Ben Elliot, Chairman of the Board of Trustees (chairman@ybf.org.uk)
Ben was a consultant to James Goldsmith whilst at Bristol University. He then formed the K-Bar, a group of seven bar/nightclubs, leading the group through to plc status. With his in-depth experience of branding and marketing as well as club membership and subscription, he subsequently launched Rock London and established in the UK, a growing number of ‘Fluid Juice Bars’. Ben also works on the Business for Sterling campaign and has run focus groups for the Prince’s Trust.
Frederick Forsyth CBE, Patron (patron@ybf.org.uk)
An expert on the British Secret Service, Frederick Forsyth was born in 1938 in Ashford, Kent. He worked for the Eastern Daily Press, before becoming a correspondent for Reuters in 1961 – winning praise for his coverage of the Biafran side of the Biafra-Nigeria war from July to September 1967.
His novel ‘The Day of the Jackal’, published in 1970, remains one of the most critically acclaimed books in literary history. In 2003, he was awarded the Conservative Way Forward “One of Us” Award for his commitment and service to the Conservative Movement in Britain.
Donal Blaney, Chief Executive (donal@ybf.org.uk)
Donal is the co-founder and Chief Executive of The Young Britons’ Foundation. He is a law graduate of Southampton University, a solicitor and owner of his own consultancy business which has offices in England, Florida, Ireland and the British Virgin Islands. Donal is a former Chairman of Southampton University Conservative Association (1993-4) and Wessex Area Conservative Students (1993-5). He is also a former Students’ Union Officer and NUS delegate.
After graduating, Donal became involved in the National Association of Conservative Graduates, of which he became Chairman in 1997. In 1998, he was asked by then Leader William Hague to unite the Conservative Students, Young Conservatives and the Conservative Graduates into one new youth organisation – Conservative Future – of which he became the first National Chairman (1998-9).
Donal served a four year term as a local councillor in Hammersmith & Fulham, and is a former member of the Executive of Conservative Way Forward. His non-political interests include Liverpool Football Club, choral music and the cinema. Donal is married to Marci, a former US Army reserve soldier who served in Iraq. He has homes in Kent & Florida.