On this page, you can find an overview of the excellent our staff, Board of Trustees and committee members who work to make GFS the best it can be.

Staff team

Our staff team all play different roles in enabling GFS volunteers to provide safe, single gender, informal groups where girls and young women can develop and grow. Each staff member brings experience, unique skills and a passion for tackling gender inequality.

Laura Sercombe – CEO (she/her)

I am so very proud to be CEO at GFS where we work with girls and young women to address gender inequality.

My career has been more than 30 years in the third sector for national and local charities devoted to championing fairness and equity. Outside of work I am proud to support the governance of NCB.

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.

David Hannam – Head of Fundraising and Communications (he/him)

I am responsible for generating publicity and raising funds to support the charity’s work with my wonderful team.

I have worked in the voluntary sector for more than 20 years for a diverse range of local and national charities.

Laura Jones – Fundraising Development Manager (she/her)

My role is to ensure that supporting GFS is a personal and rewarding experience that lives out our values of being Girl-focused, Brave, Feminist, Ambitious, Inclusive, and Fun.

My background is in fundraising innovation, and I am responsible for the GFS fundraising strategy and developing new income streams.

Chloe Gambrill – Trust Fundraising Coordinator (she/her)

I work with Trusts and Foundations to generate fundraising income to support GFS.

I have a keen interest in fundraising and the third sector, and have a degree in Charity Development.

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.

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.

Eden Turner – Operations Assistant (she/her)

My role is helping to support all of our GFS groups. I joined GFS through the Kickstart Programme and am now a permanent member of the team.

I recently graduated from the University of Sussex, studying Sociology.

Nic Shoults – Head of Finance and Support Services (they/them)

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 Thomas-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.

Group Coordinators

Naomi Anderson (she/her) – GFS Blyth / GFS Cramlington

Jabeen Nabi (she/her) – GFS Smethwick

Erin Convery (she/her) – GFS Eldon / GFS Pittington

Caitlin Edmondson (she/her) – GFS Chester Le Street

Elicia Curtis (she/her) – GFS South Manchester

Maddy Grant-Pyett (she/her) – GFS Hackney (Seniors)

Rebecca Thomas (she/her) – GFS Mile End / GFS Hackney (Juniors)

Anna Mulholland (she/her) – GFS Aigburth / GFS Anfield

TBC (she/her) – GFS Neath

Janet Weaver (she/her) – GFS Dunvant

Shelley Williams (she/her) – GFS Townhill (Juniors & Seniors)

Beth McGeoghegan (she/her) – GFS Swinton

Gemma Matthews (she/her) – GFS Bishop Auckland

Sarah Manning (she/her) – GFS Market Drayton / GFS Shrewsbury

Evie Harman – GFS Leytonstone


Trustees

GFS has a robust and experienced team of trustees, who provide support and challenge at our quarterly Board meetings, as well as by leading our discipline specific Committees. Each trustee brings their own specialisms and lived experiences.

Rita Sebestyen – Chair (she/her)

Rita is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in Interdisciplinary and International Research and Project Design. She has spearheaded impactful projects, focusing on inclusion and diversity. Her work has been recognised globally, with publications in Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the USA.

She has played a crucial role in developing over 11 international projects focusing on diversity and inclusion. In addition to her project management expertise, she is a researcher, developer, and guest lecturer in Comparative and Cultural Studies.

Standing at the crossroads of various minority identities herself, Rita advocates passionately for inclusion and a sense of belonging among individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Parv Sangera – Vice Chair and Chair of People & Operations Committee (she/her)

Currently the Managing Director of The Bathroom Showroom, Parv brings to GFS a track record of shaping and delivering change, transformation and strategy across a number of industries and sectors, as well as a background in finance as a Chartered Management Accountant (CIMA).

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

Margaux started her career at Deloitte, in the Audit function and is now a Chartered Accountant working in Financial Planning & Analysis at a rapidly growing, multi-billion dollar sports technology company called DAZN. She specialises in budgeting and forecasting, as well as supporting the development of strategy through KPI analysis and focus on future cash management.

Headshot of Olivia Lewis
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.

Frances Payne – History Trustee (she/her)

Frances has been a part of GFS since she was one years old, having been a GFS girl herself.

Frances is a secondary school teacher, specialising in mathematics. She is on her school’s Teacher Diversity Committee and runs the student LGBTQ+ society.

Frances also sits on the Quality and Impact Committee

Tasila Banda – EDI Trustee (she/her)

Tasila works as a corporate lawyer at an international law firm, where she advises on mergers, acquisitions and corporate governance of global companies.

Tasila is the co-chair of her firm’s Women’s Network and has led various initiatives aimed at increasing the accessibility of City careers for young women from underrepresented backgrounds. Tasila is also heavily involved in her firm’s Black Affinity Network.

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

Bryony Thomas – Legal Trustee (she/her)

Bryony qualified as a solicitor in 2018 and works as Legal Counsel for The Prince’s Trust. As well as being our legal trustee, Byrony also sits on our Quality & Impact Committee.

Georgia Whitfield – Young Trustee (she/her)

Georgia is a lawyer at Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP and advises clients within the public, private and charitable sectors on matters relating to commercial property.

Georgia contributes to a number of initiatives and schemes including LGBTQ+ networks and mentoring for aspiring professionals.

Sacha Rose Smith – Safeguarding Trustee and Chair of Impact and Quality (she/her)

Sacha is the Chief Funding Director for City Bridge Foundation. Before that, Sacha spent over ten years at the National Lottery Community Fund and was responsible for end-to-end grant making for London and SE England.

Sacha previously served a five-year term as Chair of the London and SE Grant Making Committee for BBC Children in Need and served as a member of The BBC Charity Appeals Committee. Sacha is a trustee of The Access to Justice Foundation and a Clore Social Leadership Fellow.

Acushla Young – Young Trustee (she/her)

Acushla is an expert in menstrual health education, also specialising in sex and relationship education, research, advocacy, and youth engagement. She has empowered girls, young women and people with periods across the UK and East Africa, and currently works as a Research Associate at the University of Sheffield creating inclusive RSE resources with faith communities.

Chandni Radia – 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.


Committee members

We have four subcommittees working alongside our Board and leadership team, supporting and challenging the work we plan and deliver for girls and young women. These committees are powered by the most inspiring women from a range of sectors. Each and every one of them is dedicated to addressing gender inequality, because we all believe we can change the future for women by changing the present for girls.

Finance and Investment Committee

Margaux Young – Chair

Anna Blomqvist

Georgia Mylona

Chloe Timms

Julia Hedley

Quality and Impact Committee

Sacha Rose Smith – Chair

Bryony Thomas

Acushla Young

Laura Schafi

Anne Hewitt

Madison Kerr

Carina Spaulding

Voke Aghoghovbia

People and Operations Committee

Parv Sangera – Chair

Tasila Banda

Charlotte Dickinson

Shadei Rabeie

Cass Potter ​

Faye Cooper​

Kat Link

Fundraising and Growth Committee

Chandni Radia – Chair

Olivia Weston

Olivia Williams

Natasha Isles

Fleurie Forbes-Martin

Ellie Rich Pool​e

Iza Seabrook​

Our Brand Ambassadors

Chief Ambassador – Ellie Rich-Poole

Karen Ward

Amanda Capon

Kate Faxen

Sarah Higgins 

Wendy Ramshaw

Clare Davies


GFS Presidents and Vice President