Our people
Gorka Espiau
Director, Agirre Lehendakaria Center for Social and Political Studies
Gorka was director of International Affairs at The Young Foundation and a senior fellow at the Agirre Lehendakaria Center for Social and Political Studies. He is also a founding partner of Social Innovation Laboratory Koop, a Social Innovation Exchange (SIX) country ambassador, and a member of the International Advisory Group of INCORE (University of Ulster and United Nations University).
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.
Gudrun Schimpf
University of Heidelberg
Helen Goulden OBE
Former Chief Executive Officer of The Young Foundation, Helen led our multi-disciplinary team of researchers and innovators from 2017 to 2025, working to support stronger communities across the UK.
Henry Kippin
CEO, North of Tyne Combined Authority
Henry was formerly a Trustee at The Young Foundation. Prior to his current role, he was CEO at the West Midlands Combined Authority, responsible for its work on inclusive growth, public service reform, climate change and digital.
