Our Team & Board
We’re a multi-disciplinary team of digital experts with decades of experience
We’re a multi-disciplinary team of digital experts with decades of experience
Charné is a digital enthusiast and experienced project manager, who has previously worked across communications, publishing and digital teams. She is an advocate for the value of user research and has witnessed first-hand what can be gained by putting users at the forefront of any design process.
Chris is a technologist and strategist. He has worked in organisations large and small, and is a great believer in the value of empowered individuals and small, mission-aligned multifunctional teams to lead transformation in any size of organisation. He's also an advocate for the importance of Open Standards, Open Data, Open Source and for technology described in accessible, everyday terms wherever possible, to drive meaningful innovation whilst not leaving anyone behind.
Dan's responsible for ensuring CAST continually lives by our own mantra - to understand the changing needs of those we seek to support, and adapt our programmes and approach accordingly. This includes a particular focus on how we best organise with others towards a collective ambition and continually identify how CAST can create the most value within and beyond our networks.
Debby is a strong collaborator and change leader, passionate about addressing inequalities and injustices within society through impactful and user-centred initiatives. Bringing organisations and designers together, Debby focusses on accelerating the take-up of digital and design approaches with civic and social organisations through the Catalyst's network.
Ellie is responsible for the design, delivery and measurement of our training for charities. As well as well as facilitating many of our introductory training sessions, Ellie works to build partnerships with a range of organisations across the country in order to build a strong local support network for charities taking their first steps in digital. She also is a trustee of Quaker Social Action and a volunteer with Animal Aid.
Gilly has been delivering Digital Services for the past 14 years. She's led teams in delivering digital strategy and solutions across the commercial and social sector most recently at UK poverty charity, Turn2us. Gilly is coordinating and managing CAST;s multiple programmes to prioritise and deliver quality solutions that will allow charities to scale up their digital practices.
Joseph has extensive experience working with charities and building digital tools. As a student, he led UKSEDS, the national student space society, where he built SpaceCareers.uk, a careers website for young people as well as providing many digital tools. He previously worked at the Fair Education Alliance, supporting a coalition of over 150 charities in tackling educational inequality.
Rob has responsibility for CAST’s financial management, control and accounting. His early experience was gained in the private sector, working in the International Thomson Organisation for 17 years. He then moved to the public sector to create financial systems for the Housing Acton Trusts created by the Government to reduce deprivation in areas within London, Liverpool and Birmingham. For the last 20 years he has worked exclusively in the third sector, providing financial management support to a wide range of charities and other VCSEs.
Sam leads our digital practice programme at CAST, which focuses on providing social sector organisations with practical training and support in embedding digital in their strategy, services and culture. A passionate and successful digital entrepreneur herself, she also ensures the personal development and emotional needs of anyone on our training programmes are considered and met.
Suraj designs, builds and grows digital products and services for good. He's worked at all levels of the social sector - from leadership to the front-line - and brings a wealth of real world experience on what it takes to deliver user, social and financial value with design, technology and data.
As service design manager, Tori provides guidance to charities in user-centred service design, and integrating the methodologies they learn back into their organisations. This includes developing new programmes of support, resources and training with our partners, as well as working with our alumni charities to continue to grow their digital services. Tori also provides expertise across all our work on user research and user testing.
Vanessa is responsible for providing legal support to all areas of CAST, as well as being the first port of call for HR matters. The legal aspect of her role includes providing support on areas such as CAST's contractual relationships, health and safety compliance and intellectual property management. Vanessa's HR role focuses on creating contracts, maintaining policies, streamlining hiring processes and implementing them within CAST.
Emma is CEO of YoungMinds, the UK’s leading children and young people’s mental health charity, She has wide-ranging experience across commercial and third sectors, as well as of working at the BBC developing new digital services and campaigns.
Gaia is an advisor on digital innovation strategy, programmes and operating models. She works with multinational companies, social impact incubators and startups, and has deep expertise in the technology, digital education and digital financial services sectors.
Kate is CEO of the Teenage Cancer Trust. She has worked in UK charities for nearly 20 years and is leading a strategy at TCT to ensure that the charity can reach all young people with cancer in the UK and that young people and their needs remain at the heart of everything the charity does.
Lara is Chief Digital Officer of The Scouts. She has spent 25 years delivering digital innovation across diverse sectors. In the last decade Lara has driven digital transformation and strategic change in the charity sector, where she is passionate about using technologies to increase the effectiveness of the charities.
Jim is an education, technology and digital inclusion expert. He was formerly a Labour Schools minister, and is now Chief Education Adviser at TES Global.
Mary is a tech entrepreneur and angel investor. She is entrepreneur in residence at the University of Oxford, and co-founder of social enterprise Awaken Hub.
Nat is a social, digital and communications designer. She founded Airside, a design agency, and is former director of design at the RSA and former director of Machines Room.
Pema is Chief of Staff, Global Managed Services at EY. She is an expert in organisational change, business operations and HR, and is passionate about diversity and inclusion.
Kerensa is a storyteller, strategist, writer, digital impact specialist. She was previously Head of Strategic Delivery at BBC and CEO of iDEA at the Royal Household. She is now Director of Digital Impact at the BT Group, and a Visiting Professor of Media, Strategy and Communications at the University of Huddersfield.
Prue is a finance professional and is the Group Head of Reporting (UK) and sits on the Management Board at GroupM UK, the world's leading investment group. Prue is passionate about equity in society and social mobility. She is a mentor and also a secondary school Governor