Our Team

Nicholas Tubbs has been working continuously in the property industry since 1979, after turning down an Army Scholarship to attend university. In 1988, Nicholas was appointed Chief Executive of Stickley and Kent Ltd, becoming the country’s youngest Chief Executive, before selling the company and setting up his own property development business. In 2010 and together with Ken McMillan, Nicholas formed AFV Estates Ltd and in 2013, he co-founded AF&V Launchpad Ltd. Nicholas remains a Director of AFV Estates Ltd and a Trustee of Launchpad; in January 2017, he took over as Chair of the trustees.

Lucy Perriam was educated in Newcastle and graduated from Girton College Cambridge in 1985. She worked for two years as an account manager for J Walter Thompson Advertising in London.  She became one of the first TA Public Information Officers, before being commissioned as a full-time officer into the WRAC. She came top of her Sandhurst course. Following a series of postings, including Adjutant of the HQ Signals Regiment in Berlin, she retired and worked for several years in primary schools in East Lothian, as well as bringing up her family. Since 2008, she has been employed as a private PA in Edinburgh and is a volunteer member of the Children’s Panel. In 2013, she trained as a mentor with homeless charity The Rock Trust. She became a Trustee of Launchpad in 2016 and was appointed Vice Chair in July 2019.

Ken McMillan joined as a soldier at 17 and rose through the ranks to become a commissioned officer in 2006, having served in all major conflicts since the Falklands War. In October 2009 and after 25 years’ service, Ken left the Regular Army and in partnership with Nick Tubbs, he set up AFV Estates Ltd and the veterans’ charity AF&V Launchpad Ltd. Ken was awarded an MBE in 1998 for services to the Army and was appointed a Prime Minister’s ‘Point of Light’ in 2017. He continues to serve as a Major in the Army Reserves and is currently deployed to the British Army Training Unit in Suffield, Canada.

Philip Mixer is a recently retired General Practitioner. He was senior partner in a practice he joined over 30 years ago in a Yorkshire market town. His medical interests included the teaching and training of junior doctors as well as the appraisal of established practitioners. He also headed an occupational health consultancy.

He continues to hold a part-time judicial appointment with the Tribunal Service where he sits in the Social Entitlement Chamber and the War Pension and Armed Forces Compensation Chamber.

He was able to combine his career in General Practice with one in the Army Reserve culminating in his appointment as Deputy Director of the Army Medical Services with the rank of brigadier.

He was fortunate in being recognised for his services with his appointment as an Honorary Physician to Her Majesty the Queen, as a Deputy Lieutenant in the East Riding of Yorkshire and receiving the Queen’s Volunteer Reserve Medal.

Richard Dixon-Warren was appointed as a Launchpad Trustee in May 2017 following the completion of 40 years’ service in the Army.

Born and bred in Africa, Richard served across the globe on operations, garrison and training duties, and exchange and loan service. In 2003, he became one of the first Joint Regional Liaison Officers, a post created after ‘9/11’ to provide a military focal point in each UK region to represent the Armed Forces as the lead for the Defence contribution to resilience.

Richard is adjusting to life outside the Army and enjoying the freedom and challenges this brings. Whilst considering options for his next career, he continues to sit on the Lincolnshire Committee of the Army Benevolent Fund – The Soldiers’ Charity, is a Parish Councillor and occasionally chairs his local Neighbourhood Police Panel.

Mark Underhill served 35 years in the British Army and became a colonel. Initially commissioned into the Royal Corps of Transport, which then became the Royal Logistic Corps, he completed tours in Cyprus, Germany, UK and three tours in Hong Kong.

He left the Army in 2013 and has remained working for the Ministry of Defence, currently as chief executive of the Reserve Forces’ & Cadets’ Association for the North West of England & the Isle of Man.

Mark was awarded an MBE while working in the Ministry of Defence and then an OBE for his support to Operation TELIC. He is currently the Honorary Colonel for 158 Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, a Trustee for the Hong Kong Locally Employer Personnel Trust and President of the Movement Control Warrant Officers Dinner Club. In April 2019, he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Merseyside.

Mark is married to Debbie. They have two sons, who have both served in the Army and he is passionate about sport. His hobbies are cricket and rugby.

Sharon Stainsby-Thompson is an experienced Trustee and Director, having worked in both the charitable and private sectors. She has been a Trustee at CDLPN, Head of Education for Catch 22 charity and is a Trustee and Director at North East Learning Providers.

Sharon is passionate about working with charitable organisations to ensure the best possible outcomes. As a qualified teacher, trainer, coach, mentor, IQA and assessor, she has worked in the education and skills sector for more than 18 years and is qualified with the Chartered Management Institute. She is a consummate professional with considerable experience including strategic management, governance, change culture, business growth, quality assurance and performance management including HR functions and financial performance management.

She is currently Director at Stainsby Education Solutions, working in partnership with private providers and local authorities and giving consultancy support in business quality development and growth. Sharon has links with the military through her family.

David Shaw concluded his military career as the Major General commanding 2nd Division and Governor of Edinburgh Castle in 2012. He is co-founder of Launchpad and has been Chair of Trustees from 2013 to 2017; he resigned as a Trustee and became CEO in January 2017. He is also founder of the Veterans’ Foundation. He has a significant background in change management and public relations, and among other appointments, he was Director of the Army’s Media and Communication. David was awarded the CBE in 2012 for services to the Army and was nominated as a Prime Minister’s Point of Light in 2017.

James served in 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2009. During that mission, he stood on an IED which exploded.  He lost both of his legs and suffered a broken pelvis and tail bone.

In 2018, he was selected to represent Team GB at the Invictus Games in Sydney competing in the wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball, gaining silver and bronze medals respectively. In September 2019, he became the first military double amputee to reach the top of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Royal Artillery veteran, Dan Smith served 14 years as an adventure PTI and GMLRS Commander in the British Army, completing military tours of Afghanistan and Northern Ireland.

Seven years after leaving the military and to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War, he kayaked solo the length of Britain in a bid to raise £25,000 for The Royal British Legion.

The 998-mile ‘Paddle of Britain’ challenge saw him set off from the top of Scotland in 2018 and paddle via inland waterways to the south coast of England. It took him 53 days to complete the challenge raising a staggering £27,000.