Iain Rawlinson

Iain’s Biography

Iain is an experienced Chair and Board Director, Charity Trustee and Strategy Adviser, specialising in the leadership of Boards of listed and private companies in a growth or development phase.

Iain began his career in investment banking with Lazard Brothers and Robert Fleming, where he built up a leading Southern African investment banking team. On the sale of Robert Fleming to JP Morgan he was appointed to establish Fleming Family & Partners, where he was a founding partner and COO from 2000 to 2003. He went on to hold several senior posts within FF&P before establishing his own office in 2005.

Iain has since undertaken a range of business and charitable roles including as NED and Chair of the Audit and Remuneration Committees at Dana Petroleum PLC and, after a successful period advising the shareholders, as Chair of The Monarch Group, leading its transformation and preparing the Group for its eventual sale. He was NED at The Parkmead Group PLC, and at the Royal Bournemouth & Christchurch Hospitals NHS Trust.

He is currently NED at Eurasia Mining PLC, and was appointed... Iain is an experienced Chair and Board Director, Charity Trustee and Strategy Adviser, specialising in the leadership of Boards of listed and private companies in a growth or development phase.

Iain began his career in investment banking with Lazard Brothers and Robert Fleming, where he built up a leading Southern African investment banking team. On the sale of Robert Fleming to JP Morgan he was appointed to establish Fleming Family & Partners, where he was a founding partner and COO from 2000 to 2003. He went on to hold several senior posts within FF&P before establishing his own office in 2005.

Iain has since undertaken a range of business and charitable roles including as NED and Chair of the Audit and Remuneration Committees at Dana Petroleum PLC and, after a successful period advising the shareholders, as Chair of The Monarch Group, leading its transformation and preparing the Group for its eventual sale. He was NED at The Parkmead Group PLC, and at the Royal Bournemouth & Christchurch Hospitals NHS Trust.

He is currently NED at Eurasia Mining PLC, and was appointed Chair of Global Philanthropic, an adviser on philanthropic capital flows, in January 2021. He co-founded Vico Partners, the strategy and communications adviser, in 2017, and returned to private practice in Rawlinson Partners in 2023 to focus on his Board and leadership roles, advisory appointments, and new investments.

Iain’s philanthropic activities began in 1991 as a founder member of the London International Piano Competition and continued with his appointment as a Trustee and Chair of Tusk Trust; as Chair of the International Boatbuilding Training College in Portsmouth; and as a Governor and Chair of Governors at Walhampton School. He also volunteered with the Centre for Social Innovation at the Cambridge Judge Business School.

Iain was educated at Birkenhead School, the University of Cambridge and the Inns of Court School of Law. more less

Iain’s Newsfeed

Alliance Magazine

Will the pandemic usher in a new era of corporate philanthropy?

Iain Rawlinson explains, ‘The potential for philanthropy to become part of the DNA of the business is significant – it’s about shaping a strategic approach to the deployment of money, time, information, skills and people to achieve outcomes ..."

Iain’s Background

Rawlinson Partners Limited

Principal

2005 - Present

London, UK

Rawlinson Partners co-ordinates Iain's business and charitable activities.

The Monarch Group

Executive Chairman

2009 - 2014

Luton, UK

Following a six month advisory role, Iain was appointed Chairman of Monarch with a remit to restructure the business and strengthen its governance, management and investment case. During his tenure he successfully brought the company back to profitability and began negotiations for the company’s eventual merger.

Fleming Family & Partners

Chief Operating Officer & Senior Adviser FF& Partners Ltd, Chief Executive FF&P Advisory

2000 - 2005

London, UK

Iain was one of the founding partners of the Fleming Family Office, which was set up by the family following the sale of Robert Fleming to JP Morgan Chase in 2000. Iain wrote and executed the business plan for the whole family office, and was Chief Operating Officer from 2000 to 2003, going on to hold senior positions in the group until 2005.

Robert Fleming & Co.

Head of Corporate Finance

1994 - 2000

Johannesburg, ZA

Iain joined Robert Fleming corporate finance in London in 1994. He was appointed to Robert Fleming in South Africa in 1995 to establish a new corporate finance team in Johannesburg in the aftermath of the new presidency of Nelson Mandela.

Lazard

Corporate Finance

1986 - 1994

London, UK

Lazard, formerly known as Lazard Brothers, is one of the world’s leading financial advisory and asset management firms. Iain joined Lazard Brothers’ corporate finance department in 1986 and worked on a wide range of corporate M&A transactions and capital raisings in UK and overseas.

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Current Board Positions

Global Philanthropic

Chair & Director of the Board

Jan 2021 - Present

Iain re-joined Global Philanthropic in January 2021 as Chair & Director of the Board, having served as Deputy Chairman from 2007-2014. Global now advises some of the largest non-profit organizations and most powerful philanthropists around the world, to help them fulfil their giving strategies and aspirations.

Eurasia Mining PLC

Non-Executive Director

May 2020 - Present

London, UK

Eurasia Mining Plc is an international mineral exploration company. The principal activities of the Company and its subsidiaries are related to the exploration for and development of platinum group metals, gold and other minerals in Russia. The company has an office in London and two offices in Russia where field campaigns are planned and executed.

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Previous Board Positions

Vico Partners Limited

Founder & Partner

2017 - 2023

London, UK

Vico Partners is a senior level strategy and communications consultancy that advises Chairmen, CEOs and Boards on critical issues which affect their business. Iain cofounded this business in 2017.

The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Non-Executive Director

2017 - 2020

Bournemouth, UK

Iain was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in 2017. He was also a member of the Trust’s Audit and Finance Committees, overseeing the financial position and performance of the hospital leading up to the merger between the Bournemouth and Poole Hospitals to form the University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust in 2020.

The Parkmead Group PLC

Non-Executive Director

2010 - 2020

Aberdeen, UK

Iain was a Non-Executive Director of The Parkmead Group PLC, an AIM-listed independent energy group. He chaired its Remuneration Committee and was a member of the Audit Committee. Parkmead was the successor to Dana Petroleum PLC which was sold to KNOC in late 2010.

Dana Petroleum PLC

Non-Executive Director

2005 - 2010

London, UK

Iain held several roles at this UK-based oil and gas production and exploration company including Senior Independent Director, Chair of Audit Committee and Chair of Remuneration Committee. Dana Petroleum was sold for £1.9 billion in 2010.

Sindicatum Carbon Capital

Non-Executive Director

2006 - 2010

London, UK

Previously known as Sindicatum Carbon Capital, Sindicatum Renewable Energy Company Pte. Ltd (Singapore) develops, owns and operates clean energy projects in South and South East Asia.

Lithic Metals & Energy PLC

Non-Executive Chairman

2007 - 2009

Iain was Non-Executive Chairman of Lithic Metals & Energy, an AIM-listed business focused on nickel and uranium exploration in Zambia and Togo. The company was later acquired by Afnat Resources Ltd.

Global Philanthropic

Deputy Chairman

2007 - 2014

Iain advised on the establishment of Global Philanthropic, founded out of a commitment to spread the power of philanthropy as a transformative force for good.

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Philanthropy

Tusk Trust

Honorary Vice President

2002 - Present

Dorset, UK

Tusk Trust is a conservation charity that raises funds to support habitat, communities and wildlife in Africa. Iain has been involved with Tusk Trust since 2002 and was Chair from 2004 to 2013 during which time the charity developed its relationship with HRH Prince William, its Royal Patron. Iain chaired Tusk’s Development Board from 2014 to 2021, and is now an Honorary Vice President.

Walhampton Independent Preparatory School

Chair of Walhampton School Foundation Trust

2017 - 2023

Lymington, UK

Iain became a Governor of Walhampton School in 2017, and was Chair of Governors from 2018 to 2023, leading the Board through a period of strategic change and development in this leading independent pre-prep and prep school located in the New Forest, Hampshire. He is now Chair of the Walhampton School Foundation Trust which was established in 2023.

International Boatbuilding Training College

Chairman & Trustee

2016 - 2019

Portsmouth, UK

Iain was Chairman of this traditional boatbuilding school, located within the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard during its development, and led its subsequent merger with the Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust in 2018.

Cambridge Judge Business School

Practitioner Fellow, Centre for Social Innovation

2016 - 2019

Cambridge, UK

Iain was a Practitioner Fellow at Cambridge Judge Business School’s Centre for Social Innovation from its foundation in 2016 until 2019. During his tenure as a Fellow, he helped launch an academic programme which examines both social innovation within the context of corporate and public sectors, and the need to develop novel solutions to the deep-rooted 'wicked problems' in society and globally.

Rainmaker Foundation

Chairman

2012 - 2014

London, UK

Iain was chair of Rainmaker Foundation during its formative years. The charity’s aim is to inspire generosity, connect people with causes that are meaningful to them and achieve greater impact as a collective. The charity was set up by Mike Dickson who founded Whizz-Kidz.

London International Piano Competition

Founding Member

1989 - 1993

London, UK

The London International Piano Competition is open to pianists of all nationalities under the age of 29 and is held every three years.

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Accreditation

Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR)

Qualified Mediator

2009

London, UK

The Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) is a mediation and alternative dispute resolution organisation that is based in London. It was established in 1990 to support the application of Alternative Dispute Resolution in commercial disputes.