Matthew Gilpin
Matthew is an investment fund director and serial technology and finance entrepreneur.
Born in an RAF hospital to a family with strong links to the RAF, he studied Law at Oriel College, Oxford, with professional qualifications in corporate finance and regulation as well as quantum computing and artificial intelligence from MIT. He is a qualified barrister.
After practising at the bar where he specialised in financial regulation, he moved into equity capital markets and fund management with a focus on emerging Europe with CA-IB/Bank Austria/EMAC and global equities with Taube Hodson Stonex Partners where he was also responsible for new fund structuring, marketing and fundraising from institutions and wealth managers.
Matthew is Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner for a pan-European industrial real estate group and co-founder of high-tech start-ups in the UK and Canada. In 2010 he founded a boutique spirits company making award-winning gin.
He is a member of the Chartered institute for Securities and Investments, Royal United Services Institute and the Institute of Directors as well as a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and British Interplanetary Society – the UK’s learned society for astronautical science and space advocacy.
Hemma Gooljar
A communications professional, including international experience in the Middle East and Eastern Africa, Hemma is passionate about illuminating untold stories of the Royal Air Force – past, present and future.
Hemma strongly believes that the RAF Museum can play a vital role in supporting everyone in understanding the Royal Air Forces’ people, aircraft, operations and innovations, and help them recognise their significance on society today, and future endeavours. She considers herself incredibly lucky to have seen first-hand the dedication of RAF serving personnel and veterans, and is committed to ensuring the RAF Museum is a welcoming, thoughtful and inspiring space for individuals from all walks of life.
A member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, Chartered Institute of Marketing and the Chartered Management Institute, Hemma currently oversees communications and external affairs for one of the UK’s largest youth organisations.
Hemma is an avid traveller – when not immersing herself in global cultures or gazing out of an aeroplane window, she occupies her spare time fostering dogs with Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
Waseem Mahmood OBE
Waseem Mahmood is a strategic communications expert having developed and managed several major projects specifically in Countering Violent Extremism and illegal migration. An award-winning broadcaster, he remains one of the youngest credited producers on BBC television. He worked for eight years at BBC Pebble Mill, producing and directing a variety of shows. He left the BBC to set-up and run TV Asia, Europe’s first satellite channel for ethnic minorities. More recently, Waseem has been working as a consultant overseeing the production of television programmes all around the world. From minority Russian language programming in Estonia to a youth culture show in Kenya, from documentary programming in Jordan to local consumer programmes in Vietnam, Waseem’s programme portfolio is as varied as the multitude of locations he has worked in.
In 2005’s New Year’s Honours List, Waseem’s work was acknowledged with the award of an OBE for services to the reconstruction of media in post-war countries. He has been advising many governments on communication strategy; his last posting was in Northern Nigeria. where he was responsible for the launch of a Hausa language TV station in Northern Nigeria which he set up and ran for the US State Department supporting the Counter Terrorism Bureau’s CVE agenda in the North.
Other highlights of his career include developing a comprehensive five year strategic communication strategy countering violent extremism in Pakistan. This included running a successful Pashto radio soap for young people, ‘Da Duniya Zamung Duniya’ (Our World) and the ‘Yeh Hum Naheen’ (This is not us), anti-terrorism foundation in Pakistan aimed at de-radicalising young Muslims. In 2008, developed and ran a major multimedia campaign which culminated with world-record-breaking 62.8 million Pakistanis signing a petition condemning terrorism.
He is currently back in UK getting back into production making films that tell extraordinary stories of extraordinary endeavour and passion.
Waseem was awarded an OBE in 2005 in Her Majesty’s New Year’s Honours List ‘for services to the reconstruction of Media in post war countries” and received the KAPPA lifetime achievement award “for most outstanding contribution to media’.
Julie McGarvey
Julie is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and has 30 years’ experience in strategic communications, brand building, sponsorship activation and reputation management.
She has provided counsel to blue chip clients in the private, public and third sector across aviation & transportation; tourism, arts & culture; sport & leisure; retail, property & construction; food & drink and financial services.
Julie is the former co-founder of 3×1 Group, an independent communications and digital consultancy with offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. She is a past-chair of CIPR Scotland; former adviser to the University of Stirling’s MSc in Public Relations and non-executive director of the arts charity Culture Republic. Her media career spanned the BBC World Service and Radio Clyde after graduating from the University of Strathclyde in Arts and Business Studies.
Caroline Rolfe
Caroline supports and advises charities and public sector organisations on governance, strategy and impact, mainly in the arts and cultural sectors and is chair of CIPFA’s Governance and Assurance Forum. She is a Governor of The Charterhouse (almshouse) and chair of the Finance and Audit Committee. She is also a patron of Birmingham Museums Trust.
Following a varied career with the Audit Commission and as a Senior Civil Servant working in Transport, the Home Office and HM Treasury, she served as the Director of Resources at The Royal Parks. Caroline is a qualified accountant and member of the Association of Project Managers.
An enthusiastic learner, she also gained a qualification from the Centre for Charity Effectiveness in Grantmaking, Philanthropy and Social Investment. Parks and gardens are her passion for their health and wellbeing giving benefits. She is member of The Royal Parks Guild and is a volunteer with the CSSC (Civil Service Sports Council).
Air Marshal Peter Ruddock CB CBE FRAeS RAF (Ret’d)
Peter Ruddock was Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin UK between January 2016 and April 2021; he also served as chairman of the main fiduciary board and as a director on six subsidiary boards. Peter retired from the RAF as a 3-star early in 2011 and joined Lockheed Martin, as Business Development Director for the UK, later the same year. Peter was appointed a Trustee of the RAF Museums in 2021.
Air Marshal Ruddock’s early career as a fighter pilot included running the RAF’s equivalent of ‘Top Gun’ and displaying the Spitfire and Hurricane for 5 seasons. He held a number of high-grade staff appointments and commanded RAF Coningsby, where he was operational on the Tornado F3. Peter was the Director of Air Staff and completed an operational tour as the Commander of the UK Air Component for both Afghanistan and Iraq. Latterly, Peter served as the RAF’s Air Secretary / Personnel Director, prior to spending five years delivering a multi-billion pound a year defence portfolio for the UK MoD overseas.
Peter was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in 2011, Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 2001 and awarded the US Legion of Merit for outstanding leadership on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is a Freeman of the City of London and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.
Nick Sanders
Nick is a engineer by training and spent the early part of his career in the aerospace industry with Rolls Royce and Lucas Aerospace ( now part of Collins Aerospace) in a variety of technical and operational roles.
He then moved into the Private Equity industry firstly as CEO of CompAir ( an air compressor manufacturer) and then Deloro Stellite ( a specialist materials business). He then became a founding partner of Better Capital LLP where he took on the role of Executive Chairman of Gardner Aerospace.
Nick now manages a portfolio of private businesses and advises Private Equity firms on new or existing investments.
A life long aerospace enthusiast he was involved with the Vulcan to the Skies trust before becoming a Trustee of the RAF Museums.
RAF Representative
Air Vice-Marshal Ian “Cab” Townsend CBE MA RAF
Air Vice-Marshal Ian Townsend (known as Cab) was commissioned into the Royal Air Force in March 1992. Following flying training, he was posted to IV(AC) Sqn at RAF Laarbruch to fly the Harrier GR7. He spent the next 9 years on the front-line becoming a Qualified Weapons Instructor in 2000. Townsend deployed on operations on each of his Harrier Force tours beginning in the Balkans in 1998, Iraq in 2003 (where he received a Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service) and Afghanistan. He was also one of 4 pilots to conduct operational missions into Afghanistan from HMS ILLUSTRIOUS in early 2005.
Promoted to wing commander in 2007, he was posted to the Directorate of Joint Capability (MOD, London) where, as SO1 Joint Target Effects, he was the subject matter expert for all Combat Air matters and responsible for the future planning and day-to-day management of the air weapons stockpile. Townsend attended the Advanced Command and Staff Course at JSCSC Shrivenham in 2009 completing a Master’s degree in Defence Studies and was posted back to the Harrier GR9 to take command of 1(F) Sqn. However, the cancellation of Harrier in 2010 forced another career path! Seeking further ’operational challenge’, he volunteered for the post of Chief of Staff Operations at 83 Expeditionary Air Group, Al Udeid Air Base where he spent 6 months as the UK ‘Red Card Holder’.
Townsend took command of Number 3(Fighter) Squadron flying Typhoon in April 12. During his two years in Command, he led the Squadron’s deployment to Lithuania conducting Baltic Air Policing and conducted a number of high-profile Defence Engagement activities in the Middle East. He also championed the increasing use of synthetics in the delivery of front-line operational capability. Townsend joined the Lightning Force HQ in 2014, filling the roles of Chief of Staff, Deputy Force Cdr and Force Cdr before commanding RAF Marham between July 2017 and July 2019. During this period, the Station sustained Tornado GR4 operational output, enabled Tornado’s successful retirement and simultaneously generated F35B Lightning Initial Operating Capability including its first operational deployment. Townsend was appointed CBE in 2020 for his work at RAF Marham. Townsend took command of 903 Expeditionary Air Wing at RAF Akrotiri in September 2019 and was responsible for the delivery of mission-ready air capabilities across the Middle East. He was promoted to Air Commodore in March 2020 taking up post as the Assistant Chief of Staff (ACOS) Capability Strategy at Air Command and transitioned to the role of ACOS Combat Air in December 2021 responsible for F35B Lightning, Typhoon, weapons, and operational training including synthetics. Townsend was promoted to Air Vice-Marshal in May 2023 becoming Director Training and taking command of No 22 Group. He became the Assistant Chief of the Air Staff in November 2025.
Townsend is married to Jo and has 2 adult children. Townsend is a Level 6 rugby union referee officiating for both the RAF and Buckinghamshire Referees Society. He is also President of the 3(F) Sqn Association and Chair of United Kingdom Armed Forces Rugby Union.