Our people
Meet our skilled team, expert partners, and influential trustees.
Aderonke Ademola
Research Officer
Aderonke brings experience in research, education, and advocacy, with a focus on EDI and the criminal justice system, alongside skills in qualitative methods and inclusive education.
Adira Andlay
Senior Researcher
With a specialisation in co-design and citizen engagement, Adira leads a range of mixed-method research projects, from community-led social innovation to supporting peer research training. She has a multidisciplinary background in design research, social innovation and visual communication.
Al Mathers
Associate
Having previously been Director of Research and Learning at the RSA, and Head of Research at Good Things Foundation, Al is passionate about The Young Foundation’s commitment to realising a fairer future with communities, and supporting evidence-driven social change.
Amelia Clayton
Senior Researcher
After completing her masters in sociology, Amelia joined The Young Foundation as a research officer and was promoted to Senior Researcher in 2025. Amelia has a passion for uplifting marginalised voices, especially among disabled and chronically ill communities, and in fringe subcultures.
Charlotte Healy
Head of Social Business and Innovation
Charlotte’s background is working as an Economic Development Programme Manager in Local Government. She loves all things social enterprise and is interested in how we can use social innovation to create a more equal society.
Damian Hebron
Senior Innovation Practitioner
Damian is passionate about involving citizens in decision-making and has worked for more than 20 years in arts, health, campaigning and community engagement. He has campaigned extensively to promote the impact of creativity on people’s health.
Daniel Farag
Director of Innovation and Practice
Dan leads our practical social change and innovation work with communities, public systems, and social enterprises. He has worked across the public, private and charitable sectors, and was previously a director of Nesta’s Health Lab.
Emily Morrison
Director of Sustainability and Just Transition
Emily joined us from the British Council, where she developed the global research portfolio. She has led and conducted a broad range of international research projects, and previously held positions at University College London and King’s College London. Emily has a long-standing interest in participatory and creative research approaches.
Felicia Barrow
Finance Services and Business Support Manager
Felicia is passionate about our organisation and a gifted communicator, with expertise in operations, policy development and implementation, change management and frontline service delivery for the private, public, and charity and not-for-profit sectors. She is a Foundation Chartered Manager (fCMgr) in Management and Leadership.
Gary Fawdrey
Senior Innovation Practitioner
Gary leads our grant management processes. He is an experienced project, programme and grant manager, specialising in social innovation. Prior to joining The Young Foundation, he supported social innovators and designed innovation funding programmes through roles with Elrha’s Humanitarian Innovation Fund and Nesta’s Challenge Works.
Grace Clarke
HR Manager (Interim)
Grace’s background is in business partnering and HR leadership. She has held many roles in the charity sector and across the public and private sectors.
Grace Hardy
Innovation Practitioner
Grace brings a passion for community empowerment and corporate sustainability, driving innovative strategies that strengthen the relationship between business and society while championing equality, social value, and climate resilience.