The Donkey Sanctuary is an international charity with a wealth of knowledge and experience borne from over 50 years working to improve the welfare and wellbeing of donkeys everywhere. Our team of experts work across many disciplines but share one common passion, donkeys.

Marianne Steele - Acting Chief Executive Officer

Marianne Steele - Chief Executive Officer

Marianne Steele joined The Donkey Sanctuary as Director of Fundraising and Communications in 2010, following a long and varied career within the charity sector. Appointed Deputy Chief Executive in 2017 and Acting Chief Executive Officer in 2021, her tenure has seen the charity enjoy unprecedented growth in income generation, visitor engagement and public awareness about the importance of donkeys to vulnerable communities around the world.

Marianne’s motivation lies in a personal mission to change the perception of donkeys and the role they play in the world; animals she believes are deeply intelligent and sentient creatures that are underestimated by so many.

Prior to The Donkey Sanctuary, Marianne has worked within the not-for-profit sector for more than 25 years for causes including Arts and Heritage, and Health and Environmental, specialising particularly in fundraising, communications and development.

Faith Burden

Faith Burden - Executive Director of Equine Operations

Faith Burden has worked for The Donkey Sanctuary since 2004 and is the Executive Director of Equine Operations, leading the charity’s sanctuary, veterinary, welfare, technical and research functions. She is the co-author of over 70 peer-reviewed articles and is a globally recognised expert on the health and welfare of donkeys and mules.

Faith has a PhD in infectious diseases and has experience working across human and animal health care settings in academic, private and NGO sectors. Her research interests include donkey and mule welfare assessment, donkey nutrition, infectious diseases and parasitology and she has active collaborations with universities worldwide. She has worked with industry to design and produce donkey feeds and with donkey owners to provide cost-effective, high-welfare husbandry systems. Faith has also worked at national and international levels to influence and develop policy and guidelines to promote the highest standards of animal welfare, in particular for equids.

Niall Duffy, Executive Director of Policy and Profile

Niall Duffy - Executive Director of Policy and Profile

Niall Duffy joined The Donkey Sanctuary as Executive Director of Policy and Profile in August 2023. His teams are responsible for the charity’s external communications, brand, campaigning, and advocacy, changing the world for donkeys and the lives of those who depend on them.

He has more than 20 years’ experience in Public Relations, Comms and Lobbying working for organisations as varied as Qatar Airways, Flybe, Nestlé UK, the NHS, the Independent Press Standards Organisation, and the RSPCA, where he was Head of Public Affairs during the campaign to ban fox hunting, hare coursing and stag hunting.

Niall also spent some time in politics and was Leader of Southwark Council between 1997 and 2000, making him the youngest Leader in the country at that time.

Cheryl Martin, Executive Director of People and Planning

Cheryl Martin - Executive Director of People and Planning

Cheryl Martin is The Donkey Sanctuary’s Executive Director of People and Planning. She took on the role in 2023, having previously been Director of Brand and Communications for four years. Her teams are responsible for the charity’s people, culture, governance and estates – ensuring the sanctuary is a safe, secure and compliant workplace to deliver the best for its donkeys and supporter funds.

Cheryl has more than 25 years’ experience in business planning and strategic communications, having worked across all sectors. Her career has spanned internationally – from working in business planning at the New Zealand Ministerial Government to consulting for large multi-national corporations and start-ups.

Cheryl has come full circle, having started as a journalist at agricultural college, writing for the equine press when she was 18. Her passion for all things equine has never wavered – she owns a pony and three sheep which keep her busy outside of work!

Meet our people