---

CEO

Rebecca Stewart

Rebecca began her career in banking and consulting, first at HSBC, and then at Ernst & Young. She moved into executive search in 1999, and in 2001 was appointed head of Finance Practice for the London office of Heidrick & Struggles, recruiting CFOs across a wide range of sectors.

In 2003 Rebecca moved into the non-profit sector and joined Alpha International. Over the following 12 years Alpha grew significantly and Rebecca served as Chief Operating Officer before being appointed as Group Chief Executive of the HTB Group. 

Rebecca founded Goldstar Partners in 2015, offering consulting and executive search service to clients in the non-profit sector.  She joined the Huo family office in 2018 and is CEO of the Huo Family Foundation and oversees the family office.

---

Finance Director

Brett Pachonick

Brett joined the Huo Family Foundation in June 2024 as Finance Director. He is a Chartered Accountant with a strong background in leadership and financial strategy.

Brett was previously the Finance Director within the investment management sector, where he led initiatives to optimize financial reporting and improve risk management. Prior to this, Brett worked at Ernst & Young LLP, advancing to Senior Manager within their Financial Services practice, where he handled complex audits, regulatory reviews, and client advisory projects.

---

Financial Controller

Natalie Sawaryn

Natalie joined the Huo Family Foundation as Financial Controller in April 2021. She brings over 10 years’ experience, having joined from PwC where she worked in the external audit practice with clients in banking and capital markets.

Whilst at PwC she qualified as a chartered accountant and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.  

Natalie graduated from Durham University with a BA in Economics.

---

Director of Research

Gary Wilson

Gary joined the Huo Family Foundation in the newly created role of Director of Research in August 2024 to lead an expansion of the scientific research programmes at the Foundation.

He brings almost two decades of experience in private philanthropy, having held roles at the Gatsby Charitable Foundation and at Wellcome. He has developed, implemented, and monitored research funding and strategic activities in a range of portfolios and different scientific disciplines. 

Gary is a member of the Scientific Advisory Council for the US-based Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group, which explores the frontiers of bioscience and pushes science forward to advance human biology. He is an advisor to CureCLCN4, a charity with the goal of advancing the basic science and research in conditions related to changes in the CLCN4 gene. He previously served on the Steering Board for the UK Technician Commitment, which aims to ensure visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians working in higher education. 

Gary holds an BA/MA in Natural Sciences from University of Cambridge, and a PhD in neuropharmacology from University College London.

---

Programme Officer

Julia Drayson

For over four years, Julia worked at The Willem de Kooning Foundation on exhibition, education, and loan initiatives, and monitored Covid-19 and institutional grants made to the arts, education, and community-based nonprofits in the New York area.

She holds a BA in Art History from NYU where she was a volunteer at the Grey Art Gallery and a member of the Fine Arts Society. Julia joined the non-profit Minds Matter in 2020 as a Team Leader and Board Member to address the inequitable access to higher education in the United States.

Julia joins the Huo Family Foundation in October 2022 to further explore the role of grant giving in the community, in particular the arts and education.