Our spokespeople

British Red Cross spokespeople are available for media interviews and comments.

The British Red Cross can offer media spokespeople on a wide range of subjects. These include health and social care, crisis response, and issues around refugees and asylum seekers, both in the UK and overseas.

We are available 24/7 for media interviews, comment and information.

Please call our media centre on 0207 877 7557 or email press@redcross.org.uk.

British Red Cross chief executive, Beatrice Butsana-Sita

Béatrice Butsana-Sita

Chief executive 

Béatrice became CEO of British Red Cross in November 2023, joining us following some time as CEO of Greenhouse Sports charity and a successful career and leadership in telecommunications. 

Lisa Hollins, Executive director of UK operations, British Red Cross.

Lisa Hollins

Executive director of UK operations

Lisa joined the British Red Cross at the start of April 2022. She has extensive leadership experience in the health and social care sector, and is passionate about improving services.

She held various roles in the NHS including director of innovation delivery at NHSX, executive director at Kings College Hospital, and director at Barts Healthcare. She also a range of management positions across the emergency, community and mental health sectors.

Victoria Corbishley, UK director of independent living and crisis response at the British Red Cross.

Victoria Corbishley 

UK director of independent living and crisis response

Victoria leads the implementation of our new strategy, including targeted design and delivery of person-centred services and programmes in areas of high health inequality.     

Prior to joining the Red Cross, Victoria was the chief innovation officer at Brunel Partners Academic Centre for Health Sciences. Previously Victoria held a number of strategic development roles within NHSE, including head of new care models and transformation director at Eastern Academic Health Science Network.

Chris Davies, head of emergency planning and response at the British Red Cross.

Chris Davies  

Head of emergency planning and response 

Chris Davies is the lead for development of the Red Cross' operational capability to address the growing challenges of climate-related crises. He is also responsible for the delivery and development of our operations and support to community resilience across the UK.

Prior to joining the Red Cross, Chris served as an infantry officer in the British Army, which included operational deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as training missions globally, including in the Baltics and Ukraine. Chris has worked in NATO and in strategic plans for the UK Ministry of Defence.  

Richard Blewitt 1084 x 610

Richard Blewitt 

Executive director of international

Richard leads our humanitarian programmes in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, as well as emergency response around the world as part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.  

He previously was with the International Federation of Red Cross and Crescent Societies (IFRC) where he was head of delegation and permanent representative to the United Nations in New York from 2018 to 2020.  

Richard has also held senior positions with the UN Development Programme, the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and Save the Children.  

Luke Tredget, head of emergencies at the British Red Cross.

Luke Tredget  

Head of emergencies 

Luke Tredget is head of emergencies for the British Red Cross. His 13 years in international disaster response includes working extensively in Africa and Asia.

Luke has helped lead some of the British Red Cross’ biggest emergency responses in recent years, including the East Africa food crisis, Cyclone Idai in Mozambique, our international Covid response and the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

Christina Marriott, interim director of strategy and communications at the British Red Cross.

Christina Marriott

Christina is joint executive director of strategy and communications, leading the team to use evidence to advocate on behalf of those in crisis in the UK. She also leads the strategy team. 

Before joining the Red Cross, Christina led the Royal Society for Public Health, the world’s oldest public health organisation, as chief executive through the pandemic. Previously, she was chief executive of Revolving Doors Agency, which aims to break the cycle of crisis and crime.

Christina has also held leadership roles in the NHS and the Care Quality Commission, as well as being a research fellow at the University of Central Lancashire. Before that, she ran her own communications company.

 

Headshot photo of Rob Murray who is the Director for Scotland

Rob Murray

Director for Scotland

Rob is responsible for our health and crisis response work across Scotland and manages the work we do with our partners including the NHS, Scottish local governments and the voluntary sector. Rob represents the British Red Cross in various bodies including the Scottish International Development Alliance and leads our involvement with the Disasters Emergency Committee in Scotland. 
 
Prior to joining the Red Cross, Rob was chief executive of Cancer Support Scotland. He is also the chair of Voluntary Health Scotland and a keen scouter, leading their ‘Community Impact’ volunteer programme across the UK. 

Sal Copley, Executive director of communications and external affairs

Sal Copley

Executive director of communications and external affairs

Sal leads the communications and external affairs work, having started in September 2023. Before that, she was Sustrans’ executive director for external affairs, leading strategic communications, policy, public affairs, fundraising and supporter engagement.

Previously, Sal was director of policy, campaigns and partnerships with Alzheimer’s Society, where she focussed on growing their Dementia Friends programme. She also helped ensure that the government did all it could to fix dementia care, all with lived experience at the forefront. During the earlier stages of the pandemic, Sal was the political advisor to the shadow secretary of state for women and equalities. 

Other previous roles include leading global and UK influencing, programmes and campaigns with Oxfam GB, and leading Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns tackling domestic child poverty at Save the Children UK.