Fitzrovia Youth in Action

Board of Trustees

Anne Shewring – Chairperson. Anne is currently Programme Director at Cripplegate Foundation/Islington Giving. Prior to this, she worked for the National Lottery Community Fund. She also has 20 years’ experience working as a fundraiser for a range of non-profit organisations. Anne is also a local resident and as a parent, has seen first-hand what an important role FYA plays in the lives of local young people. She has sat on several boards and has been a school governor at London state schools for 12 years.

David Mooney – Treasurer. David Mooney is a chartered accountant and has worked in some high profile companies including KPMG and Gazprom. David has direct experience dealing with charities whilst working as a corporation tax consultant at haysmacintyre. He now works for a small consultancy firm, SSP Limited, where he is on an equity partner track.

Jane Boddington– Jane is a Marketing Consultant with fourteen years’ communications experience in developing marketing strategy, campaign planning and management, paid media and brand partnerships. Her experience spans both agency and client-side, across a wide range of sectors including retail, entertainment, financial services, travel and the public sector and she is experienced in youth marketing, having worked as Communications Planning Lead for four years at the National Citizens Service. Jane is passionate about community and social mobility and has a particular interest in youth work.

Constance Gibbs – Constance has worked in the Creative Industry for over 8 years specialising in youth participation. She has worked as a Community & Outreach Producer at Greenwich Dance and now currently as a Programme Manager at Small Green Shoots. She has a vast amount of experience in producing youth led outreach sessions, live and digital events and supporting young people to develop their skills to gain careers within the Creative Industries.

Patricia Marron –  Patricia has worked in fundraising for over nine years including Major Donor and Corporate Fundraising. Patricia is currently Senior Corporate Partnerships Officer at the Cardinal Hume Centre, a homelessness prevention charity in Westminster. Patricia has also volunteered at various charities, including a disability charity in Peru.

Halima Nessa – Halima has over 15 years’ experience in youth and community work. She currently works for UK Youth as head of national programmes and guest lectures on BA Youth and Community work courses. Previously, she has managed youth services across London and the east of England, where she was the head of an independent school.

Lorna Ponambalum – Lorna has been a teacher for 24 years and was a senior leader and designated safeguarding lead for over 15 years at Haverstock School in Camden. She now divides her time between inclusion consultancy and leading training around safeguarding.  Lorna is also an Education Programme Leader overseeing a 16 – 19 continuing Maths and English Programme for Fleet Tutors. Lorna was a school governor at a local primary school, St Dominic’s Catholic primary school and is now a local advisory board member at Whitehall Park School in Islington.

Natalie Speranza – Natalie is a qualified solicitor of England & Wales and Australia, with over 15 years’ experience in leadership roles in commercial in-house teams, supporting businesses across EMEA, US and APAC regions. She has varied industry experience, mainly in tech, professional services and property. Natalie is passionate about community and social change and she volunteers for a local mutual aid group and homeless charity.

Rosemary Swainston – Rose specialises in SEND, autism and advocacy projects with girls and young women. Currently working as Head of Development at Caxton Youth Organisation, her focus is on fundraising, strategy and charity development. Previously a production coordinator for television documentaries, Rose then moved over to start working in youth clubs promoting the arts. She is passionate about working in the youth sector and empowering young people to achieve their potential.

Emilie Vanpoperinghe– Emilie is a qualified accountant and holds a MBA from ESSEC, France. She has over 15 years’ experience in Finance and Corporate Services working both in the private and charitable sector in the UK, India and France.Emilie is currently CEO and founder of Oddbox, a purpose-driven business tackling food waste on farms with London’s first wonky fruit and veg box subscription.

Alice Weavers  – Alice is a qualified youth worker and PhD student, specialising in youth participation (and was a former Youth Participation Officer at FYA!). She is currently working on an ESRC-funded national study on young people’s post-16 education transitions and researching youth participation in national policymaking. Prior to this Alice worked in youth policy for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, bringing young people’s voices into national policy making. Alice also volunteers at a youth club and Girlguiding unit.

Brian Willmore – Brian started his working life as a Trainee Youth Worker in his native Yorkshire in the late 1990’s. By the age of 23 he had moved into management and at the age of 28 he was one of the youngest Heads of Young People’s Services in the country and the trajectory continued to his current post as Assistant Director of Care & Support at Origin Housing. Brian has worked all his career in local and central government and is a very proud working class northerner and is committed to social action and empowering communities.

President

Dr June Crown CBE – June is a local resident and was a founding chairman of FYA. She is a public health doctor and Past President of the UK Faculty of Public Health. She has acted as special advisor to the World Health Organisation and to overseas governments on public health and health care reforms. She has served as Chairman of Age Concern England and as Chairman and Trustee of several other charities. She was also Deputy Chairman for Brighton University for seven years.