Role: Founder & CEO

Tribe: Atova International UK

Sam founded ATOVA International in 2022 with a simple but radical belief: that true development begins within. Under his leadership, ATOVA has grown into a global movement where personal growth, community life, and service converge to create lasting change.

Role: Chairman

Tribe: Atova International UK

Mike joined ATOVA from the very beginning, helping shape its direction and purpose. As Chair of the Board of Trustees, he offers strategic guidance and financial oversight, ensuring ATOVA’s growth remains true to its mission and values. His leadership and commitment have been instrumental in guiding ATOVA from vision to reality.

Role: Senior Program Leader

Tribe: ATOVA Indonesia

Nurul established ATOVA Internationals first overseas Tribe in Indonesia. Nurul now leads our Bali fieldbase. Deeply connected to the local community, she drives our education, health, and youth programs with compassion and purpose, embodying ATOVA’s mission of empowering people from within.

Role: Expert Advisor

Tribe: International Expert Advisory Group [IEAG]

Hilary serves on ATOVA’s International Expert Advisory Group (IEAG), offering her deep expertise in media and marketing. An experienced operator who has worked with non-profits around the world, including previously alongside our founder in Tanzania.

Hilary brings a rare blend of global insight and creative strategy to our mission. Known by those who have worked with her as “Rogue One,” she contributes an unorthodox and brilliant storytelling ability that helps us share the word about our vital work and the communities at the heart of it.

Role: Expert Advisor

Tribe: International Expert Advisory Group [IEAG]

Stuart Harrowing is a former Royal Marine turned university leader with a passion for developing people, systems, and world-class learning environments. Drawing on his extensive operational background and leadership experience, Stu now serves on the International Expert Advisory Group, where he provides strategic operational insight and curriculum support to the senior leadership team.

Known for his calm, principled approach and ability to bridge military precision with academic innovation, Stu plays a key role in shaping programs that build resilience, capability, and global-minded leadership in students and staff alike.

Role: Expert Advisor

Tribe: International Expert Advisory Group [IEAG]

Known for his adventurous spirit and warm heart, Karthick serves on ATOVA’s International Expert Advisory Group as our lead for Medical, Health, and Wellbeing. A qualified doctor with a deep passion for preventative medicine, palliative care, psychology, and holistic wellness, he brings unparalleled expertise, compassion, and insight to ATOVA.

A deeply spiritual individual, Karthick’s guiding hand has shaped ATOVA into what it is today and continues to support the organisation in meaningful and impactful ways. His commitment to service runs far beyond the clinic, famously once summiting 30 Himalayan peaks in 5 days alongside our founder while carrying out community support visits.

Role: Expert Advisor

Tribe: International Expert Advisory Group [IEAG]

Sarah is one of ATOVA’s earliest team members and serves as a core adviser on operations and leadership across our international programmes. Working closely with the CEO, she ensures that every aspect of ATOVA’s work meets the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and impact while keeping our initiatives aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

A seasoned NGO leader and respected industry professional with decades of experience, Sarah brings the elusive “X factor” to the organisation, empowering every team member to become the very best version of themselves. Her strategic insight, steady leadership, and unwavering commitment to excellence have been instrumental in shaping ATOVA’s growth.

Role: Expert Advisor

Tribe: International Expert Advisory Group [IEAG]

Emily brings outstanding experience and skill to the team. With her background in primary education and English as a Second Language, Emily supports the programs team with curriculum writing, and development. In particular with our Empowerment Through Education Program.

Emily ensures that all of the curriculums, handbooks and literature created for our education programs is of the highest quality, in line with international best practices, and contributing towards global goals.

Role: Expert Advisor

Tribe: International Expert Advisory Group [IEAG]

With over 40 years of experience in electronic engineering solutions, Tim brings a wealth of technical insight and systems-thinking to ATOVA’s International Expert Advisory Group. His career has taken him through a wide range of organisations, where he has worked alongside diverse teams to create reliable, practical, and forward-thinking engineering solutions.

Tim is known for his quiet brilliance, steady pragmatism, and an uncanny ability to spot problems long before anyone else notices them. He is also famously relentless, the kind of person who will quite literally never give up until the job is done, no matter how complex the challenge or how long it takes. His wisdom and behind-the-scenes guidance help ensure that our systems, technologies, and ambitions remain grounded, feasible, and future-ready. A lifelong tinkerer, natural problem-solver, and the person everyone turns to when something “just won’t work,” Tim brings a unique perspective that strengthens the whole organisation.