News

We’re delighted to speak with Power Up North London, one of our Green partners, about their work and how volunteers of all ages collaborate to create positive environmental change. Here, Rita Monjardino, one of their dedicated volunteers, shares her experience and reflects on how intergenerational collaboration can flourish through community action.

Starting his career at Accenture and the Boston Consulting Group, Jonathan has spent more than three decades helping blue-chip businesses transform with information technology. Currently, Jonathan drives business development for the AI business of Cambridge Consultants. With his huge amounts of expertise and knowledge on this subject, Jonathan shares his insights on AI: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Antony has devoted his entire career to working with young people — first as a primary school teacher, then through his books and creative writing workshops, and now as an educator on the Holocaust, for which he has been awarded an MBE. Inspired by his grandparents, particularly his grandfather, and by the stories of Holocaust survivors, Antony’s mission is to empower young people to understand the past and make a positive difference in the world.

Julia has extensive experience working in modern, multi-generational workplaces. As a Fractional COO/CFO for creative SMEs, she embraces the combination of her wisdom and experience built up over 35 years with the dynamism and energy of the younger generations who are full of innovative ideas. Through her financial and operational expertise, Julia turns these ideas into profitable and scalable businesses.

Geoffrey is Co-Founder and Executive Director of Vintage Wealth, one of our trusted partners. Vintage Wealth has been a Circle Square partner since our early days, serving many of our members, and we are pleased to throw open the doors to the people behind the organisation. Here, Geoffrey takes us through his 44 years in Financial Services and the highs and lows of a long career.

Figurative artist, Michele Franklin, comes from a long line of fascinating artists and met her husband, the sculptor, Brian Taylor, at Camberwell Art College. She has worked creatively throughout all different phases of her life. Now in her “third life”, she is pushing herself forward, grasping every opportunity to be inspired and challenged, with an upcoming exhibition at Burgh House.

After retiring from full time work at HW Fisher, Navin wanted to connect to his spiritual side. He embarked on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash. This journey is a testament to what this stage of life can represent: freedom, focusing on what brings you meaning, creating amazing experiences, and inspiring others.

Eric Saylis, who has just marked his 95th birthday, continues to inspire us all by embracing new experiences, even in his nineties. As a dedicated volunteer at The Royal Free Hospital, he spends his days bringing a little bit of light to elderly patients — a remarkable commitment that recently saw him shortlisted for the Volunteer of the Year award.

A long-time English teacher, Eve has spent her life sparking curiosity in the classroom. Today, she continues to embrace learning and discovery in new ways. She now divides her time between training new teachers, dancing, learning Spanish, and frequent trips to Paris. Eve also reveals her all-time favourite books and talks about her love for the Circle Square Book Club.

Gemma is one of our expert coaches for our transition programme “Planning Your Next Chapter”. Gemma’s expertise helps individuals draw out what brings them the most satisfaction, empowering them to navigate their next life chapter with confidence and purpose. Gemma shares her own unusual career journey, and what she has learnt about the importance of reflecting on yourself before moving forward.

Circle Square member, Jonathan Joseph, is an innovator in property regeneration. He has created thriving towns out of unused land and continues to push boundaries as he takes on the challenge of reviving our struggling high streets.

Len D’Cruz fought off competition from more than 50 other entries to be crowned the winner of the Circle Square x Jane Stillwell Photography Competition, with a stunning picture of Île Vierge lighthouse, off the northwest coast of Brittany. Find out about Len’s growing passion for photography, and how he pursues it alongside his varied career in dentistry and law.

Andrew Devine is Co-Owner of Beaver Travel — one of our trusted partners — a luxury travel company which creates tailor-made holidays, filled with unique experiences, from destinations all over the world. Here, he tells us about some of these incredible experiences and his own personal adventures.

Andrew tells us of his deep, unwavering passion for playing the piano, all while dedicating himself to a demanding career as a GP. During his busy years in medicine, he managed the impossible, and found a way to do both. Now retired, Andrew has the freedom to elevate his passion to the next level, playing concerts, recording videos, and sharing his love for the piano with others.

Ahead of International Women’s Day 2025, Lorrae Jaderberg, Circle Square member, Director, and Head of Trusted Services. shares how she has navigated various stages of her life, from designer to teacher to entrepreneur, to where she is today, with strength, compassion and hard work. She reflects on the values her mother taught her, and what she has passed on to her own children.

Navigating a midlife transition is a path many of our members have trodden, After many years of success in investment banking, Jason took the bold step of leaving the corporate world to forge his own path, one that aligned with his values and aspirations, including creating a lasting legacy for his children.

Mark Haviland, made the bold move of leaving a successful corporate career to embark on a journey to find a deeper purpose. This led Mark to an extraordinary mission: protect and restore Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake and the world’s second-largest freshwater lake. With nearly 40 million people depending on its waters, the lake’s ecological health has profound social, economic, and geopolitical significance, not just in Africa but all over the world.

Jane Stillwell, guest judge for Circle Square’s photography competition, discusses how her passion for photography has evolved over the years, and how creativity has no age limit. Jane’s work is a mix of macro, portrait, and landscape photography. More recently, she has gone through a metamorphosis into the exciting world of creative abstraction. Each composition is an exploration of the unknown—a journey into creativity without boundaries.

Georgi ‘Jojo’ Dimitrov is a talented Bulgarian classical guitarist currently pursuing his MA at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music, London, where he has been awarded the Bicentenary Scholarship. As an active solo musician, Georgi’s diverse repertoire spans from the works of Dowland and Bach to contemporary composers. He frequently collaborates with RAM fellow composers, premiering new works, and has performed in major venues across Europe. He will be playing for Circle Square members on the 17th December.

Avivah’s journey started in Canada, where she studied Computer Science and Comparative Literature at the University of Toronto. She then spent 30 years in Paris, where she founded 20-first, a consultancy guiding organizations through the complexities of gender, generation, and culture. Now based in London, Avivah is a regular contributor to Forbes and Harvard Business Review, hosts the longevity-focused podcast 4-Quarter Lives, and publishes the Elderberries Substack. A TEDx speaker and an educator, Avivah’s work continues to inspire individuals and organizations worldwide.

Circle Square member, Nick Sayers, is a retired corporate lawyer and author of the history of “The Jews of Lithuania”. He demonstrates that age is no barrier to achieving your ambitions. This book is the result of a personal quest to understand more about his own family background in eastern Europe. It led him to dig deeply into many of the big questions about modern Jewish history in Lithuania. Find out about Nick’s journey to becoming an author, and the impact he hopes his work will leave.

Koukla Maclehose was a literary scout, who pioneered the crossover of literature into new markets and cultures. She founded a scouting agency in London, which grew to operate in 22 countries before retiring in 2022. The agency is now called London Literary Scouting. Author, Jonathan Coe, who had never been translated, before meeting Koukla, went on to receive offers from seven European publishers and said, ‘There are very few people who have truly changed the course of my life, but you, Koukla, are one of them.”

History runs through Circle Square member, Eleanor Levy. She holds history degrees from The Open University and UCL, and taught history for many years at Regents College. She now runs adult history groups for her local U3A and continues to explore historic sites, proving that age is no barrier to pursuing one’s passions. Her trips include a Circle Square trip to Cairo Genizah, one of her favourite exploration sites. Read our spotlight to discover how Eleanor’s lifelong love of history continues to inspire.

Keith Bordell joined our “Planning Your Next Chapter” programme after concluding a near 40-year career as a solicitor. Keith’s journey so far perfectly reflects the core values of Circle Square: embracing life’s transitions with optimism and curiosity. As Keith wisely puts it, “Age is no barrier to trying new things and living a full and fulfilling life.” In the light of his inspiring outlook, we’re pleased to share how he is navigating his next chapter, and the valuable lessons he’s learned along the way.

When Covid struck and people faced unprecedented challenges, Naomi felt motivated to make a difference. She began collecting goods in her local neighbourhood and taking them to food banks. This initiative led to the founding of Food Bank Aid, a charity which now delivers goods to 33 food banks across London and Hertfordshire, helping approximately 20,000 people including 5,000 children every week. Naomi would love to involve Circle Square members in the activities of Food Bank Aid.

Marc shares insights about building up his successful residential property business, Arlington Residential, one of our trusted services. The agency sells high-end luxury homes across London and for over 30 years, it has built up a reputation for personal, professional and discreet service. Marc describes the changes that have shifted the property market in London and beyond, and how Covid enabled him to work with more freedom, which he hopes means he can keep working for longer.

John was Managing Partner at Clintons law firm, one of our Marketplace partners, for over 25 years, and has recently transitioned to a new role, sparking an enlightening conversation about “reframing retirement.” John has no intention of stepping away from working life. Instead, he is pursuing several unique passions alongside it. He is an enthusiastic collector of memorabilia with a particular interest in items related to Winston Churchill. His passion for research has led to him finding out many an unknown fact!

Jem Stein is a social entrepreneur turned social investor. After founding The Bike Project in 2013 and leading it for ten years, he launched Daring Capital in 2023. Daring Capital aims to connect investors with exceptional and underrepresented social entrepreneurs committed to building profitable businesses that have a positive impact on the world. As one of our Marketplace partners, Daring Capital shares our values of wanting to be active in society and make a difference, whilst also investing well. Jem discusses his experiences in establishing two different organisations, both driven by social missions.

Clarissa is an expert on UK tax and valuation issues applicable to art and heritage objects. Heritage has always played a significant role in her life, starting from her childhood in St Andrews. She worked at Sotheby’s for over 11 years, where she was a Senior Director in Tax, Heritage & UK Museums. Then, in 2023, she moved to BHL Art Group, an independent art business for collectors, professional advisors, executors and beneficiaries. Through her work, she has encountered beautiful and historic objects, with many a rich past.

John Bowers KC is Principal of Brasenose College, University of Oxford. He was called to the Bar in 1979 and took silk in 1998. Described as ‘an employment law rock star’, he is the author of fifteen books, including Bowers on Employment Law, The Law of Industrial Action and Trade Union Recognition and Whistleblowing. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the Whistleblowing charity Protect. Since 2005 he has been a Bencher of Middle Temple. In his new book “Downward spiral”, John examines collapsing public standards and how to restore them.

Sandra Davis, Partner of the Mishcon de Reya Family department, has over 40 years’ experience of family law practice. She has represented high-profile individuals including Diana, Princess of Wales, Jerry Hall, Thierry Henry and Tamara Mellon, and is proudly named as one of the Top 100 Lawyers and one of the Top 50 women in the London Super Lawyers directory. Sandra describes how she climbed to the top of her profession and how she intends to use her experience, knowledge and wisdom with those who might benefit most from it.

Michael Anderson, runner-up in the Circle Square x Rankin photo competition, left his Corporate Finance Partner role at a city law firm after 30 years, ready for a new chapter but unsure what this looked like. He joined our Planning Your Next Chapter programme and with its support, uncovered how he wanted to live his next chapter. Here, he talks about his biggest passions including gardening, travelling, and volunteering and how photography plays a significant role in these.

Circle Square member Duncan Salmon’s lifetime passion is sailing. He started sailing with his dad when he was 11 years old and has continued to sail ever since. He has raced big boats, dinghies and yawls, and, despite a long career in law, sailing has always been a significant part of his life. Now retired, sailing provides him with immense pleasure, as well as camaraderie, an outdoor lifestyle, and plenty of health and fitness benefits. And even better, his daughter shares his passion for sailing too!

Brenda reflects on her highly successful career. After working in the Psychiatric Department at Middlesex Hospital (now UCH) , Brenda pivoted to working as a consultant and coach in the public and private sector, and eventually established her own executive coaching practice. What has followed in the last few years, is a gradual transition from executive coach to mentor. Sometimes, our “What’s Next” is not about discovering a new passion but building on what we already love.

Isabelle Seddon is a historian, author, theatre-lover, intrepid traveller, counsellor and volunteer. Isabelle has so many strings to her bow, driven by an innate desire to help people living on the edge of society. She is a member we admire for her boundless energy and enthusiasm for life. Her latest book is “Intrepid Pioneers: Jewish Women in the Public Arena”, a book that examines the achievements made by British-born Jewish women since the late 19th century.

Martin Taylor won first prize in the Circle Square x Rankin Photography Competition for his incredible photo of the Open Air Laundry in Mumbai. He has had a hugely successful and fulfilling career at the accountancy firm HW Fisher. But his creative side has burst out in his passion for photography. He travels the world, capturing breathtaking images of landscapes and wildlife. It’s a pleasure to share Martin’s zest for life and some of his mesmerising photos here.

Carole Fenton shares her inspiring story about transitioning from being a GP to a figurative sculptor, driven by her passion for sculpture. Her story teaches us that pursuing our interests can open up many possibilities, and that age should not be a barrier when it comes to pursuing a new career later in life. Notably, she has also achieved commercial success, with one of her pieces being purchased by a collector in New York.

Paul Fineman, former CEO of IG Design Group Plc, a global multi-product organisation, generating over $1 billion in revenue, will share his insights on navigating career transition and the lessons he learned along the way. Now, as an investor, advisor, and mentor to smaller, fast-growing businesses, Paul is applying his decades of experience in dynamic work environments and finding great enjoyment and fulfilment in working with tomorrow’s leaders.

At Circle Square, we want to celebrate the passions that our members are pursuing. Alan has been a GP for over 35 years and has pursued his passion for medicine further by returning to university to study for an MSC in Global Health Policy at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He now volunteers for an Indian NGO called “Calcutta Rescue” which provides basic healthcare to those living in slums in Kolkata.

Barbara Weiss is a leading architect with a highly successful career designing beautiful and timeless buildings. She started her training under one of her greatest heroes, James Stirling, and has run her own firm, Barbara Weiss Architects, for over 35 years. In this spotlight, Barbara shares her thoughts on her legacy and the legacies of those she most admires.

Gillian Perry MBE is an inspirational leader, who started up the Anne Frank Trust as a one-person operation in 1990. The trust now reaches over 40,000 young people a year, telling the story of Anne Frank and the Holocaust, to empower children to challenge all forms of prejudice. Gillian is now retired but still acts as an adviser to the trust whilst travelling and lecturing on many topics, one of which is the social history of English afternoon tea!

Circle Square member, Alan Schamroth met Dr Jack Preger when he started volunteering at NGO called “Calcutta Rescue”. Alan explains why Dr Jack’s legacy is such an inspiration to him.

Sam, a Londoner through and through, is passionate about London’s history. After 40 years in IT, he has channelled this passion into a new career as a London Guide. Alongside various volunteering roles, this work involves everything he loves: meeting people, history, walking, and London. This new chapter of life has given Sam the freedom to find his own tempo and he is enjoying every beat.

We’re fortunate to have such an incredible community filled with curious and interesting members who continually share their expertise with us. Therefore, we’re excited to spotlight Alistair Viner, a wine expert and buyer, who hosts regular wine tasting events for our members,

Dr Sally Uren OBE has worked with wide-ranging businesses, non-profits and philanthropic organisations throughout her career and currently leads Forum for the Future’s mission to create a just and regenerative future, in which both people and the planet thrive. Her aim is to transform how the world thinks about, produces, consumes and values food and energy, and on reimagining the purpose of business in our society and economy.