Staff

Chief Executive

Before joining Esmée, Caroline was Chief Operating Officer at Big Society Capital and preceding that, Charity Bank. Caroline was also the co-founder of Investing for Good, a social investment advisory firm and one of the first Community Interest Companies.

Director of Operations

James manages the operation of the Foundation’s support services including the administration of governance, grant-making systems, finance, information systems, human resources, facilities, communications, planning and policy.

Director of Funding Development

Specialist area: social change

John is responsible for funder collaborations, overseeing development of the future funding pipeline and working with the team to ensure a consistently high standard of funding.

Director of Funding

Specialist area: social change

Sharon is responsible for the management of our existing portfolio of grants and social investments.

Finance Director

Marie-Mathilde is responsible for the oversight and day-to-day management of the Foundation’s finance function.

Grants Manager

Specialist area: social change (lead)

Prior to joining the foundation in 2015 Hannah worked at BBC Children in Need for four years, leading grant management across the West Midlands. Before this she worked at Oxfam, with a focus on supporting women and girls in developing countries.

Grants Manager

Specialist area: environment
Country/regional responsibility: Scotland

Prior to joining the Foundation in 2015, Laura was a Grants Manager for ten years at the Tudor Trust. Before that she managed Westminster City Council's Voluntary Sector Unit. Laura also co-convenes ACF’s Asylum Refugee and Migration Network.

Grants Manager

Specialist area: environment (lead), built heritage
Country/regional responsibility: Yorkshire and the Humber

Prior to joining the Foundation in 2008, Jenny worked in Yorkshire and the South East in a variety of heritage and grant-making roles in the third and public sectors.

Grants Manager

Specialist area: social change, gender equality
Country/regional responsibility: Northern Ireland

Annabel works across a range of social change issues and currently co-chairs the ACF network group covering violence against women and girls. Prior to joining the Foundation Annabel worked as a Grants Officer at Help a London Child.

Grants Manager

Specialist area: arts and heritage
Country/regional: East Midlands and Scotland

Gillian joined the Foundation in 2015 and previously held grant-making roles at the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Heritage Lottery Fund.

Grants Manager

Specialist area: children and young people (lead)
Country/regional responsibility: Wales

Prior to joining the Foundation in 2015, Catherine worked for The Communication Trust, a consortium of not-for-profit organisations working to support children and young people’s communication skills. She is currently a school governor in Tottenham.

Grants Manager

Specialist area: arts and heritage (lead), the Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund

Prior to joining the Foundation in 2001, Alison had a variety of roles in the theatre sector.

Grants Manager

Specialist area: social change
Country/regional responsibility: North East

Laura joined the Foundation in 2007 as Administrator - Communications and Resources becoming Grants and Communications Officer in 2014 and Grants Manager in 2016. Prior to joining the Foundation Laura worked in fundraising as Project Manager for the Aplastic Anaemia Trust.

Grants Manager

Specialist area: children and young people
Country/regional responsibility: North West

Prior to starting work at the Foundation in 2002, Jo worked in the medical grant-making sector, having previously held posts at RNIB (Royal National Institute for the Blind) and worked as a teacher and researcher both in London and abroad.

Grants Manager

Specialist area: social change, Community Land Trusts and food
Country/regional responsibility: West Midlands

Laurence, who has been at the Foundation since 2001, has a background in working with people with learning difficulties and he maintains a strong interest in disability issues.

Social Investment Fund Manager
Trupti is currently on maternity leave.

Specialist area: social investment

Trupti leads on the Finance Fund, the Foundation’s social investment fund. Prior to joining the Foundation in 2013, Trupti worked at Social Finance, an intermediary that provides a range of financial advisory services to help build the social investment market.

Social Investment Manager

Specialist area: social investment

Before joining the Foundation in 2015 Jules worked for the British Red Cross within UK services development. Prior to that she gained a range of experience in grant-making and social investment with a variety of national funding organisations.

Finance Manager

Adam is responsible for the financial management, audit and legal reporting. Before joining the Foundation, Adam spent more than five years working in the hedge fund administration industry, and prior to that, four years in public accounting in his native Canada.

Investment Director

Matt joined in 2013 and is responsible for overseeing the performance of the Foundation’s investment portfolio. His previous experience includes ten years as an analyst and portfolio manager in the investment management industry and three years in the private banking sector managing a variety of client portfolios.

Investment Officer

Nishat is responsible for the smooth running of the Foundation's investment due diligence, execution and performance reporting. Before joining the Foundation, Nishat spent three and a half years at PwC's Insurance and Investment Management practice.

Finance Assistant

Bharat supports the Foundation’s finance and investment function. Before joining in 2005, he worked in the educational and commercial sectors.

Communications and Learning Manager

Gina leads on our approach to impact: how we understand the difference we make as a Foundation and through those we fund, and how we learn from that understanding to improve our practice. Gina also manages ‘Grants Plus’ support and the Foundation’s communications and social media.

Resources Officer

Kate provides a range of resources and grant-making support to the Foundation. She works closely with the Director of Operations and supports the Funding Directors. She is also the lead on various internal projects. Before joining the Foundation in 2017, Kate worked in the New Zealand public sector.

Grants and Administration Manager

Specialist area: social change
Country/regional responsibility: Eastern and North East

Marette oversees the funding systems, processes and data across the Foundation. She also assesses and manages a portfolio of grants.

Prior to joining the Foundation in 2010, Marette worked at the Dutch Victim Support Foundation as a Policy and Grants Officer.

Funding Administrator

Hannah provides administrative support and contact to the Foundation's grantees working closely with the Grants and Administration Manager. Prior to joining the Foundation in 2016, Hannah was a fundraiser and impact officer for Leap Confronting Conflict.

ICT and Facilities Manager

Matt leads on the provision of the Foundation’s information and technology systems including maintenance, management and future strategy as well as dealing with issues relating to the management of the Foundation’s office.

Since joining the Foundation in 2007, Matt has completed a Masters in Social and Political Theory.

PA to Chief Executive

Jennie joined the Foundation in 2012. Prior to this she worked in various PA roles in the corporate sector, during which time she was a committee member and Trustee for the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Children’s Miracle Foundation.

Administrator - Reception

Tereasa deals with guests and all initial contact with the Foundation, assesses first stage applications, and manages the meeting room hire services for grantees. Having previously worked in the music and events industries, she joined the Foundation in 2004.

Resources Officer
Sonja is currently on maternity leave.

Sonja provides a range of resources and grant-making support to the Foundation. She works closely with the Director of Operations and supports the Funding Directors. Prior to joining the Foundation in 2014, Sonja held roles in the corporate and voluntary sectors.

Learning and Communications Officer

Shemain provides grantee communications support and project manages Grants Plus. She also maintains our website and supports the Communications and Learning Manager.

Prior to joining the Foundation in 2014, Shemain held roles within the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.