Who we are

Enrique Saenz- Chair

Of Mexican origin, Enrique moved tothe UK in the eighties and worked as a correspondent for Mexican media. Most of his professional life in the UK has been in London in the not-for-profit sector. He has been Director of Latin American House (LAH) and has worked as development consultant for AdviceUK. He is now back at LAH as the chair of its Board of Trustees.

Mariann Sarquis - Safeguarding Trustee

Mariann is Mexican, with a family life split between Mexico City and the English West Country. In the UK, she has developed her career in higher education, managing the Latin America and Caribbean Centre at the London School of Economics before moving into her current role at the Technology and Industrialisation for Development (TIDE) Centre at the University of Oxford, where she works to ensure that research translates into real-world impact and where she still maintains strong working links with Latin America. Her motivation to join Latin American House comes from personal experience of settling and living in the UK, which gave her a practical understanding of the challenges that come with making a life in a new country, particularly for women and families with children. That same experience drives her commitment as Safeguarding Trustee, where her focus is the wellbeing of children, young people, and families within the community.

Lina Rodriguez - Property Trustee

José Rojas - People&Culture/HR Lead Trustee

Watching his Central American family put down roots in the UK reinforced José's belief in the importance of community. That conviction led him to serve as a Trustee at Latin American House. His professional career has been shaped by more than a decade of working with universities, international organisations, and community initiatives, always with a focus on helping people and organisations grow. He currently works in the Policy Engagement team at the University of Oxford, where he helps connect research with public policy

Alma Isabella Beutelspacher - General Trustee

Growing up in a Mexican family in Berlin, Germany has given Alma Isabella Beutelspacher a deep appreciation of the role community plays in helping people feel they belong. Through her work on widening participation initiatives at King's College London, she supported Latin American students and families in accessing higher education, reinforcing her belief in the transformative power of education and opportunity. Alma now works at a compliance technology company, where she combines her legal background with technology and strategic problem-solving. She joined the Board of Trustees at Latin American House because she is passionate about ensuring Latin American communities continue to have access to the support, education and cultural connection that help families thrive and future generations succeed.  

Casey Bale - General Trustee

Carlos Bode - General Trustee

Carlos is a Latin American Londoner who arrived in the UK in the 1970s as a refugee from Chile. He connects deeply with his roots through Latin American history, politics, and literature, as well as sharing its rich heritage by playing vinyl at musical events and cultural spaces. As a Trustee, Carlos blends this cultural passion with extensive professional expertise in programme management, agile technology delivery and data architecture, helping Latin American House modernise its digital reach and scale its impact. He is a dedicated advocate for social justice, decolonisation, and neuro-inclusivity, also bringing an intersectional feminist and LGBTQ+ ally lens to the Board. For Carlos, serving as Trustee is a deeply personal commitment to ensuring fellow Latin Americans find the same solidarity, support, and opportunities that welcomed him decades ago.