Meet the Team

Liz leads the Crisis Commerce & Enterprise team and manages its existing business portfolio. She is responsible for the development of the entrepreneurship and innovation culture within the charity and the creation of new ventures to end homelessness. She previously worked with deep tech and science startups at Imperial College London. Whilst there she founded its successful women's entrepreneurship programme 'WE Innovate' and has spoken on her experience of increasing diversity and inclusion in tech internationally including at the World Economic Forum.

Sarah is Head of Venture Studio. She has ten years’ experience in the property sector, including within a venture capital-backed PropTech startup. Following a social innovation fellowship at Year Here, Sarah joined the Venture Studio in 2021. Her subject matter and lived experience expertise supports ventures that are aligned with our mission to end homelessness.  

In 2024 she won the Social Investment Champion award at the WISE100 awards from Pioneers Post and NatWest, and completed the Newton Venture Program Fellowship bringing technical knowledge, insights and networks from the venture capital ecosystem into the charity and portfolio companies. She is currently studying for an Executive MSc. in Social Business and Entrepreneurship at the London School of Economics (LSE) as a Marshall Scholar and speaks at events nationally and internationally, such as Anthropy, PropTech Connect, and UKREiiF.  

Before starting as Venture Investment & Impact Analyst, Phelelani began his professional career as an analyst in traditional corporate and investment banking in emerging markets before transitioning into  the field of impact investing. Currently, he leads the investment analysis and due diligence processes for prospective portfolio companies. He is particularly passionate about ideas and organisations that can foster community and tackle the complex challenges of our time.

Sam is a skilled digital marketer who excels at connecting people to solve problems and make a difference. She is able to think strategically as well as bringing a tactical “get it done” approach to all that she does. She combines a love of all things digital and tech with 17 years’ experience in web, social, search engine optimisation and analytics.

Kevin is Venture Programme Manager at the Venture Studio. With experience spanning frontline homelessness work, social entrepreneurship, and impact investment, he ensures founders get the practical support, networks, and insights they need to grow ventures that help end homelessness. He co-founded Spedal, an exited social enterprise reimagining the gig economy for good, and previously worked with multinational corporate clients at SLR Consulting and Local Authorities at the Centre for Homelessness Impact. Drawing on global experience from Argentina to the UK, he combines hands-on social impact expertise with commercial thinking.

Chenelle is passionate and fully committed to ensuring diverse founders get access to capital and development that they need to grow. In her role as Partner at Cornerstone Partners, Angel Investment Syndicate whose mission is to focus on investing in founders from Black and diverse backgrounds in the U.K., Chenelle ensures that they are leading the charge in investing in founders from Black and diverse backgrounds. 

A serial entrepreneur in banking, fintech and capital markets, Ez’s journey has taken him from Software Developer to Co-Founder and CTO to Venture Capital. Most recently he has been CEO of CFIT the Centre for Finance, Innovation and Technology, an industry body backed by the UK Treasury and the City of London with a mission to unblock the barriers to growth for financial technology by bringing together the best minds from across the UK to drive better outcomes for consumers and SMEs. 

In 2022, Ez received an MBE for services to Diversity and to Young people. 

Savitri is a former startup operator, angel investor in early stage startups, and most recently worked at Isomer Capital, investing in early stage venture capital groups in Europe and later stage growth companies. She is particularly passionate about creating a more inclusive society and funding products and services that address, and close, equality gaps. 

Frequently featured for her research and inventions in The Financial Times, The Atlantic, The Guardian, Quartz and the New York Times, Dr. Vivienne Ming is a theoretical neuroscientist, entrepreneur, and author. She co-founded Socos Labs, her fifth company, an independent institute exploring the future of human potential. In her free time, Vivienne has invented AI systems to help treat her diabetic son, predict manic episodes in bipolar sufferers weeks in advance, and reunite orphan refugees with extended family members. 

Sue is a highly motivated and empathic business leader with a strong track record of growing businesses with a combination of purpose and pragmatism. A global citizen having lived and been educated in multiple countries including Pakistan, Belgium, U.S, UK and France, creating a strong foundation of empathy for cultural differences from an early age. Working with clients in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East has further grown those foundations into an ability to align multiple individual perspectives around opportunities for all.

Tim is a Partner with EY United Kingdom in London and is the UK Wealth & Asset Management Alternative Investments Leader. He has over 30 years of industry experience, having previously held CEO and COO roles in global asset managers including Venture Capital - working in Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific. He has held a number of Director roles on company and fund boards in the UK and around the world. 

Amina is a Churchill Fellow, a Just Economy Institute Fellow, and a Moral Ambition Fellow. She is also a NED and angel investor.

Clare is a member of the Corporate Planning and Management division, where she manages a firmwide strategic regulatory program that require cross-divisional collaboration. She is a member of the Regional New Activity Committee in EMEA. Clare also serves as the first regional co-head of the EMEA Firmwide Black Network. She joined Goldman Sachs in 2010 as an associate and was named managing director in 2021.