Our people

Heather Smith – CEO (she/her)

As CEO for the Girls Friendly Society, it is my role to lead the team and ensure that that charity is working well so that we can make the biggest impact possible in supporting girls and challenging gender inequalities.

I have worked in community development and inclusion and diversity, focusing on gender equality, for the last 20 years. With a background in sport and physical activity. I am a Trustee for a local funding charity, Inspire Hounslow and an Ambassador for Homestart Kingston, Richmond and Hounslow.

Olivia Johnson – Programme and Impact Manager (she/her)

I’m responsible for measuring our impact on girls and young women, helping us to grow in the right direction and making sure that everything we do is designed to support their needs and interests.

I initially joined GFS as a Group Coordinator and my background is in social research and public engagement within the charity sector.

Ceri Morgans – Programme Coordinator (she/her)

I’m responsible for liaising with, and designing the content for groups. It’s important for me to listen to girls voices and make sure that we are tailoring our services to their needs.

I have always worked with young people in the charity sector and my background is in child centred and children’s rights work.

Efua Yankson – Impact & Operations Assistant (she/her)

My role is to assist both the Operations and Programme & impact teams. It is important for me to keep the girls’ voices at the centre of everything we do to ensure we are supporting girl and young women in becoming the best they can be.

I previously worked for an educational charity and have always had a passion for diversity and inclusion.

Linsey McFadden – Marketing and Communications Coordinator (she/they)

I’m responsible for managing and creating content across our platforms. I hope to continue increasing GFS presence while also raising the inclusivity of our communications.

My background is in journalism, but I have been working in the third sector since 2019.

Dee Kennedy – Trusts and Donor Care Coordinator (she/her)

I help raise funds for GFS through Trust and Foundation grant applications, look after our Membership Network and manage the thanking of our donors.

I’ve been a fundraiser for over a decade, raising money for causes I’m very passionate about and I’m proud to be part of the GFS team.

Sarah Fox – Trusts and Foundations Coordinator (she/her)

My role is to build relationships with funders who share our aims, so that GFS can continue to meet the needs of girls growing up in places where they face many barriers to being themselves.

I work with Trusts and Foundations to form partnerships to support GFS’s work, keeping them up to date with our projects, plans and progress. Before GFS, I worked in shops and schools – including a girls’ school – as well as charities supporting children and people with sight loss. I’m proud to be part of GFS, and to make a difference to the lives of girls across England and Wales.

Fahma Mahomed – Project Manager (she/her)

As Project Manager at GFS, I lead the Girls Rights Collective and our 150th-anniversary celebrations, focusing on empowering girls and amplifying their voices. With a background in project management, youth empowerment, and advocacy, I have delivered impactful programmes, including national campaigns and educational resources, in partnership with diverse stakeholders.

Passionate about gender equality and social justice, I have worked extensively with young people, ensuring their voices inform and shape meaningful change. I am also a Trustee at Young Bristol, contributing to the governance and strategic direction of a charity supporting young people across the city. In recognition of my activism, I was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Law by the University of Bristol.

Jemma Moonie-Dalton – Head of Operations, South (she/her)

I take a lead on operations in the Midlands and the South, and I share responsibility for groups in Wales with Charlotte. It’s important for me to support our groups in providing the best experience for girls and young women.

I have worked in charity and education settings throughout my career, with a focus on early support, inclusion and mental health.

Charlotte Hunt – Head of Operations, North (she/her)

I take a lead on operations in the North, and I share responsibility for groups in Wales with Jem.

My background is from both the charity and care sector. I am passionate about ensuing that all services are continually learning and improving how we can best support girls.

Niamh Saint-Prenderville – Schools and Groups Coordinator, London (she/her)

As the Schools and Groups coordinator for East London, my role is to connect with girls through GFS workshops, after school clubs and groups. Supporting them to feel proud and free to be themselves and build the skills they need to handle life’s challenges.

I have previously worked for a creative studio delivering workshops in schools and the community, as well as working for a charity as a youth worker. 

Elsie Amies – Schools and Groups Coordinator, Manchester (she/her)

My role is to organise and deliver GFS school sessions across Greater Manchester, helping girls to be themselves within a school environment. I aim to create a safe and inclusive space for girls to explore new activities and talk about what it means to be a girl. I will also help in developing more community sessions in Manchester, going where girls need us most. 

My background is in youth work and sports coaching. I hope to bring my experience of Skateboard Coaching to GFS, bringing fun new ideas to the girls groups. 

Nic Shoults – Head of Finance and Support Services (he/him)

I am the Head of Finance and Support Services for GFS, with responsibility for finance and back office function of the charity. I am a charity finance specialist, with a background in finance and resources.

I am a Trustee at Off the Record – a charity providing counselling to young people in Croydon, Merton and Surrey. I am non-binary.

Victoria Bamber – Office Administrator (she/her)

I carry out a range of activities, including sending out merchandise and supporting the team with any admin that they may need help with.

I have mainly worked in the charity sector and children and young people organisation’s and sit on my Resident Association as the Secretary and Committee Member.

Ibrahim Tuncel – Financial Controller (he/him)

I am a member of the team responsible for finance and back-office function and management reporting of the Charity.

I am a qualified accountant with a long and varied experience in financial control and reporting.

Sarah McLorie-Rollings – Volunteer Recruitment and Training Coordinator (she/they)

My role helps to ensure the smooth onboarding, training, and continued support of all our wonderful volunteers.

I hope to bring my experience of volunteering and working for a wide variety of charities over the last twenty years to GFS, helping our volunteers have the best possible experience possible.

Beverley Huie – Head of People (she/her)

As Head of People, I develop GFS staff and volunteer policy, support their growth and well-being.

I am a ROSA Trustee where I chair the People and Pay Committee and serve as an independent member for Local Authority school admissions and exclusion appeal panels.

Nadiea Nasrin – Finance and Office Administrator (she/her)

I am responsible for various types of finance work at GFS including, the payment run, reconciliations and payroll.

I have previously worked in the financial services, education and property sectors and always had a strong interest in finance throughout.

Margaux Young – Interim Co-Chair and Treasurer and Chair of Finance and Investment Committee (she/her)

Margaux started her career at Deloitte, in the Audit function and is a Chartered Accountant working in Financial Planning and Analysis at the tech company OpenBet, part of the Endeavor Group. She specialises in budgeting and forecasting, business partnering and strategy support.

Chandni Radia – Interim Co-Chair and Fundraising Trustee and Chair of Fundraising & Growth Committee (she/her)

Chandni is a fundraising and business development professional, having worked across a range of organisations for over 15 years.

She is currently the Director of Development, Income and Impact at The Mayday Trust, having also held senior leadership positions at Advance (a domestic abuse charity) and The Forward Trust (substance misuse.) Chandni also chairs the Fundraising and Growth Committee.

Alexia Lovell – Young Trustee (she/her)

Alexia is a Philanthropy Manager at The Sutton Trust, a UK-based social mobility charity. Prior to this, she worked in philanthropy campaign management at The Prince’s Trust and completed the UK’s first degree apprenticeship in social change.

She has held advisory roles, advocating for youth voice in her local council, previously mentored young women at The Prince’s Trust and led primary school students through a Debate Mate programme in East London. She has also been recognised as a Chartered Manager by the Charted Management Institute.

Molly Wedderburn – Young Trustee (she/her)

Molly is a Graduate Consultant at an Economic Consultancy, where she prepares master plans, feasibility studies and funding applications predominantly for local authorities and third sector organisations.

At her organisation, Molly also supports the team in their Social Value and Marketing aspirations. She currently undertaking a part-time MSc in Strategic Communications at the University of Liverpool.

Tina Lavithi – Young Trustee (she/her)

Tina is currently pursuing her MSc in Bioscience Futures at Imperial College London, with a keen interest in the commercial side of healthcare and scientific innovation. Currently interning at Tiger Hill Capital, an advisory partner to post-seed stage companies, she is developing her expertise in venture capital and private equity.

Tina is passionate about youth voice and leadership and is actively involved with In2scienceUK. She brings a unique combination of strategic insight, consulting experience, and a youth-focused perspective to GFS.

Olivia Lewis – Investment Trustee (she/her)

Olivia works as a Private Banker at Barclays, where she is responsible for providing sustainable investment advice to charity and not-for-profit clients.

Olivia has completed the Investment Management Certificate, passed Level 1 of the CFA Program and holds the Certificate in ESG Investing. Olivia was awarded the 2021 WealthBriefing European Rising Star Award.

Remi Turton (she/her)

Remi is a project portfolio manager within the financial industry. Her passion for supporting girls and young women led her to start her Brunching with Books initiative.

Remi is a mentor with Prince’s Trust, and an active volunteer with GrowTH, a partnership of churches that caters to homeless adults in the local community across Tower Hamlets.

Tasila Banda – EDI Trustee (she/her)

Tasila is a filmmaker currently completing an MBA at Harvard Business School and an MPP at Harvard Kennedy School. Tasila worked as a corporate lawyer at an international law firm, where she advised on mergers, acquisitions and corporate governance of global companies.

Tasila was also the co-chair of her firm’s Women’s Network and led various initiatives aimed at increasing the accessibility of City careers for young women from underrepresented backgrounds.

As well as being our EDI trustee, Tasila also sits on our People and Operations Committee.

Julie Cove Smith – Impact & Quality Chair (she/her)

Julia is an experienced Marketer and Business Leader having worked for several large retail businesses including WHSmith, Waterstones and most recently Emma Bridgewater Ltd where she was CEO for eight years.  She’s a member of the Keele Business School Advisory Board, a School Governor and a regular Mentor on the Virgin Start Up programme.

She’s always had a great love of sport and interest in supporting women and girls to keep active and enjoy playing sport at all levels.  She’s a qualified Netball Coach and Sports Volunteer at WEST Youth Zone, runs an U16 girls football team and is currently setting up her own business, Eleven as One, which designs and sells football kit for female footballers.

Shari Donnenfield – Brand and Marketing Trustee (she/her)

Shari Donnenfeld is a consultant specialising in global brand strategy, marketing, and consumer insights for kids’ entertainment businesses and brands. Shari works with many of the world’s most loved children’s properties.

Prior to consulting, Shari held senior management positions at Hit Entertainment/Mattel, The Walt Disney Company/Fox Kids, Nickelodeon and WildBrain. Shari is also an ICF-accredited executive coach (PCC) and has privilege of coaching, training, facilitating meetings and mentoring exceptional individuals, executives and teams