seeing stand-up and plays, writing the odd novel (none published) and travelling when he gets the chance.