In Memory of Elizabeth Gocher (1938–2025)

Elizabeth Gocher served as a volunteer and dedicated Trustee of Dolma Foundation from 2007 until her passing in 2025. Over nearly two decades, she offered her time, skills, and compassion to the Foundation, visiting Nepal, personally supporting the education of young Nepali students, and overseeing the charity’s accounts and administration with great care.

Before joining Dolma Foundation, Elizabeth worked for over twenty years as Administrator and Secretary at Cecil Jones College, one of south-east England’s largest comprehensive schools, and later as a para-legal secretary in wills and probate law at Premier Wills until her retirement.

A lifelong volunteer and keen tennis player who represented Essex at county level, Elizabeth lived a life defined by kindness, integrity, and service to others. Her generosity of spirit and quiet dedication will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who knew her.

Tim Gocher OBE, Chairman

Tim is a finance executive with a background in energy and technology, and is also CEO of Dolma Impact Fund – an international investment fund building businesses and jobs in Nepal. He is also Honorary Professor of Sustainable Business at The University of Nottingham. After nine years at Deloitte and J.P. Morgan, and an MBA from London Business School, Tim became Managing Director at listed investment bank Interregnum plc. He is an expert in raising and deploying private capital for sustainable poverty alleviation, technology clusters and Special Economic Zones. He has advised governments, sovereign wealth funds and private developers around the world, including in China, India, Vietnam, Malaysia, Portugal and US.

When Tim first visited Nepal in 2003, it changed his life. He was stuck in the remote ethnic-Tibetan village of Bridim by the monsoon rains, and had no choice but to stay there. He was moved by the beautiful simplicity of life and the profound lessons he learned from the villagers. It was on that trip that he met Dolma and her family, and shortly afterwards founded the Dolma Foundation.

Tim lives in Kathmandu with his Nepali wife Pooja and three children.

Tim Gocher, received the OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2022 for services to British Investment and economic development in Nepal.

In his words:

“ I’m thrilled and shocked! It feels even more special on the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. There can be nothing more important for economic development and tackling social inequality than educating the poorest and most marginalised children, to help them participate in the new economy. This award is recognition of the work that we and all of our donors and partner institutions have been doing for nearly 20 years, and encourages us to do more. ”

Ashley Smith, Trustee

Volunteered and worked for 30 years within the charity sector.

Ashley spent 15 years working with The Salvation Army his final position was developing volunteering opportunities at The Hadleigh farm.

He has been a Director/Trustee and Company Secretary of the Dolma Foundation since 2007 and has travelled to both Nepal and Ethiopia to oversee projects.

He has been involved in the UK Scout Association for some 25 years, holding posts including District Secretary of the Southend Estuary District and former Chairman of 4th Thorpe Bay Scouts Group. Volunteered for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (Southend branch) supporting particularly around gift aid and volunteer recruitment and retention (MNDA).

More recently he is working with Southend City Councils (SCC) museums department developing volunteering opportunities.

Short term contracts for the office of national statistics. (ONS)

He is also a Cycle Instructor for last 8 years now.

David Stanley BEM, Trustee

David Stanley BEM is a disability rights campaigner, musical director, teacher, composer and concert producer. He studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, King’s College London, the Royal Academy of Music and the Institute of Education.

David was awarded the Medal of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s 2021 New Year Honours List for services to people with Special Needs and he received the UK Prime Minister’s Point of Light Award at the Royal Albert Hall in 2024 for services to others. David was bestowed the Honour of Freeman of the City of Southend-on-Sea in 2023.

David has done multiple shows internationally and across UK. In 2019 David launched The Music Man Project in Nepal in partnership with the Dolma Foundation. After just 6 hours of teaching, children from the Navjoti Special School in Kathmandu performed their first ever Music Man Project concert in front of 300 people, including the British Ambassador to Nepal, the late Richard Morris.

David joined the board of Dolma Foundation in the year 2022 and has been a constant support and advisor in the existing framework of the Foundation and with the future plannings.

Daniel Gocher ARSM, Trustee

Daniel has been involved with Dolma Foundation from a young age, beginning with emergency aid distribution in the aftermath of Nepal’s devastating 2015 earthquake. He has volunteered in Nepali hospitals and pathology laboratories, gaining first-hand experience of healthcare challenges in low-income settings. His exposure to these environments has shaped his ambition to pursue a career in medicine focused on improving access to healthcare and reducing global health inequalities.

He mentors young students in Nepal, including those with disabilities, reflecting his belief in equal opportunity and inclusion. Beyond his academic and charitable commitments, Daniel is a keen long-distance runner and an accomplished pianist, holding an ARSM diploma and several national and international competition titles.

Now serving as a Trustee of Dolma Foundation, Daniel brings energy, empathy, and the perspective of a new generation committed to sustainable development in Nepal.