Andrew Marsden, President of United Response

With over 30 years of board experience, including at Vileda, HP Foods, Danone, and Britvic – where he played a key role in launching the company on the stock market – Andrew is now an international strategy consultant and portfolio non-executive director and Chair. He was elected as Sheriff of The City of London in 2022/23.

Andrew is deeply committed to helping others. He has been a Trustee for several national charities including Marie Curie, and ‘Change, Grow, Live’ the leading drug and alcohol rehabilitation charity. He co-founded the annual City of London Sheriff’s Challenge to inspire school children to speak in public, and has been involved with the Lord Mayor of London’s Appeal Board, the Big Curry Charity Lunch, and was President The Sheriff’s and Recorder’s Fund which helps with prisoner rehabilitation, amongst others. 

In his professional life, Andrew has held several leadership roles in the marketing and communications industries with the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers, the Marketing Society, and the Advertising Standards Authority. He also served as the Independent Reviewer for the Armed Forces Communications Capability Review.

A passionate traveller, Andrew has visited all seven continents and over 100 countries

Leon Harrop, Ambassador for United Response

Leon is a renowned actor with Down Syndrome best known for his work as the series regular Ralph in the BBC Series The A Word and reprised the role in the spin-off series, Ralph & Katie.

Other credits include being a regular in From There to Here for the BBC and Albie in the Sky One series Brassic.

As a Bafta breakthrough winning actor for Ralph & Katie, the first-ever TV drama with two learning-disabled lead actors, Leon is no stranger to challenging stereotypes. Leon is passionate about stamping out disability hate crime and was the voice behind United Response’s Radio 4 Charity Appeal in which he highlighted his own experiences facing discrimination despite his fame.