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

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

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

Investment Director

Matt joined in 2013 and is responsible for overseeing the performance of the Foundation’s investment portfolio.

Funding Officer

Yvonne is an Associate on the 2027 staff programme, providing UK funders with frontline experience and fresh insights into the issues affecting communities.

Yvonne has worked in international development for over 12 years. She is currently a Trustee of SALVE International and of Hillingdon Community Trust.

Grants Manager

Specialist area: environment (lead), built heritage

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

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

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)

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 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 (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: social change

Laura joined the Foundation in 2007 as Administrator - Communications and Resources becoming Grants and Communications Officer in 2014 and Grants Manager in 2016. She is currently a Trustee of Safe Ground which empowers people to change, reduce reoffending and build stronger communities.

Grants Manager

Specialist area: social change, Community Land Trusts and food

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.

Funding Officer

Heather is an Associate on the 2027 staff programme, providing UK funders with frontline experience and fresh perspectives on the issues affecting communities.

Heather has worked in a range of roles within the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors, most recently specialising in change practice after completing a post-graduate diploma in entrepreneurship.

Grants Manager

Specialist area: social change and arts

Before joining the Foundation in 2018, Will worked with a range of organisations in the grant-making and cultural sectors. He is currently a Trustee of Attitude is Everything, a charity working with the music industry to improve access provision to live events and festivals.

Grants Manager

Specialist area: environment

Before joining the Foundation in 2018, Simon worked in conservation land management and environmental policy within the third and public sector.

Social Investment Fund Manager

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, Gillian worked in various lending roles in the corporate banking sector and in development finance for the UK Government.

Head of Finance

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.

Finance Assistant

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

Investment Officer

Charlie is responsible for the smooth running of the Foundation's investment due diligence, execution and performance reporting.

Before joining the Foundation, Charlie spent time in Uganda launching a micro impact fund after having worked in Deloitte’s financial services group for three and a half years.

Project Manager
Patricia is currently on maternity leave.

Patricia works on a range of projects to support how we understand and share learning from our funding, as well as looking at data and performance.

Previously she worked as a disputes solicitor in a London law firm.

Data Lead

Josh develops, supports and manages the Foundation’s data strategy and works with others to improve the use of data in the social sector more generally.

Prior to joining the Foundation in April 2019, Josh worked with tech and media start ups, and produced for film and theatre.

Head of Communications and Learning

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.

Digital and ICT Manager

Rachel leads on the use of ICT and digital across the organisation to help the Foundation deliver its aims

Prior to joining the Foundation in 2017, Rachel worked for a local authority and a consultancy firm.

Funding Operations Officer

Rosie provides a wide range of administrative and other support across the Foundation and to grantees including looking at how we can further improve processes and system to provide the best customer service.

Prior to joining the Foundation in 2017, Rosie worked on a youth volunteering programme in International Development.

Resources Officer

Clare provides a range of resources and grant-making support to the Foundation.

Clare previously supported strategic development, campaigns and project delivery across a range of charities including Citizens UK, Marie Curie and ActionAid. She is a member of Dancing Taoists CIC, promoting movement as an agent for social cohesion and change.

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.

Learning Officer

Anthony works to drive forward the Foundation’s approach to impact and learning, and promote shared learning and collaboration between funders, and with the organisations that we fund.

Prior to joining the Foundation in 2018, Anthony worked on an environmental project encouraging children and teachers to appreciate the natural world.

Executive Assistant
Sonja is currently on maternity leave.

Sonja joined the Foundation in 2014 as Resources Officer. She has previously 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.

Executive Assistant (maternity cover)

Christina joined the Foundation in January 2019. She has previously worked in the charity sector in executive support and project management roles at health and volunteering charities including Cancer Research UK, Marie Curie, CLIC Sargent and Volunteering Matters.