Matthew Hanning joins INF UK as our new Chief Executive in May 2025, bringing over 25 years of development experience to the role.

He joins from CBM, the global disability inclusion charity formerly known as Christian Blind Mission.

Matthew has a passion for living out his Christian faith through working with some of the world’s most disadvantaged communities as they break the barriers caused by poverty, disability and marginalisation. He shares this vocation with his wife Aline, an educator of deafblind children.

Reflecting on where this all began, Matthew said:

“Since my first role as a gap year volunteer in Jordan, I have had a passion for bringing different organisations together with a shared vision of truly inclusive development for the rights of people most marginalised by society.

“Building strong relationships is of paramount importance to me, so I look forward to forming strong bonds with INF and our other partners in Nepal for the benefit of the people we are called to serve.”

Matthew spent a total of 9 years in Jordan, initially with the Holy Land Institute for the Deaf before joining CBM. In between times he was studying in the UK, reading Theology at Edinburgh before doing a Masters in International Development and Disability at Leeds.

During his subsequent years with CBM he worked in Australia before 6 years as Country Representative in Indonesia. Since 2018 he has been Director of International Programmes for CBM UK.

Now based in Cambridgeshire, Matthew and Aline are actively involved in St James’ Hemingford Grey where they co-lead a home group. Aline works for Sense UK at a college for young adults with multiple disabilities, while Matthew is also on the church’s mission committee led by Alison Craven, who served with INF in Nepal for many years.

A key Bible verse that shapes Matthew’s work is Jesus’ words: ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’ (Matthew 25:40). He is also inspired by Isaiah 61, desiring to follow in Jesus’ footsteps to ‘bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners’.

Adding to his broader experience of cross-cultural working, Matthew has also been to Nepal twice through his work for CBM, including travelling around several districts on an extended trip in 2023. He is planning two visits to Nepal before the end of this year, in August and November.

“Initially I will be keen to listen and learn about INF and our other partners, as well as getting to know Nepal, its people, culture and language.

“It is so reassuring to have such dedicated supporters who make a difference for people in Nepal through prayer, donations, church giving, and grants. Thank you to everybody who is committed to our vision of fullness of life for the most disadvantaged Nepalis.

“I join INF at a time when the world is adjusting to a fast-changing geopolitical landscape, with major implications for the funding of international development. This will demand that we play to our strengths, based on strong relationships with local partners in Nepal who do such incredible work to improve health, reduce poverty, and promote social inclusion.

“I am excited about working with our Nepali partners, the global INF family, and our UK staff and trustees. Together, we can discern a strategic direction to shape the next chapter for INF UK over the next few years.

“I pray we can build on the incredible legacy that INF has from more than 70 years in Nepal, and give thanks for all that John has led INF UK through over his 28 years in post. I trust that God will show us how to strengthen our other partnerships to work with even more people in Nepal discover Jesus’ promise of life in all its fullness.”