CHRIS LEWIS, CHAIR
Chris is the chair of the VCTA, having succeeded Will Fraser-Allen in the role as of January 2024.
Chris brings over 25 years of wider industry experience to the Chair. He is currently Chief Financial and Operating Officer at Pembroke VCT, which manages more than £200m in VCT assets, spanning a diverse portfolio of over 40 growth-stage companies. Prior to joining Pembroke in 2019, Chris was the Chief Financial Officer at Downing LLP, which was an active investor in growing businesses through its VCT and EIS products. He has also worked in professional services, with KPMG & EY, and with a Family Office.
WILL FRASER-ALLEN, CHAIR (2022-23)
Will is the previous chair of the VCTA, having succeeded David Hall in the role in July 2021. He is Managing Partner of VCTA member Albion Capital and chairs the Albion investment committee. He also sits on the Venture Capital Committee of the BVCA.
Will joined Albion in 2001 and has over 20 years’ experience investing in healthcare, leisure, media and technology enabled businesses. He is passionate about the positive impact venture capital backed healthcare and technology companies will have on the way we live and work. Prior to joining Albion, he qualified as a chartered accountant and has a BA in History from Southampton University.
JUSTINE DUGGAN, CHAIR OF POLICY COMMITTEE
Justine is the Chair of the VCTA Policy Committee. She is the Head of Public Affairs of VCTA member Octopus Group.
She started her career at the Mirror Group Newspapers and worked at various national newspapers before embarking on a career in public affairs. She made the jump in 2009, working for the Rt Hon Brandon Lewis MP and Dr James Davies MP. After seven years in Parliament, she went on to work at iNHouse Communications, taking on clients such as Sky, Diageo and NHBC, before joining Octopus Group.
EWAN MACKINNON, CHAIR OF DATA COMMITTEE
Ewan is the Chair of the VCTA Data Committee. He is a Partner at VCTA member Maven, where he heads up the investment teams in Glasgow and North East England, and is a member of Maven’s Investment Committee.
Ewan has 25 years’ experience managing, advising and investing in SMEs. He joined Maven in 2009, having previously worked in Johnston Carmichael’s corporate finance team. Ewan has extensive industry experience, having been managing director of MacKinnons of Dyce Limited, a specialist retail business which was sold to a FTSE 250 listed company in 2006. He has a first-class honours degree from the Aberdeen Business School and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
JESSICA VALLANCE-TUCKER, C0-CHAIR OF MARCOMMS COMMITTEE
Jessica Vallance-Tucker is the Co-Chair of the Marketing and Communications (MarComms) Committee. She is Head of Communications at Octopus Group, leading external communications and brand for Octopus Group and its fund management brands: Octopus Investments, Octopus Ventures and Octopus Real Estate.
Jessica has spent more than a decade specialising in financial services communications, helping companies to explain their corporate and investment stories, while making them relevant to the wider world. During her career, Jessica has led multi-award winning communications campaigns and worked with companies that include UBS Global Wealth Management, MUFG, SEI, Pemberton Asset Management and Clara Pensions. Before joining Octopus, Jessica worked for two communications agencies, Headland and Vested.
HENRY PHILIPSON, CO-CHAIR OF MARCOMMS COMMITTEE
Henry is the Co-Chair of the VCTA Marketing and Communications (MarComms) Committee. He leads marketing and communications for VCTA member Beringea in the UK, working closely with the investment and fundraising teams.
Henry also advises the portfolio on PR and communications, and he leads the Beringea Scale-Up Academy, an annual series of workshops and webinars for portfolio companies. Henry has led Beringea’s work on ESG, including co-founding ESG_VC, an industry initiative to help portfolio companies improve their ESG performance.
Henry previously advised VCs, founders, and financial institutions on communications campaigns at Seven Hills, a London-based agency. He read History at the University of Durham and holds an MPhil in Latin American Studies from the University of Cambridge.