![Bayo Adelaja](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-07/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%281%29_0.png?h=ddcc3f3e&itok=wV47T7mv)
Bayo Adelaja is the founder and chief executive of Do it Now Now, which she launched in 2016 in response to gaps in the support available to Black innovators building tech companies and social enterprises in the UK and across Africa. The initiatives Bayo developed for Do it Now Now have led to awards by both Harvard University and Oxford University's Business Schools for her work to create and foster opportunities for under-served communities through technology.
Prior to setting up Do it Now Now, Bayo was a Social Policy Researcher at the London School of Economics, where her work garnered press coverage, including being quoted by former prime minister David Cameron. Bayo has also been a Grant Awarding Judge for USAID, an Entrepreneurship Programme Mentor at the Tony Elumelu Foundation and designed the UK’s first ever enterprise support programme for women of colour, the BAME Female Founders Incubator for Hatch Enterprise.
Bayo has a wealth of experience and knowledge on open innovation, mentoring, educating businesses on diversity, inclusion, and delivering crucial social impact programmes.
![Bayo Adelaja](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-07/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%281%29_0.png?h=ddcc3f3e&itok=wV47T7mv)
Bayo Adelaja is the founder and chief executive of Do it Now Now, which she launched in 2016 in response to gaps in the support available to Black innovators building tech companies and social enterprises in the UK and across Africa. The initiatives Bayo developed for Do it Now Now have led to awards by both Harvard University and Oxford University's Business Schools for her work to create and foster opportunities for under-served communities through technology.
Prior to setting up Do it Now Now, Bayo was a Social Policy Researcher at the London School of Economics, where her work garnered press coverage, including being quoted by former prime minister David Cameron. Bayo has also been a Grant Awarding Judge for USAID, an Entrepreneurship Programme Mentor at the Tony Elumelu Foundation and designed the UK’s first ever enterprise support programme for women of colour, the BAME Female Founders Incubator for Hatch Enterprise.
Bayo has a wealth of experience and knowledge on open innovation, mentoring, educating businesses on diversity, inclusion, and delivering crucial social impact programmes.
![Stephen Bediako](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-09/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%286%29.png?h=ddcc3f3e&itok=LEeHY0Sk)
Stephen is a social entrepreneur and founder of Black Global Trust, and a co-founder of the Pathway Fund, which launches in the UK in 2022. He is the founder of The Social Innovation Partnership and was CEO for 7 years, Chair for 5 years, and stepped down in May 2022. He continues to support TSIP as a strategic adviser. He was also MD and co-founder of Turning Basin Labs from August 2018 to May 2022 and is a co-founder of the USA Design Studio - Path Group - since 2017. Stephen is a Trustee of The Barbican Arts Centre in the UK and Start.COOP in the USA and is on the Advisory Boards of the Growth Impact Fund (UK), Regenerate (UK), and Tipping Point (USA).
Stephen received an OBE in the 2021 Queens New Honours List for services in innovation in charity and social enterprise and is a 2022 Honorary Fellow of Social Enterprise UK.
Over the last 15 years, Stephen has advised and supported the delivery of multi-million-pound projects and programmes for leading organisations including Guys and St Thomas Charity, Nesta, Big Society Capital, Avast Foundation, The Barbican, The National Lottery Community Fund, The Greater London Authority, Mayor's Fund for London, trust for London and many more. Stephen founded and led Project Oracle and was a founding partner for the Centre for Youth Impact. Stephen helped to found and develop the UK Social Investment Diversity Forum.
Stephen has experience in strategy, design, innovation, policy, programme delivery and impact measurement. He has previously worked at Tribal, Deloitte, iMPOWER, and the Home Office, as well as for Barack Obama's 2012 Presidential Campaign in Virginia, USA. He has spent time in Africa with Voluntary Service Overseas and previously volunteered as a school governor in Brixton, and as an UpRising Mentor for the Young Foundation. He was previously a Trustee for Chance UK, Centre for London, UnLtd and The Thomas Will Trust.
Stephen holds a BSc in Politics and History from Brunel University and an MSc in Public Policy from LSE.
![Stephen Bediako](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-09/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%286%29.png?h=ddcc3f3e&itok=LEeHY0Sk)
Stephen is a social entrepreneur and founder of Black Global Trust, and a co-founder of the Pathway Fund, which launches in the UK in 2022. He is the founder of The Social Innovation Partnership and was CEO for 7 years, Chair for 5 years, and stepped down in May 2022. He continues to support TSIP as a strategic adviser. He was also MD and co-founder of Turning Basin Labs from August 2018 to May 2022 and is a co-founder of the USA Design Studio - Path Group - since 2017. Stephen is a Trustee of The Barbican Arts Centre in the UK and Start.COOP in the USA and is on the Advisory Boards of the Growth Impact Fund (UK), Regenerate (UK), and Tipping Point (USA).
Stephen received an OBE in the 2021 Queens New Honours List for services in innovation in charity and social enterprise and is a 2022 Honorary Fellow of Social Enterprise UK.
Over the last 15 years, Stephen has advised and supported the delivery of multi-million-pound projects and programmes for leading organisations including Guys and St Thomas Charity, Nesta, Big Society Capital, Avast Foundation, The Barbican, The National Lottery Community Fund, The Greater London Authority, Mayor's Fund for London, trust for London and many more. Stephen founded and led Project Oracle and was a founding partner for the Centre for Youth Impact. Stephen helped to found and develop the UK Social Investment Diversity Forum.
Stephen has experience in strategy, design, innovation, policy, programme delivery and impact measurement. He has previously worked at Tribal, Deloitte, iMPOWER, and the Home Office, as well as for Barack Obama's 2012 Presidential Campaign in Virginia, USA. He has spent time in Africa with Voluntary Service Overseas and previously volunteered as a school governor in Brixton, and as an UpRising Mentor for the Young Foundation. He was previously a Trustee for Chance UK, Centre for London, UnLtd and The Thomas Will Trust.
Stephen holds a BSc in Politics and History from Brunel University and an MSc in Public Policy from LSE.
![Rhea Fofana](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-08/Rhea%20Fofana.jpg?h=e052e0e0&itok=i-CE-cLj)
An alumnus of the Year Here fellowship, Rhea is a Portfolio Manager in the investment team at UnLtd, supporting equitable opportunities for social impact driven organisations and people across the UK. Currently working on the Growth Impact Fund, a social investment fund helping fast growth early-stage social businesses to grow their impact, Rhea is also an ambassador for Just Like Us and was previously a network manager at the Centre for Entrepreneurs.
![Rhea Fofana](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-08/Rhea%20Fofana.jpg?h=e052e0e0&itok=i-CE-cLj)
An alumnus of the Year Here fellowship, Rhea is a Portfolio Manager in the investment team at UnLtd, supporting equitable opportunities for social impact driven organisations and people across the UK. Currently working on the Growth Impact Fund, a social investment fund helping fast growth early-stage social businesses to grow their impact, Rhea is also an ambassador for Just Like Us and was previously a network manager at the Centre for Entrepreneurs.
![Duncan Fogg](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-08/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%284%29.png?itok=gQ4DaqZs)
Duncan leads Shift's social investment and equitable funding practice. He works with a range of trusts and foundations, social investors, and grant providers to maximise the impact of their funding. He is currently supporting a newly announced fund in partnership with Big Issue Invest and UnLtd, the Growth Impact Fund, designed to address access barriers and experienced by under-represented social businesses and support throughout the investment process.
![Duncan Fogg](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-08/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%284%29.png?itok=gQ4DaqZs)
Duncan leads Shift's social investment and equitable funding practice. He works with a range of trusts and foundations, social investors, and grant providers to maximise the impact of their funding. He is currently supporting a newly announced fund in partnership with Big Issue Invest and UnLtd, the Growth Impact Fund, designed to address access barriers and experienced by under-represented social businesses and support throughout the investment process.
![Patricia Hamzahee](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-08/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%2814%29.png?itok=IeUrD4kC)
After some 20 years in banking and finance, Patricia now helps social enterprises attract private capital and advises capital providers on their responsible investment strategies through her consultancy Integriti Capital. As co-founder of Extend Ventures, she is also working to improve access to funding for diverse business owners. As co-founder of Black Funding Network, she supports intentional giving to small, Black-led non-profit organisations.
She is a Trustee of Ballet Black, Social Enterprise UK, NFL UK Foundation, Theatre Royal Stratford East, Arete Network and International House New York as well as a Director of the Windrush Caribbean Film Festival CIC. She is a member of Women in Social Finance and the Advisory Boards of Money A+E and The Shaw Trust Foundation. She is also co-founder of GiveBLACK which has just published 'Valuing the Black Philanthropic Pound: Patterns and Motivations for Black Giving in Britain'.
Patricia received a BA in Political Science from the University of California and studied for an MA at Columbia University's School of International Affairs and East Asian Institute.
![Patricia Hamzahee](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-08/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%2814%29.png?itok=IeUrD4kC)
After some 20 years in banking and finance, Patricia now helps social enterprises attract private capital and advises capital providers on their responsible investment strategies through her consultancy Integriti Capital. As co-founder of Extend Ventures, she is also working to improve access to funding for diverse business owners. As co-founder of Black Funding Network, she supports intentional giving to small, Black-led non-profit organisations.
She is a Trustee of Ballet Black, Social Enterprise UK, NFL UK Foundation, Theatre Royal Stratford East, Arete Network and International House New York as well as a Director of the Windrush Caribbean Film Festival CIC. She is a member of Women in Social Finance and the Advisory Boards of Money A+E and The Shaw Trust Foundation. She is also co-founder of GiveBLACK which has just published 'Valuing the Black Philanthropic Pound: Patterns and Motivations for Black Giving in Britain'.
Patricia received a BA in Political Science from the University of California and studied for an MA at Columbia University's School of International Affairs and East Asian Institute.
![Lisa Hilder](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-08/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%285%29.png?itok=jb-xOSn4)
Lisa has worked in women's sector organisations for more than twenty years and serves as a Trustee and Treasurer for a range of organisations in Hull and Bradford, all of which work actively to tackle violence against women and girls. Her role is to develop strategy and diverse income streams to create sustainable service solutions.
She has worked with different social investors to develop property funds creating safe spaces for women fleeing violence and abuse and tohelp build long-term financial resilience for women's sector organisations.
Lisa joined the Big Society Capital Investment Committee in January 2021 after being involved with the organisation and its development of the Women in Safe Homes fund aimed at providing hundreds of homes for vulnerable women across the UK.
![Lisa Hilder](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-08/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%285%29.png?itok=jb-xOSn4)
Lisa has worked in women's sector organisations for more than twenty years and serves as a Trustee and Treasurer for a range of organisations in Hull and Bradford, all of which work actively to tackle violence against women and girls. Her role is to develop strategy and diverse income streams to create sustainable service solutions.
She has worked with different social investors to develop property funds creating safe spaces for women fleeing violence and abuse and tohelp build long-term financial resilience for women's sector organisations.
Lisa joined the Big Society Capital Investment Committee in January 2021 after being involved with the organisation and its development of the Women in Safe Homes fund aimed at providing hundreds of homes for vulnerable women across the UK.
![Lizzie Jordan](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-08/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%283%29.png?itok=ggCNU0j4)
Lizzie Jordan is CEO and Founder of social enterprise Think2Speak, the LGBTQ+ inclusion experts. She is a multi award winning social entrepreneur, LGBTQ+ youth inclusion specialist and sexual health advocate, who also happens to live openly with HIV. Lizzie was listed as a Big Issue Changemaker of 2021 and is also a Non Executive Director of The Love Tank CIC.
![Lizzie Jordan](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-08/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%283%29.png?itok=ggCNU0j4)
Lizzie Jordan is CEO and Founder of social enterprise Think2Speak, the LGBTQ+ inclusion experts. She is a multi award winning social entrepreneur, LGBTQ+ youth inclusion specialist and sexual health advocate, who also happens to live openly with HIV. Lizzie was listed as a Big Issue Changemaker of 2021 and is also a Non Executive Director of The Love Tank CIC.
![Samara Lawrence](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-08/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%2815%29.png?itok=oMnfFr4S)
Samara is a charity and social enterprise lawyer at the law firm, Bates Wells. She advises a range of charities and social enterprises on their legal and governance needs. She has worked with a number of racial justice organisations, including BLM UK, the Baobab Foundation and Blueprint for All. She has a particular passion for supporting organisations in their early start up and growth phase and is currently working on a project to increase access to legal support for Black, POC, immigrant and grass-roots led organisations.
![Samara Lawrence](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-08/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%2815%29.png?itok=oMnfFr4S)
Samara is a charity and social enterprise lawyer at the law firm, Bates Wells. She advises a range of charities and social enterprises on their legal and governance needs. She has worked with a number of racial justice organisations, including BLM UK, the Baobab Foundation and Blueprint for All. She has a particular passion for supporting organisations in their early start up and growth phase and is currently working on a project to increase access to legal support for Black, POC, immigrant and grass-roots led organisations.
![Fuad Mahamed](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-09/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%2818%29.png?itok=AdQ-Ev3S)
Fuad founded ACH and Himilo to empower refugees and migrants in the UK to lead self-sufficient, ambitious lives while contributing to society and the economy. He is dedicated to changing people's perceptions of refugees and migrants to ensure that human dignity always put first.
Besides coffee, what gets Fuad up in the morning is working with world-class colleagues, who together are making a real difference in people's lives. Working the last 15 years in this sector, Fuad has the ability to build relationships and bridges between the community on the ground and policymakers.
He has an MSc in Management from Lancaster Business School and went on to become a Clore Social Fellow for Refugee and Migrant communities and a Churchill Fellow
![Fuad Mahamed](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-09/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%2818%29.png?itok=AdQ-Ev3S)
Fuad founded ACH and Himilo to empower refugees and migrants in the UK to lead self-sufficient, ambitious lives while contributing to society and the economy. He is dedicated to changing people's perceptions of refugees and migrants to ensure that human dignity always put first.
Besides coffee, what gets Fuad up in the morning is working with world-class colleagues, who together are making a real difference in people's lives. Working the last 15 years in this sector, Fuad has the ability to build relationships and bridges between the community on the ground and policymakers.
He has an MSc in Management from Lancaster Business School and went on to become a Clore Social Fellow for Refugee and Migrant communities and a Churchill Fellow
![Grace McCorkle](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-09/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%288%29.png?h=ddcc3f3e&itok=WwxX8gU_)
Grace is a housing practitioner working within the sector for three decades. Specialising in creating innovative business models to maximise affordable housing options and capitalise on high impact for customers and the wider community.
A career developed across the voluntary, public and private housing sectors. Grace has used her experience and skills to influence and develop change in the delivery of businesses infrastructures, policies and systems across the sector. Fuelled by her passion and drive to improve access to affordable options for women and young people, particularly young people leaving care.
Third generation to a family of community activists, Grace has an extensive background committed to the development of grassroot community services. Her aspiration to break down barriers to achieve inclusivity, equity and economic advancement for all communities.
The pride she shares with Jan Tasker Co-CEO with Collaborative Women UK, is a testament to their friendship, strength and self belief that women can accomplish great things. In doing so, we have created opportunities and safe spaces for women to thrive and connect to like minded people.
"The extension of Women's Right is the basic principle of social progress"
![Grace McCorkle](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-09/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%288%29.png?h=ddcc3f3e&itok=WwxX8gU_)
Grace is a housing practitioner working within the sector for three decades. Specialising in creating innovative business models to maximise affordable housing options and capitalise on high impact for customers and the wider community.
A career developed across the voluntary, public and private housing sectors. Grace has used her experience and skills to influence and develop change in the delivery of businesses infrastructures, policies and systems across the sector. Fuelled by her passion and drive to improve access to affordable options for women and young people, particularly young people leaving care.
Third generation to a family of community activists, Grace has an extensive background committed to the development of grassroot community services. Her aspiration to break down barriers to achieve inclusivity, equity and economic advancement for all communities.
The pride she shares with Jan Tasker Co-CEO with Collaborative Women UK, is a testament to their friendship, strength and self belief that women can accomplish great things. In doing so, we have created opportunities and safe spaces for women to thrive and connect to like minded people.
"The extension of Women's Right is the basic principle of social progress"
![Kunle Olulode](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-08/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%281%29.png?itok=7JzjkZYc)
Kunle has been awarded an MBE for his contributions within the Black and Minoritised sector in 2022. As a trade union activist at Camden Council, from 2002-2011, he led the Camden Black Workers staff group. He represented over 500 Black and Asian staff members and founded its award-winning Camden Black History Forum.
Kunle believes that it is time to develop a new narrative around race equality away from deficit models. Working in a sector that, he is acutely aware of how the lack of diversity in thought is crippling serious debate on social policy issues, particularly Race.
Kunle is a regular on television and radio including Radio London, Al Jazeera, Sky TV, RT on debates relating to politics the arts, diversity and race. With a long-standing interest in arts development particularly in film, he is on the programming steering group for African Odessey at London's South Bank.
Kunle is a trustee of the English Heritage Trust, which his responsible for some of England's most iconic buildings, monuments and landmarks including Hadrian's Wall, Stone Henge, Portchester Castle and Kenwood House. He also sits on the advisory board of Hawthorn Communications.
![Kunle Olulode](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-08/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%281%29.png?itok=7JzjkZYc)
Kunle has been awarded an MBE for his contributions within the Black and Minoritised sector in 2022. As a trade union activist at Camden Council, from 2002-2011, he led the Camden Black Workers staff group. He represented over 500 Black and Asian staff members and founded its award-winning Camden Black History Forum.
Kunle believes that it is time to develop a new narrative around race equality away from deficit models. Working in a sector that, he is acutely aware of how the lack of diversity in thought is crippling serious debate on social policy issues, particularly Race.
Kunle is a regular on television and radio including Radio London, Al Jazeera, Sky TV, RT on debates relating to politics the arts, diversity and race. With a long-standing interest in arts development particularly in film, he is on the programming steering group for African Odessey at London's South Bank.
Kunle is a trustee of the English Heritage Trust, which his responsible for some of England's most iconic buildings, monuments and landmarks including Hadrian's Wall, Stone Henge, Portchester Castle and Kenwood House. He also sits on the advisory board of Hawthorn Communications.
![Kevin Osborne](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-07/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%281%29.png?h=ddcc3f3e&itok=JGMwz_cf)
Kevin Osborne is a social entrepreneur, who has spent the last 30 years as a leader, producer and developer in the arts and creative industries supporting BAME talent.
His latest project is Create Equity, whose social mission is to make investment in the arts, social enterprise and commercial industries racially equitable. Kevin’s career has been about finding better ways to cultivate and conserve the most precious resource there is: human potential.
In 2012, Kevin founded MeWe360, a social enterprise to support BAME entrepreneurial talent to reach its full potential and to promote a more equitable and representative sector. In 2019 he started Skin in the Game, a blog looking at current affairs, popular culture and issues in society through the lens of race, identity and power.
Kevin has worked as an executive producer in the music industry, a consultant in the arts and has undertaken extensive research on BAME leadership at Bath University. Kevin was a member of the Clore Leadership Programme.
![Kevin Osborne](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-07/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%281%29.png?h=ddcc3f3e&itok=JGMwz_cf)
Kevin Osborne is a social entrepreneur, who has spent the last 30 years as a leader, producer and developer in the arts and creative industries supporting BAME talent.
His latest project is Create Equity, whose social mission is to make investment in the arts, social enterprise and commercial industries racially equitable. Kevin’s career has been about finding better ways to cultivate and conserve the most precious resource there is: human potential.
In 2012, Kevin founded MeWe360, a social enterprise to support BAME entrepreneurial talent to reach its full potential and to promote a more equitable and representative sector. In 2019 he started Skin in the Game, a blog looking at current affairs, popular culture and issues in society through the lens of race, identity and power.
Kevin has worked as an executive producer in the music industry, a consultant in the arts and has undertaken extensive research on BAME leadership at Bath University. Kevin was a member of the Clore Leadership Programme.
![Hannah Oyewole](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-08/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%286%29_0.png?itok=3lXVUma7)
Hannah Oyewole is an Entrepreneur, Speaker and Author. She is the CEO and founder of Young Ladies Club a charity organisation which aims to raise aspirations in young women and girls to achieve their education and career potential by providing mentoring, confidence building activities and career workshops from positive role models. Young Ladies Club has worked in partnership with a range of organisations which include; Microsoft, ASOS, Telegraph, PwC, Capgemini and more. Hannah's core areas of expertise are as follows; Entrepreneurship Employability, Education, Personal Development, Youth Development, Diversity and Integration and Business Development. She is currently working on a project through Young Ladies Club which seeks to prevent and end violence against women and girls.
![Hannah Oyewole](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-08/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%286%29_0.png?itok=3lXVUma7)
Hannah Oyewole is an Entrepreneur, Speaker and Author. She is the CEO and founder of Young Ladies Club a charity organisation which aims to raise aspirations in young women and girls to achieve their education and career potential by providing mentoring, confidence building activities and career workshops from positive role models. Young Ladies Club has worked in partnership with a range of organisations which include; Microsoft, ASOS, Telegraph, PwC, Capgemini and more. Hannah's core areas of expertise are as follows; Entrepreneurship Employability, Education, Personal Development, Youth Development, Diversity and Integration and Business Development. She is currently working on a project through Young Ladies Club which seeks to prevent and end violence against women and girls.
![Lisa Rafferty](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-07/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%284%29.png?h=ddcc3f3e&itok=qRgx1MZP)
![Lisa Rafferty](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-07/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%284%29.png?h=ddcc3f3e&itok=qRgx1MZP)
![Ishita Ranjan](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-07/2_0.png?h=ddcc3f3e&itok=wmILDAMe)
In 2017/18 Ishita founded Spark and Co. as a grassroot movement. In response to the Covid-19 crisis, Ishita pivoted the organisation, registering it as a Community Interest Company to respond to the emerging and disproportionate challenges faced by those experiencing marginalisation.
Ishita brings with her over a decades experience in the social enterprise sector and holds a MSc in Third Sector Effectiveness: Grantmaking, Philanthropy and Social Investment from Bayes Business School (formerly known as Cass Business School). Ishita has a wealth of experience working with infrastructure organisations and funders.
Alongside her work at Spark and Co., Ishita also builds the work of Good Finance (an autonomous, independent project funded by Big Society Capital and The Access Foundation) and oversees its mission and strategic growth.
Ishita has a strong track record of managing and delivering complex projects that create social change. She is passionate about social impact, equality, and the role we play as individuals in building an equitable world. She also brings with her lived experience of immigration, English as a third language, racial inequality and deeply understands some of the complex challenges faced by community organisations in the sector.
![Ishita Ranjan](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-07/2_0.png?h=ddcc3f3e&itok=wmILDAMe)
In 2017/18 Ishita founded Spark and Co. as a grassroot movement. In response to the Covid-19 crisis, Ishita pivoted the organisation, registering it as a Community Interest Company to respond to the emerging and disproportionate challenges faced by those experiencing marginalisation.
Ishita brings with her over a decades experience in the social enterprise sector and holds a MSc in Third Sector Effectiveness: Grantmaking, Philanthropy and Social Investment from Bayes Business School (formerly known as Cass Business School). Ishita has a wealth of experience working with infrastructure organisations and funders.
Alongside her work at Spark and Co., Ishita also builds the work of Good Finance (an autonomous, independent project funded by Big Society Capital and The Access Foundation) and oversees its mission and strategic growth.
Ishita has a strong track record of managing and delivering complex projects that create social change. She is passionate about social impact, equality, and the role we play as individuals in building an equitable world. She also brings with her lived experience of immigration, English as a third language, racial inequality and deeply understands some of the complex challenges faced by community organisations in the sector.
![Amir Rizwan](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-07/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%282%29.png?h=ddcc3f3e&itok=n3jma9XN)
Amir is the Relationship Director at Big Society Capital, supporting social ventures to grow their business and impact by connecting them with support and capital. His role involves building the social impact investment market through relationships with mission-aligned investors and networks, establishing development partnerships to tackle social issues. and developing learning programmes, tools and platforms to enable more and better support to social ventures.
Amir is also Big Society Capital’s Diversity Champion and is responsible for leading on its equality, diversity and inclusion strategy alongside colleagues across the business. Furthermore, he is also a member of Big Society Capital’s innovation team looking at supporting early-stage fund innovation.
Amir has been working in the social investment sector for 8 years having recently led on Comic Relief’s social investment strategy and prior to that he managed a community housing investment fund for CAF Venturesome as well as a portfolio of social investments to a range of social purpose organisations. Through his role at Big Society Capital Amir is a member of the Social Impact Investing Group (SIIG) steering group.
![Amir Rizwan](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-07/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%282%29.png?h=ddcc3f3e&itok=n3jma9XN)
Amir is the Relationship Director at Big Society Capital, supporting social ventures to grow their business and impact by connecting them with support and capital. His role involves building the social impact investment market through relationships with mission-aligned investors and networks, establishing development partnerships to tackle social issues. and developing learning programmes, tools and platforms to enable more and better support to social ventures.
Amir is also Big Society Capital’s Diversity Champion and is responsible for leading on its equality, diversity and inclusion strategy alongside colleagues across the business. Furthermore, he is also a member of Big Society Capital’s innovation team looking at supporting early-stage fund innovation.
Amir has been working in the social investment sector for 8 years having recently led on Comic Relief’s social investment strategy and prior to that he managed a community housing investment fund for CAF Venturesome as well as a portfolio of social investments to a range of social purpose organisations. Through his role at Big Society Capital Amir is a member of the Social Impact Investing Group (SIIG) steering group.
![Amani Simpson](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-09/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%2820%29.png?itok=W4M8ZEe8)
Amani Simpson is an award-winning storyteller, entrepreneur and youth coach. He is the founder and CEO of Aviard Inspires CIC, which exists to empower young people through personal development, digital media and enrichment opportunities.
He's also the producer and protagonist of the 2019 award-winning short film 'AMANI' starring Joivan Wade (Shiro's Story, The First Purge and Doom Patrol). It has since received over 3.8 million views on YouTube and continues to be used as a tool for change.
Amani uses his inspirational story, creativity, and expertise in youth engagement to transform the lives of young people across the UK.
![Amani Simpson](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-09/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%2820%29.png?itok=W4M8ZEe8)
Amani Simpson is an award-winning storyteller, entrepreneur and youth coach. He is the founder and CEO of Aviard Inspires CIC, which exists to empower young people through personal development, digital media and enrichment opportunities.
He's also the producer and protagonist of the 2019 award-winning short film 'AMANI' starring Joivan Wade (Shiro's Story, The First Purge and Doom Patrol). It has since received over 3.8 million views on YouTube and continues to be used as a tool for change.
Amani uses his inspirational story, creativity, and expertise in youth engagement to transform the lives of young people across the UK.
![Phillip Udeh](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-09/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%2819%29.png?itok=fiCZ8c0a)
Phillip started his career in NGOs and then race equality organisations in London. He has run a social enterprise delivering heritage and cultural projects for more than a decade. He is also the founder of health drink start up drinkfud.com.
Phillip leads on Black Business Matters agenda promoting equity of opportunity for Black-owned businesses. He also supports community wealth building and communications.
![Phillip Udeh](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-09/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%2819%29.png?itok=fiCZ8c0a)
Phillip started his career in NGOs and then race equality organisations in London. He has run a social enterprise delivering heritage and cultural projects for more than a decade. He is also the founder of health drink start up drinkfud.com.
Phillip leads on Black Business Matters agenda promoting equity of opportunity for Black-owned businesses. He also supports community wealth building and communications.
![Ana Van Bilsen Irias](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-07/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%283%29.png?h=ddcc3f3e&itok=Szr6Qnlf)
Ana is a Programme Manager at Access, managing relationships with various social investment funds within the Emergency Lending Programme and Flexible Finance portfolio. Ana also works alongside Access’s partners on initiatives including the Enterprise Development Programme as part of our enterprise development work.
Prior to joining Access, Ana worked as an Investment Executive at CAF Venturesome, a leading social investment fund where she managed a portfolio of social investments across all funds, and managed the SE-Assist Fund (a place-based fund for early stage social enterprises and charities). Ana is also an associate for Women in Social Finance & co-founder of Future Impact Finance, a peer community of early & mid-stage professionals fostering ideas and insights for the future of the social and impact investment sectors.
Ana has a degree in Law and Political Science from Université Lyon II and a MSc in International Studies and International Development from Université Sorbonne-Nouvelle Paris III.
![Ana Van Bilsen Irias](/sites/default/files/styles/rectangular_image/public/2022-07/Addressing%20Imbalance%20Live%20Speakers%20%283%29.png?h=ddcc3f3e&itok=Szr6Qnlf)
Ana is a Programme Manager at Access, managing relationships with various social investment funds within the Emergency Lending Programme and Flexible Finance portfolio. Ana also works alongside Access’s partners on initiatives including the Enterprise Development Programme as part of our enterprise development work.
Prior to joining Access, Ana worked as an Investment Executive at CAF Venturesome, a leading social investment fund where she managed a portfolio of social investments across all funds, and managed the SE-Assist Fund (a place-based fund for early stage social enterprises and charities). Ana is also an associate for Women in Social Finance & co-founder of Future Impact Finance, a peer community of early & mid-stage professionals fostering ideas and insights for the future of the social and impact investment sectors.
Ana has a degree in Law and Political Science from Université Lyon II and a MSc in International Studies and International Development from Université Sorbonne-Nouvelle Paris III.