The GFS Ambassadors

Ellie Rich-Poole,
Chief GFS Ambassador 

Ellie Rich-Poole is our Chief Ambassador. She founded the GFS Ambassador team in 2024, having joined the Board Committee for Fundraising and Growth the previous year.

She is passionate about supporting girls and women of all ages and stages to achieve their potential. She uses her strength of connecting others to bring together an awesome team of driven women who believe in lifting others up as they rise. 

By day, she is an Executive Career Coach dedicated to helping organisations retain and develop their leaders through Executive Coaching, Leadership Team Sessions and Workshops. She coaches leaders during pivotal transitions, empowering them to navigate change with confidence, clarity and impact.

As both a supporter and challenger, she inspires action and results. Before this she spent 11 years in Executive Search, latterly as a Partner in a Boutique Search firm, and nine years in Human Resources in the retail sector.   

Having lived in the UK, Germany, Chile and Singapore she is always on the quest for the perfect cup of tea, coming originally from Yorkshire. She has studied at both Durham and Oxford Universities and is a PCC Level Executive Coach (International Coaching Federation). She is also Mental Health First Aider and founder of The Wonderful Women Movement. 

Amy is a Coach, Trainer, and Inclusion Advocate with over 22 years of dedicated experience working with disadvantaged communities, women, and girls across roles at Sport Structures, England Lacrosse, and Sporting Equals. 

As a neurodivergent professional, Amy brings authentic lived experience and specialist expertise in neurodiversity, mental wellbeing, and creating inclusive environments where people can thrive. 

Amy’s passion for supporting girls and young women to be proudly themselves, combined with her strategic partnership-building skills and extensive networks across sport, education, and inclusion sectors, aligns perfectly with GFS’s mission to create safe spaces where girls can build the confidence and resilience needed for life’s challenges. 

Amy Heppingstall,
GFS Ambassador 

Dr. Angel Ijeoma Ojukwu,
GFS Ambassador 

Dr. Angel Ijeoma Ojukwu is an educator, mentor, and advocate for empowering women and girls. 

As a GFS Ambassador, she is passionate about helping individuals build confidence, develop leadership skills, and embrace their individuality. 

Through her work in education and community development, Angel champions the importance of creating supportive and inclusive spaces where everyone can learn, grow, and realise their potential. 

She is committed to inspiring others to dream boldly and live authentically. 

Annabel has spent the last three years working in leadership and HR, and has just finished a part-time master’s in Psychology, exploring Psychological Safety and Creativity at Work.

Annabel is passionate about improving workplace wellbeing and creating environments where people feel safe and supported to thrive.

Annabel says she is excited to bring this passion for empowerment to GFS, to help inspire girls and young women to do the same in their own lives.

Annabel Greaves,
GFS Ambassador 

Ebonie Wilson,
GFS Ambassador

Ebonie is the Monitoring, Impact, Evaluation and Learning Lead at a Rape Crisis Centre in London. She has a BSc and MSc in Psychology and a PGCert in Woman and Child Abuse.

Her feminist work includes being the research lead and co-author of ‘Writing the Wrongs’ research report at Rape Crisis South London and is co-curator of a community art exhibition called Sisterhood/Neighbourhood.

Ebonie is a member of a steering group for journalistic standards around VAWG and is currently platforming by and for VAWG services in receiving recognition and funding for their undervalued work supporting the most marginalised women and girls.

She loves to solo-travel, listen to music, read, and spend time with her tortoise shell cat Coco.

Helen Ogilvie,
GFS Ambassador

Helen Ogilvie is an experienced People leader with over 20 years in HR and the founder of Ogilvie Consulting.

She partners with organisations to build positive workplace cultures, enable growth, and guide leaders through change.

Helen is passionate about creating environments where people can achieve their best.

Originally from North London, Izzy studied History at Leeds and briefly considered a career in fashion magazines, until it became clear she was more drawn to the ads than the editorials.

Izzy kicked off her career at Thinkbox TV, getting a crash course in media and advertising, before heading into the more corporate world with Hitachi Solutions, AMS, and now MindGym where she heads up global marketing,

Outside of work, she is a freelance writer, runner, and long-time volunteer with Girls Friendly Society (GFS).

Isabel (Izzy) Johnson,
GFS Ambassador 

Kate Faxen,
GFS Ambassador

Kate Faxen is a neurodiversity expert, soon-to-be-published author, ACC coach, and inclusion strategist. A late-diagnosed ADHDer and mum to neuroextraordinary twin teenagers, she is passionate about creating opportunities for people whose talents and potential are too often overlooked. 

Her work focuses on neurodiversity, inclusion, leadership, and advocacy. With experience across local government and higher education, including roles at UCL and Westminster City Council, she has led large-scale transformation programmes, culture change initiatives, and supported organisations to create more inclusive environments. 

Kate is the co-author of How to Hack the System: 66 Shortcuts to Becoming Your Neurodivergent Child’s Fiercest Advocate, due for publication in 2026. 

Driven by a deep sense of justice and a determination to challenge the barriers that hold people back, Kate is proud to be a Girls Friendly Society Ambassador. She is committed to championing girls and young women from disadvantaged backgrounds and believes every girl deserves the permission, support, and opportunities to shape her own future. 

Outside of work, Kate enjoys yoga, reading, travelling, and spending time with her family, two beloved Pomeranians, and cat. 

Karen Mackley,
GFS Ambassador

Karen is an experienced Health and Leadership Coach. 

She is a fierce advocate for the advancement of women and has worked in leadership development and women’s leadership for many years. 

Karen says she works to inspire, educate and empower ambitious women to take charge of their well-being and confidently step into the leadership roles they deserve.

Liesa is the Head of International at the independent gaming company, Mob Entertainment. 

Now multi-award-winning, Liesa began her career in licensing with Marvel as Licensing Manager, before being acquired by The Walt Disney Company. 

As the VP of International Licensing for Retail Monster Liesa’s innovative licensing and retail marketing strategies drove retail growth for entertainment and lifestyle brands such as EA, 9 Story, Gearbox and Shelby. 

Liesa has developed and executed tailored retail strategies for major clients including Mattel, Sega, Crayola, Uplift Games, Miraculous and Paddington. 

Liesa was Director of European Retail Development and UK Retail for Universal Brand Development. In these roles she directed retail strategies for films such as Minions, Jurassic World, Despicable Me 2, Jurassic World 2, Trolls and How to Train your Dragon. 

Liesa Dornan,
GFS Ambassador 

Lucy Hamilton,
GFS Ambassador

Lucy works as a Recruitment Leader at GE Vernova, a company on a mission to electrify in order to thrive and decarbonise.

She is a passionate advocate for inclusion, diversity and equity in all she does.

When not at work Lucy treasures spending time with her family and raising her four children by the sea in Brighton!

Nicola Shield,
GFS Ambassador

Nicola is the Head of Marketing Strategy, Planning and Communications for Bupa Global, the premium international health insurance arm of Bupa. 

She’s responsible for the strategic direction of Bupa Global’s marketing including brand, content, messaging, across all customer segments. 

With over 20 years marketing experience Nicola has real expertise in creating customer-first strategies and campaigns that are bold, impactful, and data-driven. 

Rachel Shaw is a leadership coach with 20 years’ experience in HR leadership and leadership development.  

Alongside her coaching practice, she is passionate about giving every girl the chance to discover a career they love and to thrive in workplaces where they feel safe and valued. 

She believes that journey starts early—with self-worth and confidence built in childhood, and with the support of people who believe in you and lift you up. 

Rachel Shaw,
GFS Ambassador 

Sam Ryan,
GFS Ambassador

I’m Sam, a Finance Professional and fitness enthusiast.

I have a passion for developing others and supporting them to achieve their professional and personal goals.

The work GFS do is so important for young girls growing up in society and something that I am proud to support and to help make a positive difference in their lives.

Susana is a former CFO, who walked away from a 25 year corporate career to pursue a life of authenticity and freedom.

Today, she no longer defines herself by a single role – she mentors professionals, writes books, speaks publicly, and farms mangoes.

Through her work, she invites others to question themselves, redefine success, and pursue their future by challenging the status quo.

Sarah Higgins,
GFS Ambassador 

Susana is a former CFO, who walked away from a 25 year corporate career to pursue a life of authenticity and freedom.

Today, she no longer defines herself by a single role – she mentors professionals, writes books, speaks publicly, and farms mangoes.

Through her work, she invites others to question themselves, redefine success, and pursue their future by challenging the status quo.

Susana Serrano-Davey,
GFS Ambassador 

Victoria Allison,
GFS Ambassador

Victoria Allison is a Senior Operations Officer at London Metropolitan University.  

She has a passion for turning chaos into clarity. 

With a talent for simplifying complex processes, Victoria brings calm, structure, and precision to everything she touches. What sets her apart isn’t just her analytical eye — it’s her resilience and patience to see every process through from start to finish, making the difficult look effortless. 

Beyond the office, Victoria has been a GFS Ambassador for over two years, championing the organisation’s mission to empower young girls to believe in themselves and truly flourish. It’s a cause that reflects the same values she brings to her work — patience, purpose, and a genuine investment in seeing others 

I am dedicated to helping people realise their potential and creating opportunities for those who may not have had an equal start in life. I currently work as an independent inclusion consultant, partnering with organisations to create more inclusive workplaces where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

My work spans strategy, leadership, talent development, coaching and culture change, helping businesses turn good intentions into meaningful action.  

Over the past 30 years, I have worked across a wide range of sectors, including automotive, legal, financial services, utilities and energy. I enjoy bringing together people from different backgrounds and helping organisations think differently about inclusion, gender equity and social mobility and creating opportunities for the next generation.  

As an Ambassador for the Girls’ Friendly Society, I am proud to champion the charity’s work, helping to raise awareness of the life-changing support GFS provides to young girls. I believe that early intervention can transform lives and that every girl deserves the encouragement, positive role models and opportunities to discover what she’s capable of. 

Outside work, I enjoy horse riding, hiking and spending time in the countryside. I am a firm believer in the power of community and volunteering, having spent the last couple of years renovating my village pub and standing as Secretary of the Community Benefit Society that owns it. I have learnt how powerful it can be when people come together to support a common purpose. 

Wendy Ramshaw
GFS Ambassador