Our Team

Neil is an experienced leader working across government, business and civil society nationally and internationally. He joined WIG as CEO in 2023 at a time when the charity’s purpose of improving cross-sector collaboration and leadership to boost investment, economic growth and prosperity has become ever more important.

Neil is also Chair of the WorldSkills Global Research Council, having served eight years as CEO of WorldSkills UK, championing the productivity benefits of international benchmarking to raise standards in apprenticeships and technical education to world-class levels, working with governments, education and industry partners.

Neil was previously Deputy Director-General and Chief Operating Officer at the UK business organisation the CBI, working for 12 years at the highest level of the business and government interface nationally and internationally. Prior to that he worked on European employee relations in global IT services and publishing, following completion of his PhD on race discrimination in the workplace in Germany. Neil was awarded an OBE in 2019 for services to LGBT diversity and inclusion.

As Director of Strategy and Programmes, Tom is responsible for overseeing the WIG Events & Content team and the Membership team. The main focus is to ensure WIG continues to be the leading platform for constructive collaboration between government, industry and the not-for-profit sector. Tom originally joined as Head of Content and Events in 2017.

Before joining WIG, Tom worked across both government and industry. He ran the energy division for a commercial conference company, worked within the Department for International Trade, and developed new business for an independent TV production company that worked exclusively with not-for-profits.

Tom graduated from UCL with a BA (Hons) in History and subsequently picked up a Masters in International Security and Global Governance from Birkbeck.

Outside of WIG, Tom is a keen Tottenham Hotspur fan and spends time exercising, and walking his dog.

As Head of Membership, Angie is on hand to support members to maximise the value of their membership and to ensure that their insights are incorporated into WIG's membership offering.

For the past 15 years Angie has worked in the not-for-profit sector, where she has directed membership, policy & regulation, communications and learning & development areas. She has gained a unique understanding of the synergies involved in the membership journey and how best to meet and anticipate the needs of various stakeholders having worked for a diverse range of membership organisations, which include a trade association representing the global alternative investments industry; a charity championing parental participation in education; and a social business supporting organisations to improve disability confidence. Angie combines her expertise with a sense of humour, efficiency and high-delivery standards and WIG's members are well-served by her dedication to ensure that they are receiving all that their membership has to offer.

Having moved to the UK from South Africa 23 years ago, Angie nurtures the 'eternal tourist' in her and loves exploring new places with her family. She is writing a collection of children's stories and dreams of becoming a published author.

Marcin is Head of Events & Content, working with the team to produce and deliver WIG's wide-ranging events programme, which provides members with a platform for mutual learning to support cross-sector collaboration on society's key challenges.

Prior to joining WIG, Marcin has spent over 10 years working in strategic and operational related event content roles, thematically focused on banking, finance, investments, and oil & gas sectors. During this time, his experience has included close collaboration between public institutions and private sector organisations, as well as regulators, local authorities, and national governments.

Marcin graduated from the University of Warwick with a BA (Hons) in history. He has lived in Poland, France, Russia, as well as the US, and has extensively travelled throughout the post-Soviet world. Outside of work, Marcin is a keen cook and enjoys whipping up various creations in the kitchen, as well as exploring the outdoors by bike.

Bio Coming Soon

Katy manages our Talent and Leadership Programme function, designed to maximise cross-sector learning through cross-sector knowledge exchange.

The Talent and Leadership function runs the Charity Next Fast Stream secondment programme, arranges and facilitates cross-sector secondment and mentoring opportunities and works with organisations to recruit cross-sector, diverse experts onto Non-Executive and Trustee boards.  She also manages our award winning experiential cross-sector leadership development programmes for future leaders through to C-suite experts.

Before joining WIG, Katy worked as a Director for Badenoch & Clark and Adecco, a specialist professional services recruitment company, personally specialising in senior level recruitment to Social Housing, Not-For-Profit and Local Government, as well as sitting on their operational board with responsibility for corporate social responsibility, culture and leadership development.

She sits as a Trustee for a Grant Giving Charity. And in her spare time, when not looking after her three children, she enjoys swimming, running and skiing.

As Head of HR and Operations, Soumaya sits at the heart of the organisation, overseeing the HR, Operations, IT, Legal and Governance functions; she is responsible for shaping our employee value proposition and keeping WIG true to its purpose through innovative and inclusive people practices. Her passion for lifelong learning, education and inclusion is what inspired her to join WIG and drive our mission.

Before joining WIG, Soumaya worked across both commercial and private sectors, partnering with senior teams to facilitate leadership development, promote inclusion and belonging through workplace policies and increase the representation of diverse talent within teams. She ran cross-functional teams across HR, Operations, Finance, Marketing and Product, driving internal HR projects like performance management, culture transformation, HR compliance and global talent acquisition while simultaneously working with organisations such as Google, the Department for Education and AWS, leading and supporting teams to identify, upskill and place specialist and mid-manager talent through impactful learning programmes and coaching.

Outside of WIG, Soumaya continues to share her learning through HR roundtables and mentoring and when not, spends her time being a dog mum to Hector.

Cezanne runs Non-Executive recruitment campaigns at WIG, partnering with public, private, and not-for-profit organisations to appoint skilled and diverse candidates who strengthen board leadership and governance. Their expertise lies in designing inclusive, high-impact recruitment processes that align with organisational strategy and long-term goals.

Beyond recruitment, Cezanne manages WIG’s Bespoke Mentoring Programme, which develops the leadership capabilities of current and future leaders by pairing them with senior mentors from different sectors. The programme fosters knowledge exchange, strategic insight, and cross-sector collaboration, equipping leaders with the skills to navigate complex challenges and drive impact.

Prior to WIG, Cezanne worked in the private sector, advising individuals on employment opportunities and developing skills in sales and talent development. They hold a BA in American History and an MA in Gender Studies. 

Dani joined WIG’s Leadership team in 2018. She is the Programme Manager responsible for WIG’s Exchange Programme, Senior Leaders Programme, and multiple bespoke programmes. She works closely with programme participants and facilitators to design experiential learning interventions tailored to the cohorts needs.

Dani looks after WIG’s organisational visits, where she works with our members to understand their key priorities and challenges and pairs them with another organisation, who have faced similar challenges and can offer valuable insights. Recent sessions have focused on, recruitment and retention, organisational culture and sustainable innovation and transformation.

She also focuses on our alumni strategy, delivering creative sessions to engage our alumni community of over 2,500 and continue to connect the sectors.

Dani holds a BA Degree in Sociology and Criminology from the University of Nottingham where she was also a member of the Soup Runner’s Society. In her spare time, she enjoys attending Reformer Pilates classes, travelling and skiing.

As Membership Assistant, Edivaldo assists membership inquiries, providing support to Membership Managers in enhancing member satisfaction and retention.

Prior to joining WIG, Edivaldo’s commitment to community service is evident through volunteer work for charities such as Cancer Research UK and WizKidzz. Holding a BA in Education and Social Science from St Mary's University, Edivaldo has since worked in the not-for-profit sector, contributing as a Membership Services Coordinator for the Richmond Chamber of Commerce and a Social Media Trustee for Steel Pan Trust.#

Outside the office, Edivaldo enjoys attending immersive exhibitions, exploring art galleries, cooking for friends and learning new languages.

Fiona is a Leadership Programme Senior Executive at WIG, a position she has held since joining the organization in 2023. In her role, she is responsible for leading the coordination and delivery of a portfolio of WIG Leadership Development Programmes, with a particular focus on WIG Masterclasses. Fiona also supports Programme Managers on other WIG Leadership Development Programmes, working closely with the Head of Leadership to review processes and procedures to continuously improve the quality and reach of WIG's leadership development services.

Prior to joining WIG, Fiona was an experienced learning and development professional with over 20 years of experience across various business sectors. As a registered I-O psychologist in Hong Kong, she is passionate about helping people grow, develop, and lead successful professional and personal lives.

Fiona is also a proud mother of two daughters. In her leisure time, she enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking and water sports

Gina is a Programmes Manager with nearly a decade of experience in the international NGO sector, specialising in gender equality and human rights. She has transitioned from a background in international law to working with senior civil servants and industry leaders at the national level, helping them navigate the intersection of public service and private sector collaboration. Gina’s focus is on developing leadership capabilities that foster impactful partnerships and empower individuals to lead effectively in a rapidly changing landscape.

Passionate about creating inclusive cultures and supporting reflective leadership, Gina is committed to helping leaders assess their journey and take actionable steps towards growth. With a BA in Politics, Philosophy, and History from Birkbeck and an MA in Human Rights and International Law, Gina’s work integrates strategic collaboration, policy influence, and leadership development to drive meaningful social change.

Haimanot is a senior finance executive at WIG with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She has a deep understanding of the financial reporting and a passion working together with the team and expanding the organisation financial processing system. In her current role at WIG, she work closely with Head of Finance to provide outstanding financial support for the team and financial success for the organisation. Haimanot hold a Bachelor’s degree in Finance & Accounting from London Southbank University and she is a part-qualified for ACCA.

As Leadership Programmes Manager, Hannah is responsible for the management and continued development of WIG’s leadership programmes. 

Prior to joining WIG, Hannah designed and delivered programmes for executive leaders in the education sector, and has also produced learning and development programmes for the wider public sector. 

Hannah holds a BA (Hons) degree in History and Political Science from the University of Birmingham. Outside of WIG she enjoys baking and is a volunteer for Homeless Action in Barnet.  

As Events & Content Assistant, Jamie supports with the logistical and administrative side of running our events and managing digital content.  Jamie recently graduated from the University of Aberdeen with a MA(Hons) in History. 

In his spare time, Jamie enjoys running, reading, and roaming around museums.

As a Membership Manager, Josh supports the team in facilitating cross sector relationships between our members. Part of his role is to help manage relationships with our members, ensuring engagement and satisfaction whilst also keeping an eye on the general scope of our membership. Josh Also takes charge of the general day to day running of our mentoring platform- Mentor Match.

Before WIG, Josh has worked at other not-for-profit and membership focused organisations, including internationally, having been based in both Sydney and Auckland. He also holds a degree in Politics and International Relations from Loughborough University.

In his spare time, Josh is a keen runner and tennis player and also loves to travel.

As Event & Content Manager, Leo is responsible for producing and managing a wide range of WIG events.

Prior to joining WIG, Leo was Head of Events at the PRCA, the professional association for the PR and communications industry.

In his spare time Leo enjoys gardening and spending time in the allotment with his greyhound, Del. He also plays drums in an indie-blues band.

As Marketing Manager, Lydia drives a diverse range of marketing campaigns, supporting WIG to reach and engage its members and key audiences.

Lydia has worked in both the not-for-profit and education sectors. She started her career in marketing and development at Emergency Infant Services, a non-profit in Oklahoma, USA, and then moved to a communications role at a multi-academy trust in the UK. Lydia graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a BA in English Literary and Cultural Studies with minors in business and Spanish.

Outside of work, she likes to read, explore museums, and go on walks.

Mafe works across the Leadership Team where she helps with the delivery of WIG’s Leadership and Development programmes. She supports Programme Managers with the completion of specific day-to-day responsibilities, as well as leading our business development efforts.

Prior to joining WIG, Mafe built her experience in the not-for-profit sector through placements in charities and NGO's such as the Planeta Rural Foundation in Colombia. Additionally, she recently graduated from King's College London with a BA degree in International Relations.

Outside of WIG, you will find Mafe devoting her time to her three favourite activities: playing sports, creating art and spending quality time with her family & friends.

As Events and Content Executive, Masooma is responsible for coordinating a range of WIG events. She also supports with the administrative side of WIG events, also helping manage digital content. 

Masooma has recently graduated with a degree for BA Politics and International Relations from the University of Essex. In her spare time, Masooma enjoys reading, cooking, and watching sports.

As Events and Content Manager, Nia is responsible for coordinating events across the events programme and venue management. She also supports on the logistical coordination of a range of other WIG events.

Nia has recently graduated from the University of Greenwich with a BA (Hons) in Events Management.

Outside of WIG, Nia is a keen sports fan and especially loves watching Arsenal FC. 

As a Communications Executive, Abhushan supports the Marketing team in engaging its members and key audiences through the WIG monthly newsletter, website and multimedia content.

Abhushan has a decade of experience in journalism and over five years of expertise in development communications. Before joining WIG, he handled communications for various intergovernmental and non-profit agencies such as RIMES, UNDP Nepal, and BBC Media Action Nepal. Abhushan recently graduated with a joint Master's in journalism, media, and globalization from Aarhus University in Denmark and the City, University of London.

Outside the office, Abhushan loves to bike and play tennis and football. He also loves to cook, travel and explore new cultures. 

Angel is a placement student who supports the Talent team as the Talent and Charity Next Assistant. She aims to assist the Talent team with any inquiries along with supporting the Charity Next Programme.

Before joining WIG, Angel attended the University of Bath studying BSc Criminology.

Outside of Angel's professional life, you can catch her by the beach and even on the beach swimming and snorkelling with all the marine animals.