Communities Team Francisca Carnelos Delivery Partner Officer Francisca was born in Australia, grew up in New York and Rome where she attended international schools. She was trained as a Peer Mentor during high school, where she was responsible for the wellbeing of students both academically, socially, and emotionally. She always had a strong interest in different cultures, traditions, and languages that have led her to deepen realities and countries other than the Western cultural environment, developing her sense of empathy and inclusion. She graduated in BA Middle Eastern Studies from SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies) and MSc in International Relations from the London School of Economics (LSE). Hannah Birgani Community Partner Officer After studying Ecology, with a focus on the marine world at university, Hannah graduated during the pandemic. She spent a few years in Cambridge, working as a Molecular Scientist and sequencing cancer biopsies. In any free time and holidays that she has, she loves to travel, experiencing cultures and communities from all over the world. After travelling around South East Asia for a few months, she transitioned from the scientific sector into the non-profit sector in 2023 and was previously volunteering and working for an International Development charity. James Dunbar Head of Delivery Partner Success Before joining WLZ, James worked for 8 years as Creative Producer for Chickenshed Theatre. In this role, he developed a programme of inclusive theatre projects for children and young people in West London, working in partnership with a range of organisations, schools and local community groups. James trained as a dancer at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance and has worked across the community arts sector as a performer, teacher, theatre maker and producer. Kate Fabian Academic Delivery Officer Kate is an Australian with a background in community planning and social research; having worked in government, private sector and NGO roles. Kate has BAs in Human Geography and Teaching, and a CELTA qualification, and has taught English and Geography in a range of settings, from adults to Nursery children. Kate is a safeguarding governor at her local primary school and is passionate about children having the opportunity to experience a safe and happy childhood, as well as to develop skills for later life. Kate Welsh Communities Director Kate joins West London Zone from an Arts and Education background, having worked for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Into Film and various schools and PRUs. She has extensive leadership experience in mobilising cross-sectors partnerships to support young people and in designing outreach programmes. She is an advocate for early intervention and creating sustainable opportunities for young people. Macalla Duffy Academic Support Manager Macalla joins West London Zone from SEO Scholars, where she worked on closing the opportunity gap for New York City high school students. At SEO she coordinated academic programming and led student and family engagement efforts. Prior to that, she taught English to primary school students in France. Maia Jarvis Community Engagement Manager After studying Music and English, Maia became Vice-President of Education and then President of Royal Holloway Students’ Union, where she cultivated a passion for community work, empowering young people and climate justice. As President, she led a successful campaign to remove fossil fuel companies from the university’s investment portfolio, oversaw a research report into student safety, and integrated student voice into the university’s strategic decisions. She also led on the union’s governance as Chair of the Trustee Board. She has held several roles working with children and has a strong interest in amplifying the voices of young people. Maria Benitez Delivery Partner Manager Maria studied French and Psychology at the University of Surrey and spent a year of her studies teaching extra-curricular English to children in Rennes, France. After graduating, she spent nearly 2 years working in a pupil referral unit supporting children and young people with behavioural and special educational needs. This is where her drive to support children and families began.