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.
Molly works with charities, nonprofits and digital partners to build digital, data and design capacity for positive social change. She is also a trustee of Maji Mazuri.
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.
Roz works on Catalyst, the CAST incubated alliance of civil society organisations, funders, and digital agencies working to increase the resilience and responsiveness of UK civil society, through digital, design and data. Roz is responsible for the management of Catalyst’s portfolio of strategic programmes. Contributing to strategy development and driving implementation of the strategy across the Catalyst network.
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.
CEO of YoungMinds, the UK’s leading children and young people’s mental health charity,with wide-ranging experience across commercial and third sectors, as well as working at the BBC developing new digital services and campaigns.
Social, digital and communications designer. Founder of Airside, former director of design at the RSA and director of Machines Room.
Tech entrepreneur and angel investor, Entrepreneur in residence at University of Oxford, co-founder of social enterprise Awaken Hub.
Education, technology and digital inclusion expert. Former Labour Schools minister, Chief Education Adviser at TES Global Ltd.