Our team

Bio

Jenni leads The Talent Foundry team on its strategy, growth and impact. She has worked in the third sector for over 20 years increasing income, devising marketing and communications campaigns within youth development, sport and children's health organisations.

She was the first in her family to go university, taking a non-traditional route to her undergraduate degree, culminating in an MSc in Charity Accounting & Financial Management from Bayes Business School.

She loves sport and is a Trustee (formerly Chair) of the Active Essex Foundation. Jenni enjoys triathlon and duathlon and with her husband has two cats and two dogs.

Bio

Alex is a qualified management accountant, and holds a Diploma in Charity Accounting & Finance Management from the Cass Business School.

She has worked across the NHS, Local Authority and not-for-profit sectors over the last 35 years, holding senior leadership roles at School-Home Support, Young Minds and Target Ovarian Cancer.

She has also completed the Sayer Vincent ‘Inspiring Charity Leadership’ course; has served as a Vice Chair of Governors at a nursery school, and as a trustee at the Mary Ward Adult Education Centre.

Bio

Cate joined in 2017 after working in Beirut for five years. While in Lebanon, she worked at the United Nations (UNRWA) coordinating an EU-funded employability project, before moving on to manage humanitarian relief and development programmes.

Cate sits on the Editorial Board of Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism, a peer-reviewed, inter-disciplinary academic journal. She is also the Chair of the Barclays LifeSkills Youth Advisory Council (LYAC).

Cate holds a first-class honours degree in International Relations from the University of Leeds.

Bio

Edward has worked in marketing and communications for over 10 years. Most recently, he ran the marketing department for a music education charity, supporting schools to give students new opportunities. Prior to this, he spent four years creating online content for a global learning and development organisation.

He also spent nearly a decade volunteering for an annual community arts and culture festival, where he held numerous roles including chairing youth programmes and running youth leader training.

Edward has a Master’s degree in Marketing as a follow up to his BA in Medieval History.

Bio

Francesca's background is in training and employability. Prior to The Talent Foundry, she worked on the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games as a Training Coordinator and worked with an employability charity as a Progression Officer.

She graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a first class honours degree in Fine Art and Art History, where she then went on to complete a Masters in Fine Art.

Bio

Julia has worked in programme management roles for the nine years the commercial and not-for-profit sectors. Originally from Australia, she started her career in advertising before transitioning to managing cultural projects with a social impact. Since moving to the UK, Julia has managed an art gallery dedicated to empowering marginalised indigenous communities. She played a key role in organising the Fitzrovia Arts Festival, curating an inclusive programme of events, with a focus on accessible programming for children.

Julia has a passion for travelling and hiking and has volunteered in South Africa on social mobility projects.

Bio

She graduated with distinction in Law from the Queen Mary University. She has over five years’ experience working in education, having worked in schools across London and as an English tutor.

Tehmeena has also volunteered with Refugee Council, which led her to be interested in the charity sector.

Bio

Lydia graduated from the University of Southampton in 2022 with a BA in History. She became more passionate about combating social inequalities after studying social and women's history.

Prior to The Talent Foundry, she held roles as a mental health ambassador, teaching assistant and mentor to students. She has been heavily involved with school fundraising events throughout her life.

Bio

Olivia re-joined The Talent Foundry having spent ten months working and traveling in Australia and the far east. While in Australia she spent time fundraising for the Red Cross and Child Fund which increased her interest for working within the charity sector.

Prior to working for The Talent Foundry and after completing her A Levels, Olivia worked as an investor relations associate for a startup.

Bio

For her master's thesis, Kristina explored the role of non-governmental organisations in providing children with educational opportunities to tackle the issue of child labour.

She coordinated volunteer recruitment, planned and implemented the summer programme for looked after children and volunteered as a fundraiser.

Bio

Maria graduated with a first-class honours degree in Media Arts from Royal Holloway, University of London, and worked as a freelance short-film producer. Alongside this, she worked for a local tuition centre and passionately volunteered at food banks and with animal welfare charities.

More recently, she volunteered with Mind, where she created, coordinated, and presented a series of Anger Management and Awareness workshops for young people.

Bio

David graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2019 with a first class honours degree in History and Political Science.

He has since worked in recruitment and as a conference producer, in the latter of which he led the delivery of policy-centred events supporting public and voluntary sector organisations to improve their services.

He has also worked extensively with young people in both childcare and on the sports field as a football referee.

Bio

Susie has worked in learning and development for over 25 years in the UK and internationally based across multiple sectors.

More recently she focused on attracting, recruiting and developing students leaving education and entering the world of work.

As a mum of two teenage boys, a mental health first aider, advisor to SEND schools and a member of the SEND steering group in Gloucestershire she is passionate about helping to level the playing field for every individual leaving education.

Bio

Nashila graduated with a first-class honours degree in International Business. She has experience from investment banking and international experience from working as an ESL teacher in South Korea.

Since 2018 she has worked for various education charities, including a mentorship initiative set up by the Mayor of Birmingham.

Nashila is interested in using education as a tool to empower individuals to make positive contributions to their communities. She also has a passion for travelling, learning about different cultures and new languages.

Bio

Chris has worked in the not-for-profit sector for over ten years. Previous he was at an educational film charity, where he led projects to improve the literacy and attainment of young people, while introducing them to filmmaking via workshops and promotions.

Chris studied acting and trained at The Poor School and Workhouse Theatre. Upon graduating he gained professional representation and has enjoyed roles in film, television and radio. He enjoys making music, illustration and comedy writing.