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Our Team

Mary Lonsdale

Chair of Trustees

Mary had the idea to set up the Afghan College for Girls, having previously founded and run Mentor Education. Mentor Education is one of the UK’s leading tutoring agencies, and won ‘Tuition Agency of the Year’ at the Education Investor Awards in 2022. Mary is passionate about girls’ education and is Vice President of The Tutor’ Association, the UK industry representative body. She is also the author of the best selling book “How to Pass the 11 Plus”. She had a degree in English and Classics from Leeds University and is a Chartered Accountant. She has two children and likes reading.

Kate Kettle

Director

Kate has overall responsibility for running the Afghan College for Girls, and spends much of her time overseeing the charity’s strategy, fundraising and impact reporting. Prior to joining the Afghan College for Girls, Kate ran her own education business which she sold in 2023. Alongside her responsibilities at the the Afghan College for Girls, Kate is a Trustee for the Bridge Builder Trust in Oxford, and sits on the Advisory Board of charity Migrant Leaders. She has a History degree from University of Oxford. 

Hannah Larsen

Operations Director

Hannah is our Operation’s Director. She has extensive experience of girls’ education having started her career at James Allen’s Girls’ School. She has hired all of our tutors, organises all the classes for the children and ensures that our operations are safe and well run, as well has having communication with the girls directly. She has a degree in Public Relations and Communications from University of Greenwich, and is often found back in her native Cornwall. 

Tag Rowe

Trustee

Tag is currently studying law and aims to practice as a commercial solicitor. He has a general interest in geopolitics, human rights and international aid. Tag enjoys getting involved with voluntary projects that address injustice and inequality. In 2021 he regularly attended a pro-bono legal clinic in London; this involved offering ad-hoc legal advice to people from the local Latin American community. Tag’s interest is by virtue of his military experience in the British Army. In preparation for deployments, he was required to learn the local languages and understand the local customs. Given his legal and military background he feels honoured to be part of a charity that aims to address this injustice with positive action.

Additionally, he volunteers his time at an amateur women’s football team, providing his expert knowledge in strength & conditioning and sports therapy.

Justin Nowell

Trustee

Justin was educated in Lancashire before pursuing a degree in Biochemistry at the University of Liverpool, following which Justin took his medical degree and trained as a doctor. Justin then spent the next 26 years working in the National Health Service as a cardiac surgeon. He became a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 2010. He was then in 2012, appointed as Consultant Cardiac Surgeon at St George’s Hospital. During his time working there Justin was involved in saving many lives and is now President of the ‘Friends of St George’s’ (Charity number 209330).

After dedicating his life to St George’s for four years Justin then decided on having short term change of scenery where we moved to the Middle East to work as a heart surgeon. On returning to the UK, Justin continues to maintain an interest in surgical teaching and training. 

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