Business Development Team Expand Amber de Freitas Communications Officer Amber joined WLZ after working in business development at youth justice charity SHiFT. She has a keen interest in amplifying the voices of children and young people and is excited about sharing their stories. Amber holds a BA in English Language and Linguistics from the University of Essex. Rebecca Wallace Communications Manager Rebecca's previous roles include Digital Communications Specialist at Saudi Aramco, and Communications Coordinator for Team London, the volunteering arm of the Mayor of London's office. She also has extensive freelance writing and communications consulting experience. Prior to that she was a professional ballet dancer and stunt woman, before gaining a BA in History from Royal Holloway, University of London. Vanessa O'Donnell Head of Public Affairs and Communications Vanessa has worked across public affairs, communications and policy in a range of organisations including Young Enterprise, the CBI and The Russell Group of Universities. Vanessa is particularly passionate about education and skills and the role these can both play in transforming life chances. Prior to this she worked in political polling at ComRes. Vanessa has a Public Policy Masters from Queen Mary and a BA in Politics from Warwick University. Charly Pye Development Manager 'After graduating from the University of Bath with a BA in Politics and Spanish, Charly worked as a Teaching Assistant in Spain and in various roles in education in the UK. She has completed a Development Studies Master’s at the Institute of Development Studies (University of Sussex), bringing experience in academic research on educational inequalities. Charly’s more recent background has been in Trusts and Foundations fundraising, at an international development charity delivering education, healthcare and child protection services. Freddie O'Farrell Freddie joined WLZ in its first year of delivery, supporting the growth and development of the organisation through to the signing of the Life Chances Fund contract in late 2019. He left to take up a more research-focused role at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and later also worked at Crisis, where he helped develop a place-based response to homelessness in the London borough of Brent. Freddie returned to WLZ in 2022 as Head of Public Sector Commissioning, to lead on development work relating to schools, local authorities, and central government. Freddie holds an MSc in Comparative Social Policy from the University of Oxford, and a BA in History & Politics from the University of Sheffield. Ewan Edwards Development Manager (Commissioning) Ewan brings experience from working in schools and educational charities in India, Spain, Sierra Leone and west London. He has a MA in African studies from SOAS and a BA in Literature and History from the University of Leeds Grace Mosimi Development Officer Grace previously worked in the charity sector by supporting the planning of fundraising events. Before joining West London Zone, she completed an MA in Culture, Diaspora and Ethnicity at Birkbeck College, where she centred her research on how to mobilise the resolution of institutional inequalities. She also holds a BA degree in Human Geography, where she focused her research on the inequality of achievement between students at the degree level. Kate Dolleymore Head of Philanthropy Kate previously worked in the fundraising team at the literacy charity, Coram Beanstalk, managing their Major Donor programme and prior to that was managing events and individuals at the Children's International Development charity, Magic Bus. She has a BSC in Psychology from the University of Leeds. Susan May Robbie Development Manager (Corporates) A sustainability, social impact and communications consultant, Susan previously headed up social investment for Investec Bank. Prior to that, she practised as a corporate lawyer. She has a BA in Law and Psychology from the University of Cape Town, as well as an LLB.
Finance Team Expand Emilia Baran Finance Manager Emilia graduated with BSc (Hon) in Mathematics from the City University of London and then decided to pursue a career in Accountancy. Through practical experience, further study and personal development in related fields she became a member of the Association of Accounting Technicians and the Certified Institute of Management Accountants. She has worked as a Senior Accountant for a small organisations (mostly charities) since 2012 and joined the West London Zone in November 2021
Link Work Team Expand Amra Chohan Link Worker Amra graduated in Business & IT from London South Bank University and has been teaching SEN and vulnerable children in a mainstream setting within the inclusion faculty for the past four years concentrating on raising maths and literacy standards alongside managing a team of TA’s and various interventions to aid the children. As well as this Amra was able to achieve level 3 ELKLAN which specialises in speech-language and communication. In addition, Amra’s role within the school was to provide social and emotional support for pastoral care. Prior to this Amra was teaching in a primary school setting. Annabel Thody Link Work Area Manager Annabel studied a degree in English Language and Literature at the University of Sheffield, after a childhood spent in California and schooling in South Wales. After this, she started a career in the prison service working as an English teacher with juveniles, young adults and adults. This took her through a PGCE at Cardiff University and later, a Masters degree in Education from King’s College London. Her research focus specifically addressed the sociolinguistic presentation of young adult offenders and its relationship to educational attainment. West London Zone presents a new and exciting challenge. Angie Bustamante Arias Link Worker Angie completed her degree in Education Studies and Psychology at Nottingham Trent University. Following this, she started working at an SEMH secondary school as a teaching assistant and English teacher. In this role she gained experience in working with a targeted group of individuals and learning various interventions. She then moved abroad to China to teach English. After returning Angie wanted to continue to work with young people and discovered WLZ, whose values inspired her to take on the role of a Link Worker. Bethany Chisholm Link Worker Whilst studying Criminology with Substance Misuse Intervention Strategy at the University of Brighton, Bethany gained experience in facilitating group in a local service to promote well-being and recovery. After graduating, Bethany began working with young people in a life skills centre. The focus of this work was to nurture young peoples' interests and help to develop their self-confidence. Bethany O Sullivan Link Worker Beth completed her degree in History at Newcastle University. Following this she worked as a Learning Support Assistant in a SEN primary school working with a range of children with complex needs. In this role she gained an interest in the benefits of targeted group and individual interventions with children and young people. Prior to studying at university Beth gained experience in various settings working with children and young people. Beth Smith Link Work Manager Beth studied Human, Social and Political Sciences at the University of Cambridge. She then worked as a Primary Teaching Assistant in North London. She also has experience volunteering with refugees, women and children. Bonnie Heaton Link Worker Bonnie studied Popular Music Performance at the British Institute of Modern Music (BIMM) in London. Though her passion was for Music and The Arts, upon graduating in 2018, shedecided to try something new. This led her to delve into the world of Education. Bonnie quickly realised her love for working with children and young people through her role as a General / SEN TA in various primary schools. She gained hands-on experience working mainly with children in KS1 who had ASD and ADHD. After discovering the incredible work WLZ does she felt greatly inspired to take on a new exciting challenge and join the team! Brandy Mongoy Link Worker Brandy studied Law and Criminology at the University of Sheffield. Shortly after, she worked as an oracy mentor and mace judge with a focus on improving oracy skills, specifically public speaking and debating skills with young children. Most recently, she worked as a teaching assistant with autistic children. Bryony Blood Smyth Link Worker During her Geography degree at Royal Holloway University of London, Bryony focused on the displacement of urban communities which sparked her interest in youth work and community projects. Bryony spent time in Nicosia, Cyprus working with a writer and activist and was involved in several projects working with marginalised communities in the divided city; upon her return to the UK she pursued opportunities in youth work and worked as pastoral support in a school in Westminster. Caroline Wilkinson Link Worker Caroline graduated in Communications from Brunel University before studying for her PGCE, also at Brunel. She then taught in a primary school for seven years, spending some of this time working with children with special educational needs. She also has experience tutoring through the National Tutoring Programme and volunteering with young people in her local area. She has lived in west London all her life. Catherine Bradon Link Worker Catherine graduated with a degree in psychology from the University of Nottingham and went on to complete a PGCE at the University of Roehampton. She has worked as a primary school teacher in London across both Key Stage 1 and 2 for many years and is passionate about supporting children to achieve their potential. Charlotte Norris Link Worker/Literacy Delivery officer Charlotte completed her degree in Psychology at the University of Lincoln and then went on to complete her Masters in Developmental Psychology. Charlotte has a background in both Teaching Assistant and teaching roles across the Primary School phase. She is looking forward to taking on training in Play Therapy and how she can incorporate this into her role as a Link Worker. Eleanor Brown Link Work Manager and Link Worker Eleanor graduated from the University of Bristol with a degree in Childhood Studies. Her experience volunteering for a local domestic abuse charity in Bristol lead her to work for Refuge as a Children’s Support Worker before joining West London Zone. Fardowsa Mohamed Link Worker Fardowsa has worked with children, young people and families for the past 19 years within social services, various charities, schools and the community. Fardowsa is very passionate about working with children and young people to support them rise to their full potential and help them access opportunities within the community.Fardowsa loves traveling and learning about different cultures to gain new experiences to improve her practice. Fatima Hussein Link Work Manager Fatima studied English Literature, Language and Linguistics at the University of Roehampton. She then worked as a Secondary Teaching Assistant and Cover Supervisor in south west London. She also has experience tutoring and volunteering with young people in her local area. Frankie Wakefield Link Worker Frankie graduated from the University of Sussex with a BA in Social Work. She worked with The Prince's Trust and with the Hastings Duty team, where she became passionate about the benefits of long term support work with children and young people. For the past few years, Frankie has worked in a graphic design studio. Haleema Malik Link Worker Haleema completed her undergraduate in Psychology with Criminology from Middlesex University. She further went on to complete a Postgraduate degree in MSc Organisational Psychiatry and Psychology from King’s College London. Following this, she started working at a secondary school as an SEN teaching assistant and literacy teacher. By doing this role she gained experience in working with a targeted group of individuals and learning various interventions. This developed her interest in wanting to work with young people and discovered WLZ, whose values inspired her to take on the role of a Link Worker. Hannah Nicholson Link Worker Whilst studying Politics and International Relations at the University of Bath, Hannah had the opportunity, through City Year UK, to mentor and run early interventions with young people in Camden. During her degree, she also worked within the Widening Participation team, tohelp under-represented communities access university study. Additionally, through working with Future Foundations, she helped coach young people into becoming leaders within their local communities. Harrison Wright Link Worker Whilst studying Philosophy and Spanish at the University of Bristol, Harrison gained experience working with early years children teaching English as a foreign language in Madrid. After graduation, he gained experience as a teaching assistant at a secondary school in West London working alongside students with special needs. In his spare time Harrison is a keen musician and aims to bring elements from this to his practice. Idil Hussen Link Worker Idil studied Psychology at the University of Essex, in her final year she focused on developmental disorders, cognitive neuroscience and neuropsychology. Idil then worked with children with learning difficulties in SEN secondary and sixth form to promote independence. In recent years before joining WLZ, Idil worked as a behavioral therapist for children with Autism, using principles of Applied Behavioural Analysis to teach academic, social, self-help and language & communication skills. Jess Nash Link Worker Jess has a degree in Fine Art & Related Arts and completed a 2-year post-grad Foundation in Integrative Arts/Child Therapy. She went on to become a volunteer counsellor for leading children’s mental health charity, Place2Be, and supported children in small groups and 1:1 in her role of therapeutic play-worker at The Family School. Additionally, Jess managed 1:1 yoga therapy provision, school outreach and teacher training programmes for The Special Yoga Centre; supporting children and families living with special and/or additional needs. She has lived in west London for most of her professional life. Joe Lodge Brent Area Manager Joe has worked in education for 15 years in a number of different roles. He has coordinated the transition between primary and secondary phases for a Secondary School in Havering and most recently led a team in an SEN school that provided pastoral support to its pupils. He had the role of Designated Safeguarding Lead in school and enjoys forging strong working relationships with professionals and external agencies. John Howells Link Worker John is a qualified Personal Trainer who has also completed a Bachelors degree in Business Tourism and a PGCE in Primary Education. Before joining WLZ he created and managed his fitness brand - Impact body and mind, and more recently gained qualified teacher status while working in a London primary school. In addition, he has taught English as an additional language in Italy and online. John is a big fan of movement breaks and outdoor learning. Joyce Papparlardo Link Worker Joyce graduated from the University of Roehampton with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Counselling and then went on to complete a Master’s Degree in Attachment Studies. She really wanted to work with children so, after graduating, she worked in a primary school as a TA where she specialised in 1-1 and small group work for children with a wide range of needs. Alongside that role, Joyce was also the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead of the school. Juanita Benkirane Link Worker After completing her BA in Criminology, she has built up several years of experience mentoring young offenders and providing behavioural support in a primary school. In addition to being a WLZ Link worker, as a qualified therapist, Juanita spends a day a week working with the leading national children’s mental health charity, Place2Be. Juanita Moore Link Worker Juanita has a degree in Childhood and Youth Studies and is passionate about working with children, empowering and supporting them to reach their full potential. She has worked with the NSPCC and Home-Start. Juanita enjoys traveling and prior to joining West London Zone worked as Airline Cabin Crew. Kamal Elghailani Link Worker Kamal studied at the University of Sussex, his studies focused on the development and effect media had on young people. During his time at university, he became a skateboarding coach, aiding primary school children on their motor and confidence skills. This led him into becoming a 1-1 in secondary school in south west London for three years. Kamal has led and run key development sessions such as Lego therapy, homework club, and reading intervention. Kamaldeep Kaur Link Worker Kam has recently completed a degree in Primary Education at the University of Greenwich. She has worked with children for a number of years, in a range of settings including education, childcare, and youth work. Kam is passionate about working with children and young people to support them to reach their full potential. Katie Devane Link Worker Katie studied Childhood and Youth at The University of Northampton. During this time she worked in a residential children's home, with young people aged 8-18 years old. She also volunteered at various services for children and young people such as a local counselling service and a youth club. After Katie completed her studies, she continued her work in a nursery and also as a part time Female Youth Development worker where she worked with vulnerable females aged 12-17 within a mainstream school and a pupil referral unit. Katie Donovan Link Worker Katie studied English Literature at Swansea University, before going on to gain her Masters in Applied Theatre from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Here she was involved in various youth theatre projects and supported young people in expressing themselves and building confidence through drama and performing. Before joining West London Zone, Katie completed the Teach First Leadership Development Programme and taught as a class teacher in a primary school for two years. Layla Kido Link Worker Layla's interest in working with children and young people began with her role as a senior mentor for young people with the National Citizen Service (NCS). She really enjoyed connecting and engaging the young people through fun and exciting workshops, residential trips and supporting their social development. Whilst studying for her undergraduate degree, she worked part-time as a Koru Kids nanny. For her undergraduate degree, she studied BSc Psychology at Brunel University and upon completing that, worked as a learning support assistant (LSA) at the London Oratory School. She then went on to study for her masters at UCL in MSc Global Health and Development. Prior to joining WLZ as a Link Worker, Layla worked as a teaching assistant (TA) at a special educational needs school which she also thoroughly enjoyed. Lucy Bilson Link Worker Whilst studying for her undergraduate degree in Ancient History, Lucy helped to run an educational organisation aimed at supporting children who were missing out on opportunities due to the Covid-19 Lockdowns. This led to an interest in inequalities in the education sector and subsequent work as an Interventions Tutor at a primary school. This involved working with small groups of children across the school to get them to a similar level to their peers in the core subjects. Mark Evans Head of Link Work Before joining WLZ Mark worked as a teacher in a local secondary school. Prior to this he worked for a cluster of schools in south west London developing provision for children and families and before this developing a mentoring programme for vulnerable young people in collaboration with a Youth Offending team. Mark brings a wealth of knowledge developing services for children, young people and their families across the public, statutory and the third sector. In his spare time he is a keen sportsman. Megan Templeman Link Worker Megan studied English with Study Abroad at the University of Exeter. Her experience volunteering for a youth mentoring charity whilst at university led her to pursue a career in the charity sector and she completed the Charityworks Graduate Scheme in 2019. Most recently, she has worked at a children’s hospice, working closely with children with life-limiting conditions and their families. Megan also has experience tutoring and has volunteered in schools and with NGOs. Mia O'Connell Link Work Manager Mia studied German and Mandarin at the University of Birmingham. She then qualified as a secondary school teacher in Essex, before joining West London Zone as a Link Worker in Westminster in 2019. Mia then worked overseas in a mental health role and as a Y3 class teacher at an international school in Bangkok, whilst freelancing as a social skills interventionist for a special education centre. Nadia Carrier Solomon Link Worker Nadia studied Politics and Sociology at Newcastle University. Since then, Nadia has worked as a Learning Support Assistant in a primary school setting, primarily supporting children with additional behavioural needs. Alongside this, Nadia worked as a Project Leader for a mentoring charity and as a Play Worker for an organisation within the local council. Olayinka Goldfeather Link Work Manager With a degree in Illustration and a qualification in children's counselling from Place2Be, Ola has a passion for working creatively with children and young people to support their emotional well-being. As well as working at West London Zone, Ola is a coach and workshop facilitator, mentoring and supporting teenage girls to build their confidence, self-esteem and skills. She also has experience in inner London primary schools as a learning mentor and teaching assistant. Phoebe Young Link Work Manager Phoebe has experience working in a variety of youth charity and education settings, including at the National Citizen Service and teaching English in French and Ghanian secondary schools. Prior to West London Zone, she was a Programme Coordinator for Action Tutoring in primary schools across North London, working to close the attainment gap and deliver academic support during Covid-19. She is passionate about WLZ’s early intervention, multi-agency and community-focused approach. Priya Patel Link Worker Priya is a graduate in Psychology from Coventry University. She has been mentoring for the last few years and has found her calling. Alongside this she has also volunteered for the National Hindu Students Forum UK which is the largest hindu student organization in the UK and has helped organize national events. Priya's passions are anything creative or arts and crafts related and in her spare time specialising in Mehndi (Henna) but is happy to give anything creative a go! Rebecca Farrell Link Work Manager Rebecca studied English and American Literature at the University of Kent. She has experience working in the Education and Charity sector. Rebecca is a qualified Primary School Teacher, specialising in Early Years. Before WLZ, she taught in the Nursery at her local infant school for 7 years. Rebecca was part of the Middle Leadership team, responsible for the Learning Environment and leading on the subject of Writing across the school. She also has experience volunteering with Crisis, supporting people experiencing homelessness, and with her local hospital as a Dementia Buddy. Sarah Walsh Link Worker Sarah completed a degree in Primary Education in Canterbury and went on to teach in primary schools, specifically within the Early Years Foundation Stage. After several years, she decided to take her teaching abroad and worked as a TEFL teacher and as a volunteer in an orphanage. Seema Ahmed Link Worker Seema has been working with children and young people for over 10 years and has also studied International Relations at Queen Mary University. From volunteering in her local community centre, to becoming a play worker, she was able to gain an excellent understanding of child development. This included recognising the disadvantages that many children face in accessing activities and positive enriching experiences. Therefore, Seema focused on introducing new activities for children to discover such as: regular badminton sessions, hair braiding lessons and exploring henna art. From this, she was able to strengthen her relationship with the children as they enjoyed embracing their creative side and learning new skills. She is passionate to continue this path to encourage children and young people realise that there are no limitations to the greatness they can achieve Sinead Earl Link Worker Sinead studied Theology and R.S. with Classics at St Mary's College, Twickenham before completing a PGCE in Primary education at Greenwich University. She worked as a Teacher in London for 12 years and also spent time teaching overseas, in Beijing China before joining WLZ. She was born in West London and is passionate about helping all children to thrive and reach their full potential. Sofia Gaetani Morris Link Worker Prior to joining West London Zone, Sofia worked as an advocate providing holistic support to women in contact with, or at risk of being in contact with the criminal justice system. She has also worked as a Youth Group Worker with young migrants, asylum seekers and trafficked young people. Sofia spent time in Sicily, Italy where she worked as a supply teacher and volunteered in a refugee community centre. Sofia studied Social Anthropology and History at SOAS, University of London, and is passionate about working with people, creating positive societal change and empowering others. Sophie Carty Link Worker Sophie completed her MA in Education and International Development at UCL in 2021, and is continuing to study Arabic at SOAS. Prior to that Sophie studied English and Drama at Queen Mary University of London. She has also volunteered with education charities in Greece and Phnom Penh. Thomas Hacker Link Worker Thomas graduated from the University of Birmingham with a degree in Psychology and then went on to complete a Masters in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Brunel. During his degree Thomas worked as a children’s football coach, which led him to his next role providing sports development and pastoral support at a primary school. For the past few years Thomas has worked as a researcher fora leadership development organisation. Tilly Tappenden Link Worker Tilly studied a joint honours degree in War Studies and History at King's College London University. Whilst at university Tilly volunteered with the breast cancer awareness charity CoppaFeel!, encouraging her fellow students to check themselves regularly for early signs of breast cancer. After graduating, Tilly worked as a teaching assistant at a primary school in West Sussex before joining a Trainee Detective programme at Surrey Police. After a year of working in the police, Tilly left to become an Independent Domestic Violence Advocate at a women's aid charity where she supported young people aged 11-25. Tilly has always enjoyed working with children and young people, and is passionate about supporting them to thrive. Victoria Proctor Link Worker Victoria graduated from King's College London with a BA in Religion, Philosophy and Ethics and an MA in Philosophy. Alongside her studies she provided pastoral support to young people as a Mentor and Youth Engagement Intern with a local charity focusing on equal access to higher education, as well as being involved in homeless outreach. More recently, Victoria has volunteered as a Crisis Counsellor for mental health charity Shout, offering support to those in crisis via a text line. She has also worked with young people as a Tutor and then later as a Literacy Delivery Officer here at WLZ. Zoe Ball Link Worker With a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a PGCE in Primary Education, Zoe has always been fascinated with how children learn. She has worked in a number of different schools having been a teacher, Maths Lead and previously an LSA. More recently, she has worked in educational technology, including creating resources and training teachers. She is incredibly passionate about supporting children to fulfil their potential.
Partnerships Team Expand Eugenia Lai Academic Delivery Officer Eugenia joined WLZ soon after her graduation in MSc Environment, Politics and Society at UCL. Having previous experience in teaching SEN students in a school setting, she started her career as an Academic Delivery Officer at WLZ and is dedicated to helping children and young people who struggle in learning mathematics. Francisca Carnelos Partnerships Officer (Insights) 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 well-being 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 at the London School of Economics (LSE). Georgia Fox Community Engagement Manager Fascinated by people, cultures and communities, Georgia studied Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies, which led her to study and teach abroad in Brazil and Argentina. Once back in the UK, Georgia worked for numerous refugee charities, working with families and young people to build communities and improve people's mental health. Using this experience, she now joins us to develop our community engagement initiatives with our schools, alumni and wider community. James Dunbar Partnerships Manager 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. Kayleigh Benoit Academic Delivery Officer Kayleigh is a former Head of English and Head of Assessment in a secondary SEN school in West London. Her qualifications include a BA Hons English and Drama degree, PGCE in secondary English, MA in English Education and NPQLT in Middle Leadership. During lockdown Kayleigh freelanced as a consultant to aid young people and families who were struggling over the pandemic. Kayleigh began her time at WLZ as a Literacy Consultant for a year before becoming a Literacy Delivery Officer. Kayleigh works part time in education and spends the remaining time in business. 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 Walters Academic Delivery Officer Kate has completed a BA in Philosophy and Literature at the University of Warwick and an MSc in the Philosophy of Science at the LSE. She has previously worked in communications for organisations including the National Trust, and has also enjoyed spending time with young children as a trustee of a charity pre-school. Kate Welsh Head of Partnerships 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. Maria Benitez Partnerships 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. Mythiraye Kothandaraman Contract and Compliance Manager Mythiraye has recently completed her Masters in Law specialising in Corporate governance from University of Law, London and has a Bachelor's degree in law from India. To this role, she brings relevant experience in the areas of law, data protection and compliance. She is a big advocate for creating positive change and knowledge sharing. Outside of work, you can find her enjoying a good book with a cup of coffee.
People and Culture Team Expand Ajan Abdullahi Team Administrator Originally from Somalia and Ethiopia by way of Germany, Ajan now considers herself a west London native. After completing her BA Hons in History in 2013, Ajan had a brief stint working at a planning department in North London before transition to working in administration. She has experience working in the international education sector, as well as in a corporate setting for a large assistance company supporting CEOs and Group Directors. Claire Bennett People and Culture Business Partner Claire has previously worked within the healthcare sector for over 17 years. She is a CIPD qualified Human Resources professional with a depth of experience of working in both specialist and generalist roles. Claire holds a BA in Theology and Religious Studies and History from the University of Surrey, Roehampton and is currently working towards her CIPD level 7 advanced diploma. Lily Assefa HR Officer After completing her MBA in Marketing, Lily worked as a Business Analyst and later on as a Product Manager for First Rate Travel Services (a joint venture between Bank of Ireland and The Post Office). After taking few years to look after her son, she worked for the National Institute for African Studies as Programme Manager/Administrator. Mariana Camarotte Office Manager & Inclusion Lead Mariana is an experienced executive assistant and management professional. She has worked in management roles in the private and not-for-profit sectors in Brazil, Portugal and UK. Most recently, she worked as the Executive Assistant for the CEO and Board of Directors of a community foundation that tackles poverty in the East End of London. Mariana has a Management degree from Surrey University and is a qualified PRINCE II project manager.
Senior Management Team Expand Louisa Mitchell Chief Executive Officer Louisa joined WLZ to design the plan and implement the pilot project in White City in 2015-16. She became Chief Executive in September 2016 and has since led its growth across four west London boroughs. Previously Louisa worked in social policy and the charitable sector in London and Hong Kong. Prior to that, she wrote for the Financial Times and worked in development finance and investment banking in Hong Kong and New York. Andrew Berwick Strategy and Impact Director Andrew has 15 years' experience of supporting young people from marginalised communities. He started his career as a teacher in West London, before leading a charity that helps young people from under-privileged backgrounds to reach selective universities. Most recently he worked as a consultant to a range of third sector and public sector organisations, focusing on impact and strategy. Esiri Lawrence People and Culture Director Esiri's passion for working with children stemmed from Teaching English Literature to secondary school students for a year after graduating from university. She has since worked in schools and university as well as in the private sector where she has over 10 years experience of strategically leading and refining the People function. She is a chartered member of the CIPD with a masters degree in Human Resources Management and currently undertaking a masters degree in Employment Law (LLM). Jenny Hoyle Delivery Director Before joining WLZ Jenny worked for 10 years in Children and Young People’s services with a specific focus on delivering and commissioning early intervention and prevention services. She has a depth of experience of working in and with voluntary sectors partners and working across the voluntary, private and public sectors to improve outcomes for local communities. Jenny is passionate about creating positive change for children and young people in West London. Joe Prendiville Business Development Director Joe has extensive experience of managing and delivering education programmes to disadvantaged and marginalised people. He worked in senior leadership at a youth charity in East London for five years through a period of significant organisational growth, leading their education and training programmes. Most recently he worked as Principal of their Alternative Provision Free School.
Strategy & Impact Team Expand Ansh Kapasi Impact Officer Originally from Atlanta, USA, Ansh worked in the education and humanitarian sectors in Brazil, Kenya, and Greece before coming to London to pursue a Master's at UCL's Social Research Institute, where he gained the necessary skills to effectively evaluate impact at WLZ. Asim Saleemi Impact Officer Before joining WLZ, Asim worked at the Financial Times as a Membership and Data Management Assistant where he analysed Data related to Engagement, Operations and Corporate Membership. Asim studied BSc Business Economics at the University of Westminster. Chris Wignall Head of Knowledge and Insights Before joining West London Zone, Chris worked with a range of charities to enhance their data, impact and insight, both in the UK and internationally. He's excited to be able to support WLZ's strong commitment to evidence-led practice and knowledge sharing. May Shakespeare Impact Manager May joined WLZ after completing a BSc in Psychology at the University of Bath. Her degree involved a year-long placement with the Department of Education at the University of Oxford, where she was involved in evaluating the impact of a teacher-led intervention in Early Years settings. May also has experience working with children and young people in the charity sector with the National Citizen Service. Zoe Mathys Impact Manager Zoe joined WLZ after working in the Australian disability sector conducting evaluation and research. She has also interned in Government focussing on strengthening community health service provision for children and young people. Zoe holds a Master of Public Health and Bachelor of Science from the University of Melbourne, Australia. Victoria Niemiec Impact Officer Vicky joined WLZ after completing a BSc in Geography at the University of Bristol. Her interest in Human Geography directed her research to focus on understanding second-generation migrant identity in the UK. As part of her degree, Vicky also studied at the University of Valencia, Spain, for a year, where she further developed her data analysis skills.