Our people

Ajeet Jugnauth

Social Innovation and Investment Programme Manager

With a background delivering enterprise support programmes for the Equality and Human Rights Commission, British Council, and the online marketplace, Etsy, Ajeet is particularly passionate about social impact in the arts and creative industries. He joined The Young Foundation in August 2020.

Alice Bell

Research Officer

Alice joined The Young Foundation in 2020, having previously gained experience as a Government Social Research intern. She is enthusiastic about exploring innovative and inclusive methods to involve diverse communities in impactful research.

Angela Wilby

Operations Administrator

Angela has a BA in history, having specialised in social research and reform in the post-war period. She now combines her organisational skills with her passion for social innovation by providing support to the Operations Team and across The Young Foundation.

Chelsea McDonagh

Senior Researcher

Chelsea joined The Young Foundation in 2021 after working as an education policy and campaigns officer at the Traveller Movement, and a youth research and campaigns officer at Partnership for Young London. Chelsea is passionate about working with young people and changing research approaches to make them more accessible.

Dayo Eseonu

Principal Researcher

Prior to joining The Young Foundation in September 2021, Dayo worked as a teaching associate at the University of Manchester while completing her PhD, examining how policies, practices and narratives contribute to achieving racial equity in public services. Dayo previously worked as an organisational development practitioner.

Dorine Mwesiga

Programme Manager, Institute for Community Studies

Previously a Partnerships Manager with police forces across South East England, Dorine supported frontline officers who are more representative of the communities they serve. She has delivered diverse programmes and worked with multiple stakeholders. Dorine joined The Young Foundation in September 2021.

Emily Morrison

Head of the Institute of Community Studies

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.

Helen Goulden

Chief Executive Officer

Prior to joining The Young Foundation in October 2017, our CEO Helen was Executive Director at Nesta, leading their Innovation Lab, supporting and scaling innovation in the arts, civil society, government and education sectors. Helen regularly speaks on public and social innovation, and is interested in technology as a tool for social change.

Helena Hollis

Senior Researcher, Institute for Community Studies

Helena works on a range of Institute for Community Studies projects. Prior to joining us in 2021, she completed PhD research, coordinated a shared UCL and British Academy project on AI and the future of work, and worked as a research methods lecturer and librarian. She is passionate about her research having a real impact on people’s lives.

Iqra Farooq

HR Manager

Iqra manages the HR department and provides support across the organisation. Prior to joining The Young Foundation in 2017, she worked at AEG Europe, based at the O2, in a similar capacity. Iqra has more than five years’ HR experience and is CIPD-qualified.

Isabel Young

Head of Community Programmes

Isabel works to bring diverse voices together to take action on the issues that matter to people in local communities. She is passionate about supporting leadership development across the UK, and about blending research, innovation, and social action approaches in our work.

Jessica Moore

Head of Communications and External Affairs

Joining in September 2021, Jess drives thought leadership and shares our creative ideas with diverse audiences. Formerly an editor at The Guardian and The Independent, Jess is passionate about communicating the needs of people in our communities, working to extend The Young Foundation’s reach and impact.