MAP welcomes new trustees to its board

28 March 2025

Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) is delighted to announce the appointment of five new members of our board of trustees. These distinguished new trustees join at a critical time, as MAP delivers the largest relief effort in our history, responding to unprecedented health and humanitarian needs resulting from Israel’s attacks and siege on Gaza, and increasing violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

Representing a diverse range of valuable experiences and skills, their expertise will be invaluable in supporting MAP to sustainably grow our reach and impact for the communities we serve across the occupied Palestinian territory and Lebanon.  

• Professor Nick Maynard – Leading consultant gastrointestinal surgeon at Oxford University Hospital, who has worked extensively in Gaza since 2010, and led MAP’s first emergency medical team to Gaza in response to the current crisis in December 2023.
• Muna Abbas – CEO of the Asfari Foundation, with over 25 years in the humanitarian and development sector, including with Save the Children and Plan International.
• Dina Hashem – Director of Institutional Funding at Lumos, with over 15 years of leadership in humanitarian fundraising and partnerships.
• Muna Wehbe – Strategic advisor to philanthropists, CEOs, and foundations, and former Chief Executive of the Stars Foundation.
• Dr Philippa Whitford – Former Member of Parliament for Central Ayrshire and senior breast cancer surgeon, who first volunteered with MAP in Gaza in the 1990s and returned to Gaza to support our breast cancer programmes since 2016.

Steve Cutts, MAP’s Interim CEO, welcomed the new trustees: “We are thrilled to welcome such an accomplished group of trustees to MAP’s board at this pivotal moment. Their collective expertise and dedication to humanitarian work will be instrumental in strengthening our response to the unprecedented crisis facing Palestinians today. As MAP continues to expand its lifesaving work, their leadership and insight will be invaluable in ensuring we deliver the greatest possible impact.”

Later this year, Professor Nick Maynard will take on the role of Chair of the Board, succeeding Interim Chair Richard Makepeace, who will remain on the board.

Richard Makepeace welcomed Professor Maynard’s appointment: “I have no doubt that Nick will be a wonderful addition to the team as Chair. His deep commitment to MAP’s mission and vast hands-on experience supporting healthcare delivery in the most challenging of situations in Gaza make him exceptionally well-placed to lead the board at this critical time.

“It has been a true privilege to lead the board for this interim period, and I look forward to working alongside Nick, our brilliant new trustees, and the rest of the Board as we continue to support MAP’s vital work.”

In recognition of his work with MAP, Professor Maynard was recently awarded the Humanitarian Medal by His Majesty King Charles, alongside Palestinian colleagues in MAP’s Gaza team.

Reflecting on his appointment and his experiences in Gaza, Professor Maynard said: “It is a true privilege to take on this role with MAP, an organisation I have admired for many years and have been proud to volunteer for. Over the past 17 months, amid Israel’s devastating military assault on Gaza, I have witnessed firsthand the incredible fortitude of Palestinian healthcare workers and the lifesaving impact of MAP’s work.

“Beyond delivering urgent medical aid, MAP is also dedicated to addressing the root causes of Palestinians’ health needs, and ensuring Palestinian voices are heard on the global stage. It is an honour to help guide MAP’s mission at such a critical time in their history.”