Board of directors

Martin Burt, Board Member

Martin Burt is founder and CEO of Fundación Paraguaya, an NGO devoted to the promotion of entrepreneurship among the world’s poor. A pioneer in microfinances and youth financial literacy in Paraguay, he developed one of the world’s first financially self-sufficient agricultural schools for the rural poor - creating a radical new model for education and providing the inspiration for Teach a Man to Fish's unique mission.

In addition to his work in civil society, Martin was elected twice as president of the Paraguayan-American Chamber of Commerce, has served as Vice Minister of Commerce, and was elected Mayor of Asunción. 

Martin has received the Microfinance Award for Excellence in Social Responsibility from the Inter-American Development Bank, the Outstanding Social Entrepreneur Award from the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, the Skoll Foundation Social Entrepreneur Award, and the distinguished alumni award from the University of the Pacific and the George Washington University, as well as the Social Innovation Award from Brigham Young University. In addition he has been awarded the UNESCO Orbis Guaraniticus Medal, and the Eisenhower Fellowship Award from the USA and Taiwan.

He is Visiting Professor in Social Entrepreneurship at the University of the Pacific in California. He serves as a Regional Board Member for Junior Achievement Worldwide, and as president of the social entrepreneurship wing of the Accion International microfinance network. Mr. Burt has books published on economics, development, and poetry.

Hannah Crabtree, Board Member

Hannah Crabtree is currently Head of Media at Macmillan Cancer Support, a charity that works to improve the lives of people affected by cancer. Since joining the charity in 2008, she has worked on a number of campaigns, including ones calling for free prescriptions for cancer patients and an end to fuel poverty for cancer patients.

From 2006-2008 Hannah ran the press office at The Institute of Cancer Research, where she helped promote the Everyman Male Cancer Campaign. From 2002-2006 she worked in the media office at international development charity ActionAid, where she was one of the core PR team for Make Poverty History and was the media relations lead on emergencies, including the tsunami, and on world trade.

From 2000-2002 Hannah worked at Save the Children and at The Princess Royal Trust for Carers from 1998-1999. She studied journalism at City University and Literature at Sussex University and University of California, Santa Cruz.

Guillermo Peroni, Board Member

Born in Paraguay, Mr. Peroni registered as Lawyer in 1962 in Argentina and in 1968 in Paraguay. He studied at the University of Buenos Aires where he earned his law degree. He is the founder of one of Paraguays most prestigious law firms: Peroni, Sosa, Tellechea, Burt & Narvaja.

In addition he has developed ranching and farming operations, and is currently involved with oil and gas exploration in Paraguay with foreign investors. He was selected as Eisenhower Fellow for Paraguay for 1969-1970. He is the author of the book: “Paraguay: Laws & Economy” (1985). He has led an active professional life, including being elected President of the Association of Finance Companies of Paraguay, 1981-1982; President of the American Paraguayan Chamber of Commerce, 1986-1987; President of the Paraguayan Argentinean Chamber, 1996 - 1998 and 2002-2004.

He is a member of the Bar Association of Argentina, Bar Association of Paraguay; Inter American Federation of Lawyers; American Society of International Law; International Bar Association. His specialty is in International Private Law, Aeronautical and Marine Law, Privatizations, Banking and Investments. Mr. Peroni is currently Honorary Consul of the United Kingdom in Paraguay. He is married and has six children.

Dr Nicola Radford, Board Member

Dr Radford was born in London, went to school at Wallington High School for Girls - where she was head girl and went on to study medicine at the University of Bristol.  She graduated in 1998, has worked in hospital medicine in London, the South West and Wellington, N..Z. and has travelled extensively. 

It was whilst volunteering at a hospital in Paraguay that she became interested in International Development and came across the world's first financially self-sufficient school. 

Inspired by this innovative model she became one of the founding members of Teach A Man To Fish.  She is a Specialist Registrar in Emergency medicine, married and has one child.

Timothy Adkin, Board Member

Tim Adkin was called to the Bar of England & Wales in 2004 and since then has practiced as a Barrister in chambers at 42 Bedford Row in London predominantly in Employment and Personal Injury matters.  He has a busy practice advising clients on litigation and representing them in Courts and Tribunals. 

Prior to this Tim worked for 5 years as a management consultant, advising corporate clients on strategy and private equity clients as part of commercial due diligence.  As a consultant he worked initially for the Coba Group (now part of PwC) and then Credo Consulting in both London and New York.

He is married with one child and lives in London..

Jim Stephenson, Board Member

Jim is a Forests & Ecosystems consultant at Price Waterhouse Coopers UK specialising in community forestry and rural development. In this role Jim has been responsible for a number of high profile assignments for international NGOs and multilateral donor agencies.

Jim has previously managed a range of rural development projects in Latin America and East Africa and carried out research with the World Agroforestry Centre in Tanzania. Jim has experience in capacity building, training programmes, social research, fundraising, business and organisational development.
Jim has an MSc Forest Ecology & Management (Distinction) from the University of Edinburgh.

Stacey Swimer, Board Member

Stacey is Head of International Programmes and Partnerships at World Jewish Relief, responsible for the oversight and development of a range of international projects.

Stacey graduated from the LSE with a Masters in Development Management in 2005 and has since had programme management experience in the NGO world, managing projects in Latin America, Africa and Asia, as well as living in Zambia.  

Stacey joined the Teach A Man To Fish team in June 2009 and has worked closely with many of the projects as well as attending the 2009 conference in Ecuador and visiting La Bastilla in Nicaragua. 

Ryan Borroff, Board Member

Ryan Borroff is an automotive design writer, journalist and psychologist. A contributing writer and editor to print media including Interior Motives magazine, the car design magazine he conceived and created in 2001.

He continues to contribute to newspapers and magazines on automotive and design-related matters and has organized and chaired various design-related conferences and awards competitions around the world.

He is as fascinated by automotive form as he is by the people that pen them. He lives in London.