Words by Smiley Team
After leaving his position as a chairman and CEO, David Forbes-Nixon has received an OBE for his charitable work. The Prime Minister recommended the investment banker be awarded by the Queen in the Birthday Honours List.
David’s achievements include co-founding a school for children with special educational needs and creating DFN Foundation as well as DFN Project SEARCH, an initiative to assist adults with special needs to secure long-term employment.
Accepting the award on behalf of his colleagues, he said: “I would like to thank everyone at Stepping Stones school and at the DFN Foundation and DFN Project SEARCH for their brilliant work with children and adults with special educational needs and disabilities.”
Inspired by his disabled son, Charlie, he has dedicated many years of his life to improving education and enhancing career prospects for children with learning difficulties, setting up the foundation and career guidance project.
In 2014 he took this further, buying writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s old country house, Undershaw and converting it into the Stepping Stones School.
Today the school aims to build self-confidence and independence in students, preparing them for a fulfilling life in which they can reach their full potential. It ensures they gain the qualifications and skills required for social and economic independence in later life.
Throughout all his charitable work, David hopes to improve the future prospects for disabled people throughout the country in a move towards a fairer, more inclusive society.
He emphasised that the award reflected the hard work of everyone at the organisations. “I am honoured to receive this award,” he said, “but it is on behalf of everyone involved at Stepping Stones School, the DFN Charitable Foundation and DFN Project SEARCH. We have only been able to achieve so much because of their efforts and this award is for them as much as me”.
In order to focus on his charitable work, he stepped down as Chairman and CEO of Bank of New York Mellon’s Alcentra Group, one of London’s leading asset managers. He now spends two days a week working as its senior advisor.
Looking to the future, David added: “It is hugely difficult for people with learning disabilities to get the education they need to prepare them to find long-term, meaningful employment, with only 5.6 per cent in full-time jobs. I will continue to work with my colleagues at DFN Project SEARCH to do everything we can to significantly improve this outcome.”
Find more information at dfnfoundation.org.
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