Experience

• 

  DataKind UK

  • UK

  • CEO

    • Mar 2023 - Present
    • UK

    DataKind UK helps social change organisations use data science to have more of an impact. We do this by connecting them with some of the UK’s best data scientists for free! To find out more please get in touch.

• 

  Freelance

  • Independent Consultant

    • Mar 2022 - Present

• 

  Hackney Foodbank

  • United Kingdom
  • Non-profit Organizations
  • 1 - 100 Employee

  • Independent Consultant

    • Mar 2022 - Jul 2022

  • Interim Chief Executive Officer

    • Feb 2021 - Feb 2022

• 

  Social Action for Health

  • CEO

    • Nov 2017 - Feb 2021

    As CEO of Social Action for Health I led a dedicated team of staff, volunteers, session workers and associates who shared a passion to create a fairer society. Social and health inequalities and inequities can be found across London and the charity exists to take action to address them. Our vision was for a society where these inequalities no longer exist and everyone can live long healthy and fulfilling lives. By working alongside diverse communities we empowered people and communities to live healthier lives.

  • Deputy Chief Executive Officer

    • May 2016 - Nov 2017

• 

  St Mary's Secret Garden

  • Hackney, London

  • Trustee and Company Director

    • Mar 2011 - Jul 2018
    • Hackney, London

    Providing governance and direction as Company Director and Trustee (including a spell as Chair of the Board) at St Mary's Secret Garden, a horticultural project in Hackney, London. This small secret garden is often described as a peaceful oasis in the middle of a very busy area of the capital. It is approximately 0.7 of an acre in size and has been developed to create a diverse green space. There are four interlinking areas - a natural woodland, a food growing area (including vegetable beds, sort fruit and fruit trees), an herb and sensory garden and an area of herbaceous borders. We have a fully accessible classroom and a large greenhouse. Organic principles are used in maintaining the site and to encourage wildlife and biodiversity within the garden. St Mary's Secret Garden provides a diversity of projects including accredited horticultural education, therapeutical sessions, volunteering, an annual flower show and work experience for students and school children.

• 

  Social Kitchen CIC

  • London, United Kingdom

  • Managing Director

    • Mar 2012 - Jun 2016
    • London, United Kingdom

    Social Kitchen CIC was an award winning social enterprise that inspired, trained and supported individuals, communities and organisations. As Managing Director and co-founder I held overall responsibility for the organisation including income generation and funding, project design and delivery, identifying and building partnerships as well as developing and implementing the business strategy. We used food to bring people together, share experiences, knowledge and understanding. For us it was as much about the journey as the destination – cooking is a craft that anyone can learn and can be just as pleasurable as the eating. Through cooking we can reach people, share recipes, likes and dislikes, create a sense of achievement, build confidence, increase social and practical skills, introduce new experiences, bring people together and of course create some fantastic dishes.

• 

  Sydenham Garden

  • Lewisham

  • Chief Executive (Maternity Cover)

    • Nov 2011 - Sep 2012
    • Lewisham

    I provided Chief Executive maternity cover and leadership for Sydenham Garden, an award-winning charity providing gardening, nature conservation and creative opportunities for the well-being of local residents. The garden provides a range of wellbeing focused services including horticulture and creative opportunities for co-workers (the name the project gives to the primary beneficiaries) referred from over 30 community organisations and health sector agencies. The garden enables individuals to improve their quality of life, social interaction and physical and mental health in a supportive community environment.We developed an integrative approach where those with different degrees of mental and physical ill health come together with volunteers and members of the local community. This approach aims to reduce exclusion and the prejudice which fuels continuing lack of opportunity for many of our beneficiaries.As a user-centred service, co-workers and volunteers shape our decision-making processes and service delivery approach and this business plan is grounded by their needs and our ability to meet them.

• 

  Shoreditch Trust

  • Hackney, London

  • Programme Manager - Shoreditch Spa

    • Mar 2004 - Oct 2011
    • Hackney, London

    In 2003 the Shoreditch Spa (part of the Shoreditch Trust) was set up and took a whole person approach to supporting people to improve their health and wellbeing. The Shoreditch Spa went on to develop a range of services over the years, but they all shared a common ethos. Empowering people to make different choices about their health and wellbeing by providing people with the practical experience, a fresh perspective, skills, knowledge and motivational support to take steps towards healthy living. We worked with the whole person where a sense of self determination and belonging was as important as regular exercise and good food.The Spa delivered its services through four key programme areas: complementary therapies, healthy eating, peace of mind and health goals. My role and responsibilities evolved over the years and I was ultimately programme managing the complementary therapies, healthy eating and health goals areas at the time of my departure through redundancy.