Trustees

Jennifer has had the privilege to serve as our Chair of Trustees since 2016. She is mother of two girls aged 3 and 8. Her eldest was diagnosed autistic in 2016 at the age of 4. Jennifer and her family have been part of the Skylarks family since 2014 when her family relocated to Richmond Borough. She brings to the board both her personal experience of raising a child on the spectrum, as well as her previous professional background as Global Human Resources Director for such brands as L’Oreal and LK Bennett.

She says: "After a short amount of time serving as a Trustee in 2016, I was asked to Chair the Board. It is my distinct honour and pleasure to serve in this capacity. Our job is to ensure that those who use our services are as informed, supported and empowered as they can possibly be. It takes a village to raise our special kids and Skylarks plays a brilliant role in providing help and support for our families."

I have been involved in Skylarks since 2006 (when my son attended the charity) and a Trustee since 2010. I am originally Lebanese but lived in Jordan until I moved to the UK in 2000. I am trilingual in Arabic, English and French. I have a son with additional needs. I am a private Doctor and have an MSc in Applied Psychology and Mental Health. I travel internationally speaking on such topics and helping other professionals. I have previously been the Chair of Richmond Parent Carers' Action Group, the parent forum for our area, and a committee member of the NAS (National Autistic Society) Richmond Branch. I worked heavily with the Richmond local authority on the implementation of the Children and Families Bill in 2012 to 2014, which is now the basis for our SEND law. I have regularly attended the council’s CYPwDLD (Children and Young People with Disability and Learning Difficulties) meeting, which is the local council services oversight group, to lobby to protect services for our community in the face of threatened or actual cuts. In May 2011, I completed the Three Peaks Challenge for Skylarks. My passion is working directly with children and changing attitudes towards those with additional needs.

My journey with Skylarks began in 2017 as my wife, and I learned about the challenges we would face with my young daughter. 

I am the father of two, a boy and a girl.  My daughter was diagnosed with SYNGAP-1, a rare genetic condition that presents as a severe learning disability. Through engaging with Skylarks, we found a host of activities for both my children. We also found a wealth of valuable information and a community for us as parents.

Professionally, I work in Venture Capital to support emerging businesses to grow. At Skylarks, I look to borrow from my professional experience to help steer strategy and fundraising activities.

Rajan Thevasagayam is a Chartered Certified accountant who has over thirty five years of audit and accountancy experience in many different sectors such as auditing, banking, retailing and for the last 14 years has been working in the charity sector including a 9 year role as head of finance of a major international charity. He has also worked in both Sri Lanka and UK