About BBS
The British Benevolent Society of California (BBS) is a 501(c)(3) charity who provides aid and relief to British Citizens in need. Our support comes from generous donations, legacies and fundraising by members, and our community in California.
Who we are
The BBS is made up of predominantly volunteer members, 11 of whom form a Board of Directors who manage the charity and its activities. The Board of Directors each carries a position of responsibility. Through discussion and unity they make all decisions which determine how the charity continues to succeed and deliver its mission.
Individual crisis cases are also bought to the Board in order to discuss and determine if they qualify for financial support from the BBS. The Board is also responsible for fundraising, the investment and management of the charitable monies, legal alignment, coordination with the British Consulate and the marketing of the BBS organization.
Most importantly the BBS Board is focused on helping and supporting British Nationals, residing in the states covered by the Consulates General offices in California, who are desperate and quite literally have no where else to turn for help. The BBS relies on the support of a paid membership program and welcomes anyone who would like to join and help support its cause.
Membership for a year costs a modest $100 and allows the member an opportunity to attend all BBS events and fund raisers whilst supporting individuals who are in desperate need.
Board of Directors
Hedley Potts - President
Hedley Potts is President of the British Benevolent Society of California, where he works with the Board of Directors, Executive Director, volunteers, members, and partners to advance the organization’s mission of providing relief and support to British nationals and their families across California and the Western United States. A British national based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Hedley previously served four years on the BBS Board of Directors and chaired the Events Committee, giving him a deep connection to the organization’s community, work, and future.
He brings extensive leadership experience from senior roles at Lloyds Bank, HP, HPE, Google Cloud, UiPath, and NetApp, where he currently serves as Vice President of Revenue Enablement. His background in transformation, growth, AI adoption, and global go-to-market leadership supports BBS as it enters its next chapter, focused on expanding its reach, strengthening community engagement, and increasing its impact through compassionate relief.
Jon Wingent - Vice President
Jon is a Principal and Wealth Advisor at Cerity Partners in Los Angeles, responsible for managing the financial interests of high-net-worth individuals, families, and business owners. He began his career in 2003 at Barclays Wealth, advising UK and international clients. Over the years, he held senior roles at leading financial institutions including Merrill Lynch and Close Brothers. Before relocating to the United States in 2021, Jon served as Head of Investment Specialists at Schroders Personal Wealth in London. Before joining Cerity Partners, he was a Wealth Advisor at Morton Wealth in Calabasas, California.
Jon is a member of the Financial Planning Association and holds the Certified Financial Planner designation and sits on the Investment Committee for the BBS.
He lives with his wife and two children in Los Angeles, loves the outdoor lifestyle, whiskey and fine wines, and is a huge sports enthusiast.
Steve Wares - Chief Financial Officer
Steve is a UK qualified chartered management accountant, CFO of the BBS and past-President of the British American Business Council. He has spent the past 25 years working with growth stage technology companies helping them with their international expansion support needs including global payroll, accounting, tax, compliance and HR. Steve has lived in the Bay Area since 2005 with his wife, two children and two dogs.
Karen Leech - Director
Karen began her professional career in Northampton, England, initially working for two Scottish insurance companies and later as a financial advisor for Compton House Financial Management. Compton House originally was part of Shoosmiths’ law firm before the law and financial segments were separated. After relocating to the United States in 2001, she joined Laird Norton Wetherby and in 2004, three years after arriving at Wetherby, she became a Shareholder. She is a Certified Private Wealth Advisor and alongside working with clients, she contributes to the firm’s client service and communications activities. Karen was a former Investment Committee Co-Chair for The Redwoods, a nonprofit senior retirement community in Mill Valley. She serves as the current Investment Committee Chair for the BBS.
Karen lives with her husband and son in Novato, California. She is an avid tennis player and enjoys hiking and biking around the local countryside.
Alex Sinclair - Director
British-born Alex J Sinclair is a seasoned management consultant for The Nightingale, specializing in pre-seed company foundational development. With 20 years of intra/entrepreneurial expertise, he has pioneered products and subsidiaries for clients such as Pearson Education, McGraw-Hill, JTB, De Agostini Editore, and Britannica. Alex holds a BA (Hons) in Film, an MA in Advertising, and an MBA. In his free time, Alex established Willow on the Green, a British Cheese shop in Inner Sunset, San Francisco, and is expanding several food brands.
Peter Newman - Director
Peter Newman is the Deputy Consul General at the British Consulate-General in San Francisco. As well as managing the day-to-day operations and representing UK interests across a region covering the whole of the Northwest US, he oversees the consular side of the consulate's work, ensuring British citizens resident or visiting the area receive the care they need should they need it. The consulate works hand-in-hand with the British Benevolent Society to provide much-needed funds for the most in-need Brits on the US West Coast.
Over the years he has worked in both the public and private sector in roles focusing on communications, public affairs and diplomacy. Peter graduated in French and European Studies from the University of Leeds and has since lived and worked in France, Belgium and Spain as well as the UK and California where he takes advantage of the great hiking the region has to offer.
Karen Thomas - Director
Karen worked at the British Consulate General in San Francisco for most of her career in the US and retired in January 2012 after 26 years.
As Vice Consul (Management/Consular) and later Head of Corporate Services, Karen oversaw management, HR, facilities, property, procurement, budgeting, and consular services. She also collaborated with the British Benevolent Society for many years to support British nationals in need.
Karen has served as a BBS Director for 12 years and is currently on the Events Committee. She was previously President, Vice President, and a member of the Finance and By-laws Committees.
Kathleen Kimura, MBE - Director
Born and educated in England, Kathleen came to San Francisco in 1969 where she met her husband Kozo Kimura. They married in 1970 and have three adult children and two grandchildren. She is Vice President of Tokyo Express Co Inc. founded by her husband in 1973. Formerly an international freight forwarder, the company now is an exporter of construction materials for use on US bases Okinawa, Japan.
Reelected to the board of the BBS in 2025, she has served on the board since 2001 and as its president (2012-2017); she also serves on the following boards: British American Business Council (President 2001-2005, Chairman 2005-2008); Co-Chair, San Francisco-Osaka Sister City Association; Vice President NORCAL Sister Cities International; Chair, Millbrae Sister Cities Commission; California-Japan Sister Cities Network; Japan Society of Northern California (President 1995-97); US Support Committee for the Legion of the SF Consular Corps; Chair, Millbrae Japanese Culture Festival Committee. Affiliations include the Japan Society, London. Kathleen is Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. She was awarded the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth in 2006. In 2014 she was awarded with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays, by the Emperor of Japan.
Penelope Harwood - Director
Penny is SVP, Business Development at London & Partners, London’s growth agency. Based in San Francisco, she leads the organization's work across the US Northwest and Western Canada, supporting high-growth companies as they expand internationally into London.
She works closely with leadership teams on market entry, partnerships, and long-term growth, and has supported hundreds of scaling companies across sectors including technology, fintech, creative industries, and life sciences. She also supports London-based businesses expanding into North America.
Prior to London & Partners, Penny held senior roles at Bloomberg in San Francisco and London, and was Director of Customer Support at StarMine (Thomson Reuters).
She serves as Head of Relief for the British Benevolent Society, supporting its mission to provide practical assistance to British nationals in need across the Western United States.
James Cummings - Director
James Cummings is Vice President of Business Development at London & Partners, London’s growth agency. The organisation has a mission to create economic growth that is resilient, sustainable and inclusive, and to tell London's story brilliantly to an international audience in partnership with organizations and people who have a stake in London's promotion. James is based in Los Angeles and works with US companies that are expanding into and growing operations in London, and London companies exploring the opportunity in the US.
James was previously Vice Consul at the British Consulate-General in Los Angeles. Before moving to Los Angeles, James worked in the City of London and during this time he became a Freeman of the City of London. James also has a master’s degree in London Studies and now lives in Los Angeles, California.
Gina Papatsaras - Director
Gina is a Marin County Realtor (@seekmarin), working as a High-End Urban Market advisor in Residential Real Estate. She began her career in Newcastle Upon Tyne as a solicitor working for a Legal Aid Franchise practicing Criminal and Family law. After relocating to San Francisco in 2004 Gina held various volunteer roles providing community service through the Jewish Children’s and Family Service of San Francisco. Gina lives with her husband, a Tech Executive, in Larkspur and their son studies Computer Science abroad in Aberdeen Scotland. Her hobbies include music, traveling, hiking, Pilates and riding her vespa.
Raissa Marchetti-Kozlov - Director
A thoughtful and energetic community builder, Raissa brings more than a decade of experience across operations, executive support, HR, marketing, business development, and event planning. Since joining BBS in June 2025, she has become a steady contributor to the Events Team, helping plan and deliver gatherings including the Holiday Party and Annual General Meeting. Professionally, she supports executive leadership at NetApp and serves as HR and Marketing Director for MacDonald-Bedford, while also leading Redwood City Players, a community theatre company she founded in 2016. Passionate about inclusion, belonging, and the power of shared experiences, Raissa brings creativity, structure, and heart to BBS’s work supporting British citizens and families across California and the Western States.
Sandro Monetti - Director
A leading light of the British community in Los Angeles, Sandro Monetti is a multi-award-winning broadcaster, covering Hollywood for the BBC and CNN, producer of acclaimed films and stage shows and a reputation management consultant for CEOs and global thought leaders. Dedicated to community, compassion and creating opportunities for all, he has won humanitarian awards from the White House and United Nations and brings board experience from the LA Press Club, Royal Society of St George and BAFTA.
His Majesty’s Consul General Eleanor Kiloh - Honorary Director
Eleanor Kiloh is His Majesty’s Consul General. Based in San Francisco, she is the senior representative of the UK government in Northern California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and Alaska.
The Consulate-General covers a broad range of political and policy work including on climate, trade, and technology, as well as providing support to British nationals and companies.
Eleanor has previously had diplomatic postings to Singapore, China, Thailand, and Indonesia – as well as a posting to the US, in Washington DC. There, she also had a secondment to the US State Department, developing US-UK collaboration on Asia policy issues. Eleanor has also been seconded to the UK’s Department for International Development and to the Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street. In 2005, she was deployed to Aceh as Senior Advisor to the European Union Aceh Monitoring Mission, supporting the peace process there. She is a specialist in geopolitical affairs, with a particular focus on the Indo-Pacific.
Eleanor is also an experienced crisis leader, and a trauma risk management practitioner. Outside government she has worked for McKinsey & Company, specialising in risk management and government relations.
Eleanor joined the FCO in 1999 after completing an MA in Geography at the University of Cambridge. She speaks English and Indonesian, some Mandarin Chinese and Thai. She also has professional qualifications in economics and executive coaching.
Julia Schieffer - Executive Director
Julia Schieffer is Executive Director of the British Benevolent Society of California, where she works closely with the Board of Directors, volunteers, and partners to strengthen community engagement, fundraising, and support for British nationals and their families across the state. A current BBS member and dual citizen, she brings more than 15 years of leadership experience spanning strategy, marketing, growth,operations, and relationship management.
What we do
Emergency Assistance and Repatriation
Every day, the British Benevolent Society responds to urgent calls for help from British nationals in distress across California and the Western United States. Whether it’s providing emergency repatriation for those facing homelessness or covering the cost of essential document replacement, your donation is a lifeline. These individuals often have nowhere else to turn. By supporting the BBS, you ensure that those in critical need receive the help they deserve—swiftly and compassionately. Donate today to make a tangible difference in someone’s life.
Compassionate Relief for Families in Crisis
The BBS has a long-standing tradition of extending a helping hand to British families facing unforeseen hardships. Recently, we supported a family struggling to make ends meet after the sudden loss of a loved one. Through your generosity, we were able to provide them with the financial support they needed to cover basic living expenses during their time of grief. Your donation helps us continue to offer vital assistance to families in their darkest hours, ensuring that they are not alone as they rebuild their lives. Please donate today and be the beacon of hope they need.
Holistic Support and Mental Health Aid
At the BBS, we understand that distress comes in many forms. From providing safe lodging for those experiencing homelessness to aiding individuals battling mental health challenges, our comprehensive support services are tailored to meet the diverse needs of British nationals. Your contribution enables us to offer not just financial assistance but also emotional and logistical support, helping people regain stability and hope. Join us in our mission to provide compassionate care to those who need it most—your donation can change lives.