Find out more about the Global Connections staff team:
Martin Lee
Martin joined the staff as Executive Director of Global Connections in April 2004. He is responsible for the overall direction of network and is passionate about mission being at the centre of all church life and people working together. He is also passionate about social justice issues and most of his career has been in the relief and development sector. He has undertaken a variety of training in the facilitation, personnel and financial areas. He has several other charitable interests, serving as a trustee of several charities including ECHO International Health Services and as chair of Penhurst Retreat Centre.
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Bryan Knell
Bryan is the Church Relations Director and joined the staff of Global Connections in July 1999. At a time when UK churches are suspicious of agencies and agencies are despairing of churches, he tries to help churches and mission agencies work together better and appreciate the special contributions they each can make in the cause of mission. He had previously been involved on the Management Committee of EMA for about 10 years while serving as the UK Director of AWM, a post he held for 16 years. Bryan is especially interested in Islam: lectures occasionally at the London School of Theology, hosted the Islamics Course at All Nations Christian College for 17 years and serves as the chair of CRIB (Christian Responses to Islam in Britain). He facilitates the Muslim World, China, Connect and Communication Officers forums and tries to build relationships with UK churches involved in mission. He has written 'Encouraging World Mission' originally published by Administry in 2000 and 'Churches and Agencies in Partnership' published by Global Connections in 2006.
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Originally from Northern Ireland, Evan came to personal faith in Jesus at an early age, largely through the influence of his parents. From the beginning of their relationship, Clare and he began to sense God’s call on their lives into cross-cultural mission work - this eventually led them to join the staff of Agapé to work in Malawi where he had both teaching and administration responsibilities. After six years they moved to Johannesburg, South Africa, to work with churches in training and developing strategies for outreach. In 1996 they returned to work in Agapé’s national office in Birmingham and have been involved in a variety of operational and field ministry activities since that time. Evan and Clare have 2 children: Anna (23) and Daniel (21).
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David Wright
David joined the team in January 2001 and is based in London. In his role as Business Manager, he is responsible for developing affinity schemes for our members and other membership issues. He also keeps the database up to date and looks after our book-keeping as well as facilitating the churches and small agencies forum. In his church, he is the missions co-ordinator, a homegroup leader and belongs to the prayer ministry team. He enjoys listening to all kinds of music and graduated from the Open University in 1999 with an Honours degree in music and history. He is married to Sue and has two adult sons from his previous marriage.
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Paul Tuckwell
Paul joined Global Connections in April 2007 as an intern having graduated from Warwick University the previous summer. In January 2009 Paul took on the role of Communications and Marketing Manager with responsibility for printed and electronic communications as well as the Global Connections website. He is also helping to administer the Business and Mission and Communication Officers forums.
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Ann Bower 
Ann is responsible for forums within the general area of mission to and within the UK, having joined the team in summer 2007. She is Co-ordinator of the Faith to Faith Forum and Resources Centre, having previously administered it as a separate entity for some eight years, when it functioned as a Christian consultancy and network of churches, agencies and individuals, aiming to encourage and equip Christians in the UK in their relationships with people of other faiths, through education and advice, so that Christians feel able to share their faith without causing misunderstandings. Faith to Faith is now a forum within the Global Connections network, acting as a key resource centre for expertise on other faiths, within the structures of Global Connections. Her other work includes the East Asia Diaspora Forum, the Pole to Pole consultation and assisting on other forums. Ann has a background of involvement in mission activities through her local church and through Activate, as well as in local and national support of the Church Mission Society.
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Jane Showell-Rogers
Jane is part-time with Global Connections’ as events co-ordinator. Her responsibilities are for the annual conference and various forums: International HR, Short-term Mission, Member Care and TCK, Thinking Mission, and Youth and Children. Jane has had extensive involvement with a variety of Christian Organisations including IFES and Friends International and has taught in Adult Education. One of her specialities is Psychometric Profiling. Jane is a Magistrate and a Trustee and Member of the East Region Council of OMF UK
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Sandy joined the staff of Global Connections in January 2009 as part-time PA to Martin Lee. She has recently returned with her family from five years in Kenya, where she had been working at St Andrew’s School, Turi in administration and music teaching, and was also involved in setting up an income generating project amongst local women. Prior to this she was employed in the Rugby and Warwick District voluntary sectors with special interest in good practice in the management of volunteers. In the more distant past she was on the administrative staff of IFES, Belmont Chapel in Exeter, and Saltisford Church in Warwick. In her spare time she is studying part-time for a master’s degree and helping to bring up three sons with her husband Andrew.
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Bryan is the Forum Coordinator of the Business and Mission Forum which helps mission agencies to connect effectively with business and professional people who have a vision for using their experience and expertise to extend the Kingdom. Bryan has been involved in the forum's relaunch this year. For 20 years Bryan worked for British international companies, exporting products to the Middle East, Africa and Western Europe. For the following 20 years he has run his own management consultancy and training business. During this period he also worked in Eastern Europe, and increasingly saw how he could become a “business missionary”. In addition to his role in Global Connections, Bryan is a trustee of four Christian charities.
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