People
At Power to Change, our strength lies in the passion and innovation of our people. We’re a small team who are dedicated to creating a more supportive environment for community businesses across England.
Ailbhe McNabola – Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Ailbhe McNabola is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer. Her role at Power to Change is to make the case for community business.
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Ailbhe’s role is to make the case for community business. She leads engagement with central, regional and local government to create more supportive environments for community businesses, and working with the COO she ensures that the day-to-day operation and management of the organisation is well managed and delivering to a high standard. She oversees and supports the Portfolio Management Team and Policy and Insight Team.
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Alexandra Steeland – Organisation Services Manager
Alex is responsible for leading on the operational processes and policies, ensuring they are compliant, meet the needs of the organisation and underpin our culture and values.
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Alex is responsible for leading on the operational processes and policies, ensuring they are compliant, meet the needs of the organisation and underpin our culture and values. She also oversees IT management and data protection and ensures a safe and well-equipped work environment for colleagues.
Anne-Marie Harris – Trustee
Anne-Marie has nearly 30 years’ experience in finance and strategy, spanning corporate finance and impact ...
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Anne-Marie has nearly 30 years’ experience in finance and strategy, spanning corporate finance and impact investing, helping launch businesses to deliver societal change, and being a trustee for several international charities which work to alleviate global poverty.
Claire Spencer – Trustee
Claire has broad experience of public service leadership, governance, and reform, including at West Midlands Combined Authority.
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Claire has broad experience of public service leadership, governance, and reform, including at West Midlands Combined Authority where she established and led the region's approach to inclusive growth, including the social economy growth programme. She currently works for the Leadership Centre as its Associate Director of Public Sector and Politics.
Daniel Hill – Trustee
Dan is a leading and experienced inclusive regeneration, affordable housing and just transition practitioner and policy expert.
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Dan is a leading and experienced inclusive regeneration, affordable housing and just transition practitioner and policy expert. He has over 20 years’ experience of collaborating with politicians, residents, businesses, social enterprises, community organisations and other stakeholders to shape and deliver successful regeneration programmes and projects.
Dan has operated at director level within local authorities, housing associations, social enterprises and in consultancies. He has extensive experience across most aspects of the built environment including master planning, town planning, affordable and mixed tenure housing design and delivery, place-making, workspace, community participation, housing retrofit, energy systems and community infrastructure and in managing large capital and revenue budgets.
Danielle Cohen – Associate Director for Portfolio Management
Danielle builds important partnerships for Power to Change, manages the decision-making process for our ...
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Danielle builds important partnerships for Power to Change, manages the decision-making process for our investments, and ensures strong project management of our portfolio so that the learning from our investments is closely linked to our policy development and future activity.
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Deepa Shah – Trustee
Deepa is currently the People Director, Group and Global Functions for Bupa and brings to the role over 15-years ...
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Deepa is currently the People Director, Group and Global Functions for Bupa and brings to the role over 15-years of diverse experience in human resources across a number of sectors as well as expertise in speaking about and embedding diversity and inclusion into organisations.
Fin Irwin – Trustee
Fin Irwin is a cultural entrepreneur and community advocate based in Cornwall, with a passion for promoting creativity and community engagement.
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Fin Irwin is a cultural entrepreneur and community advocate based in Cornwall, with a passion for promoting creativity and community engagement. He is the Founder and Co-Director of intoBodmin, a community interest company dedicated to revitalising Bodmin through cultural projects and inclusive activities. Under Fin's leadership, intoBodmin has transformed the old library into a vibrant community hub, bringing people together and breaking down barriers to participation in the arts and civic engagement.
Before establishing intoBodmin, Fin co-founded The Bike Shed Theatre in Exeter, an award-winning venue known for its innovative programming and support of emerging artists. In addition to his work at intoBodmin Fin supports his parents with their small farm management and sits on the board of four other community businesses and charities, where he continues to explore the intersections of creativity, community, and sustainability.
Hardev Virdee – Trustee
Hardev is the Group Chief Financial Officer for the Barts Health NHS Trust, managing a £2b trust with 24,000 ...
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Hardev is the Group Chief Financial Officer for the Barts Health NHS Trust, managing a £2b trust with 24,000 staff. Hardev’s non-executive career includes Council Member for the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) and Chair of the NHS National Finance Academy.
Ian Hempseed – Trustee
Ian has been a partner at Hempsons since 1997 and heads their charities and social enterprise team. Ian has a wide ...
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Ian has been a partner at Hempsons since 1997 and heads their charities and social enterprise team. Ian has a wide range of experience in the field of charity, governance and commercial law looking after charities, social enterprises and public service mutuals.
James Sabala – Strategy and Culture Manager
James is responsible for leading on all people and culture processes and policies, ensuring that we remain a ...
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James is responsible for leading on all people and culture processes and policies, ensuring that we remain a supportive, generous employer with a culture focused on learning and collaboration. He has over 10 years’ experience of working in administrative roles.
Jess Steele – Trustee
Jess has nearly 30 years’ experience as a local community activist and entrepreneur in Hastings. She specialises ...
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Jess has nearly 30 years’ experience as a local community activist and entrepreneur in Hastings. She specialises in supporting ambitious local projects to rescue and repurpose the most challenging of precious buildings across England and Wales.
Jessica Craig – Policy Officer
Jessica works with colleagues and external partners to ensure we have well-informed and developed policy positions ...
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Jessica works with colleagues and external partners to ensure we have well-informed and developed policy positions and strong relationships with central and local government.
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Jodie Roe – EA to CEO and Executive Team
Jodie supports the leadership team at Power to Change and ensures the effective functioning of the board, ...
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Jodie supports the leadership team at Power to Change and ensures the effective functioning of the board, committees and the leadership team.
Josh Westerling – Policy Manager
Josh works on political engagement and across several policy projects to influence local, regional and national ...
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Josh works on political engagement and across several policy projects to influence local, regional and national decision-makers. He develops new policy thinking, creating compelling policy ideas and positions to engage and influence in order to increase funding and support to community businesses.
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Kate Higgins – Portfolio Manager
Kate oversees our capabilities programme Powering Up, and also oversees our Community Tech programmes. Kate is ...
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Kate oversees our capabilities programme Powering Up, and also oversees our Community Tech programmes. Kate is interested in how digital tools can enable community enterprise, empowerment and ownership.
Kate McKenzie – Portfolio Manager
Kate oversees and manages the delivery of a portfolio of activities in order to deliver our investments, and she ...
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Kate oversees and manages the delivery of a portfolio of activities in order to deliver our investments, and she engages with community businesses and other funders to identify opportunities where Power to Change should act to achieve our vision.
Kemi Alabi – Financial Accountant
Kemi has extensive experience in transactional finance, having worked in the charity and not-for-profit sector all her career.
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Kemi has extensive experience in transactional finance, having worked in the charity and not-for-profit sector all her career.
Léonie Austin – Vice Chair
Léonie Austin is director of marketing and communications and a board member at NHS Blood and Transplant. She is ...
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Léonie Austin is director of marketing and communications and a board member at NHS Blood and Transplant. She is also a member of the Government Communication Service Board, a government communication service diversity and inclusion champion, a coach and mentor.
Louisa Comber – Communications Officer
Louisa delivers external communications including via social media, the website, and press and media. Louisa ...
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Louisa delivers external communications including via social media, the website, and press and media. Louisa strategically communicates our research and policy recommendations to build credibility and help us achieve systemic change for communities.
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Matt Fazal – Portfolio Manager
Matt oversees and manages the delivery of a portfolio of activities in order to deliver our investments, and he ...
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Matt oversees and manages the delivery of a portfolio of activities in order to deliver our investments, and he engages with community businesses and other funders to identify opportunities where Power to Change should act to achieve our vision.
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Melissa Mean – Trustee
Melissa works across urbanism, the arts, technology, and public participation. She is the founding director of ...
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Melissa works across urbanism, the arts, technology, and public participation. She is the founding director of WeCanMake, a community land trust in Bristol that imagines and makes homes that build social infrastructure and community wealth.
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Natalie White – Portfolio Manager
Natalie oversees and manages the delivery of a portfolio of activities in order to deliver our investments, and ...
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Natalie oversees and manages the delivery of a portfolio of activities in order to deliver our investments, and she engages with community businesses and other funders to identify opportunities where Power to Change should act to achieve our vision.
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Nick Plumb – Associate Director for Policy and Insight
Nick provides overall direction for our policy development and influencing work. He manages relationships with ...
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Nick provides overall direction for our policy development and influencing work. He manages relationships with stakeholders across policy, business, academia and other sectors, leads on our external affairs, with particular attention paid to our connection to community business, and provides overall direction for our communications activity, championing community business and building Power to Change’s profile.
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Nicola Steuer – Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Nicola provides leadership to our think-do work, develops partnerships to catalyse our future impact, and oversees the operational management and development of the organisation.
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Nicola provides leadership to our think-do work, develops partnerships to catalyse our future impact, and oversees the operational management and development of the organisation. Nicola provides leadership to our portfolio management, strategy and culture, organisation services and finance teams. She regularly convenes partners at a local, regional and national level to work alongside community business, improving outcomes for people and places and generating insights to influence policy.
Nicole Johnson – Communications Manager
Nicole provides strategic and operational communications support to colleagues across Power to Change and leads on ...
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Nicole provides strategic and operational communications support to colleagues across Power to Change and leads on our stakeholder engagement strategy. She plays a key part in our external communications by acting as the lead for our website and social media, along with PR and marketing.
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Rey Saributh – Portfolio Officer
Rey supports the Portfolio Managers with the delivery of a portfolio of activities to deliver our investments, ...
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Rey supports the Portfolio Managers with the delivery of a portfolio of activities to deliver our investments, providing administrative support and carrying out analysis and research. She acts as the first point of contact for external partners, supporting the Portfolio Managers to identify opportunities where Power to Change should act.
Ruth Keenan – Strategy and Culture Officer
Ruth plays a key part in ensuring that we remain a supportive, generous employer with a culture focused on ...
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Ruth plays a key part in ensuring that we remain a supportive, generous employer with a culture focused on learning and collaboration. Ruth has many years of experience working for community organisations in Bristol, in HR and administrative roles.
Sam Watson – Portfolio Officer
Sam coordinates the delivery of a portfolio of activities. He works with colleagues and external partners to ensure Power To Change’s portfolio is effectively managed and developed. He also focuses on the work of our high streets theme.
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Sam coordinates the delivery of a portfolio of activities. He works with colleagues and external partners to ensure Power To Change’s portfolio is effectively managed and developed. He will be focused on one of our three key themes for the next year, High Streets.
Stephen Healer – Head of Finance
Stephen is responsible for managing the day-to-day finance activities, ensuring that finance policies and ...
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Stephen is responsible for managing the day-to-day finance activities, ensuring that finance policies and processes are followed, efficient, effective and user-friendly and that they reflect legal and tax requirements.
Steven Gallagher – Associate Director for Organisation Services
Steve provides leadership to the organisation through legal compliance and operational excellence, driving Power ...
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Steve provides leadership to the organisation through legal compliance and operational excellence, driving Power to Change towards a culture of empowerment and accountability. He also ensures effective risk mitigation, and streamlined operations, ultimately enabling Power to Change to make a meaningful impact in supporting community businesses.
Tim Davies-Pugh – Chief Executive
Tim Davies-Pugh, Chief Executive, provides strategic leadership for Power to Change and its dedicated staff, having been involved since its inception during his time at The National Lottery Community Fund.
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Tim is accountable for the overall strategic leadership of Power to Change and its team of skilled and committed staff. Tim’s involvement with Power to Change began at its inception, where he supported the trust’s set–up whilst working at The National Lottery Community Fund.
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Tony Burton – Chair
Tony has worked in various leadership roles including the National Trust, CPRE and the Design Council. He also ...
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Tony has worked in various leadership roles including the National Trust, CPRE and the Design Council. He also founded Civic Voice and is a land use planner with a keen interest in neighbourhood planning. His past and present non-executive roles include The National Lottery Community Fund, Friends of the Earth, Nationwide Foundation, Sheila McKechnie Foundation, TCV and mySociety. He also chairs Wandle Valley Forum.