Trustees and Founders

Founder and Co Chairman 

Ross has strong roots in N.I. from his home town of Larne where he  spent his youth and young adulthood growing up in a local council estate, moving to England to complete his honours degree in Management and financial services. The last 20 plus years has been within the London Insurance market. A career that started as a junior claims broker to becoming class underwriter at one of the main Lloyd’s of London’s syndicates, now Founder and Group CEO of Landmark Holding Group. 

Ross has overcome his early diagnoses of dyslexia, which has not held his own career path back and has seen this as a blessing throughout his life. He enjoys building teams, helping to build the careers of others, developing relationships with internal and external clients, seeing all the rewards that are generated with people working together to embrace their aspirations. 

Ross has now also taken on an additional role of Honorary President of the Westminster Wanderers, with the passion and pride to see the club continue in its successes after 21 years and seeing it grow further. He has been granted Freedom of the City London in 2021. Now investing his own time into the RUSA Foundation to provide a better future to those in grass roots competing sports and underprivileged families and disadvantaged children. Ross is grateful to be able to give something back through our foundation. 

Founder and Co Chairman

Sitki who is of Turkish origin has lived and worked most of his life in the UK. It was thanks to his grandparent’s journey and great courage who came to England in the late 1960s to which he owes his current surroundings. Sitki fulfilled his childhood dream by securing his first professional tenure with Honda UK manufacturing, where he successfully was part of a team that introduced a new model during the 2008 financial crisis. He then embarked a journey of entrepreneurship which led to the Insurance industry, from being CEO of Greenwich Underwriting and it’s transition during during its acquisition and now sits on the board of Landmark Holding Group, which he co-founded. 

Sitki’s reference point is his family, his Turkish tradition and culture. He grew up in a multi-cultural and diverse environment where he was able assimilate well both on a professional basis and in society. Sitki is highly passionate about giving back to the community and understands with hard work carried with integrity no dream is out reach.

Sitki works very closely and is engaged with a start-up supporting grass roots football and other amateur sports and is very excited about the prospect of this supporting the RUSA foundation.

 Trustee 

Tom McGrath who worked for Marsh Ltd for 34 years involved in a number of roles including Managing Director of Marsh McClennan Inc.

Tom was appointed OBE in 1997 and advanced to CBE in 2007.

He developed an interest in standards in the insurance industry and served a 6 year term as the retail broking representative on the Chartered Insurance Institute Professional Standards Board. He served two terms as President of the Belfast Insurance Institute.
He was awarded the CII Distinguished Service Medal in 2008.

In addition to a career in Insurance he has held a number of Government appointments including: ;
Chief Commissioner of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (2009-2019).
Chair of Belfast High School 2009-2012.
Chair of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (2003-2008).
Chair of Northern Ireland Business Education Partnership (2004-2006).
Board member of the Probation Board Northern Ireland (2000-2003).
Chaired the Board of Rathgale and Whiteabbey Training Schools (1985-2000).
He was Director of the Ireland Funds (1998-2007), served as a Committee Member of The Prince's Youth Trust & NSPCC Special Appeal and Chaired the George Best Memorial Trust.

Tom McGrath is a Fellow of both the Chartered Insurance Institute and the Institute of Administrative Management.  He is also a Chartered Insurance Broker.

 Trustee 

Peter Staddon is the former Managing Director of the Managing General Agents Association (MGAA) and has not long retired from that role. 

Peter was the driving force behind developing the MGAA into where it stands today. 

He was appointed to the Board and the Grants Committee of The Insurance Charities in 2009.

Peter has over 25 years of delegated authority experience, coupled with many years leading the insurance industry through market initiatives and educational forums.  

Disability Coordinator  

Claire Taggart is a Paralympian in the sport of boccia, based in Larne, Northern Ireland. Claire was able-bodied until the age of 17/18, where she was diagnosed with a progressive neurological condition, dystonia. Claire’s body, muscles and limbs are affected by spasm, muscle contractions and abnormal posturing which can make day to day tasks more difficult. As a result of this, Claire is unable to walk or stand, but is fully independent, living independently with the support of her parents and carers, whilst also being able to drive her VW transporter from her wheelchair. 

Boccia is a Paralympic sport played by people with severe physical disabilities, meaning it is widely accessible and inclusive to all. Claire holds an international classification as a BC2, and is currently 10th in the world individually, whilst her team (BC1/2 team) is 8th in the world. She is NO.1 in the U.K. and Northern Ireland which helps her promote the sport locally as well. Most recently it has just been announced that Claire will compete in her second Paralympics, this year in Tokyo. 

Claire also has a voluntary role at Larne FC, as a disability access officer where she works with the management staff with the aim of Inver Park being the trailblazer for accessibility within the NI Football league, for all of those who may have a disability.

In her spare time, Claire also runs a successful stationery business, is studying for a BSc in Forensic Psychology through the Open University, and is a full time National Lottery funded athlete on the Boccia UK World Class Programme. This does not leave much time for relaxing but Claire loves to take her dog, Rio to the beach or the park to unwind. 

Claire’s transition from being able bodied to having a severe physical disability has not been smooth, and through her personal experiences she hopes to help the RUSA foundation to continue in its development and growth for the benefit of everyone.