The Martin James Foundation Co-Founder and Chair of the Board, Martin James Cockburn (Jim), has stepped down from his role, effective November 2025, as he prepares for semi-retirement. Jim has served as the Chair of the Board since the Foundation’s establishment in 2018.

A Legacy of Impact and Vision

Jim co-founded the Martin James Foundation with his wife Ayyab, driven by his desire to improve the lives of children impacted by displacement due to family breakdown or forced migration.

• The Foundation was established in 2018 to deliver safety, security, wellbeing, and a return to family wherever possible for vulnerable or displaced children and families worldwide.
• Jim’s vision was to create a Foundation comprising key charitable services, leveraging their vast skills and experience to bring about sustainable change for the most vulnerable families around the world.
• Jim’s commitment to ensuring that children are raised in a supportive family environment, knowing that outcomes are comparatively poorer for those in institutional care, is the core belief behind his vision and remains at the heart of all the work and services provided by the charities within the Martin James Foundation today.

Jim Cockburn’s Diverse Career

Jim’s career trajectory is marked by extraordinary diversity and profound social commitment:

• He began his career as a social worker in the 1970s and subsequently worked directly in fostering and children’s services provision across the UK and globally.
• Over the past 25 years, he established numerous, successful businesses ranging from social care to artificial intelligence.
• Collectively, these companies have employed thousands of individuals in the UK and across the world.

The Board and staff extend their deepest gratitude to Jim for his leadership, vision, and dedication since the Foundation’s inception. We wish him a fulfilling and happy retirement.

Carolyn Housman has assumed the role of Chair of the Board as of 17 November 2025.