Meet the team

Alex is YBI's Communications Manager, working closely with partners and members to convey the impact of YBI’s work through story-gathering, campaigns and wider media. Alex has several years experience in leading press and communications and developing audiences across the charity sector and creative industries, with a focus on the digital.

Anna C is YBI's Social and Green Entrepreneurship Lead, leading the network's efforts to support young entrepreneurs to develop and scale effective social and green solutions. Anna has over a decade's experience in launching, strengthening and scaling up purpose-driven businesses globally, with a particular focus on the UK and East Africa.

Anna joined YBI's Evidence and Learning Team to strengthen the existing systems monitoring the work delivered by YBI members. Part of her role is to support programme evaluations which generate evidence on what works in youth entrepreneurship. This, combined with the monitoring data is used by YBI members across the network in decision making and improving their programmes. Prior to joining YBI, Anna has spent close to a decade working in international development supporting health, education and livelihoods programmes across sub-Saharan Africa.

Beatrice ensures the smooth running of day-to-day finance activities at YBI, ensuring robust finance policies are in place and collaborating with budget holders and senior management to ensure finance requirements are met. Prior to YBI, Beatrice worked in the private sector for a number of years and has undertaken voluntary charity work.

Bettina is Interim Head of Communications and works to highlight the impact of our partnerships, the network and its members, and promote YBI as a thought leader.

Carol is responsible for managing and developing YBI`s global training offering and facilitating knowledge sharing on training matters between YBI`s members around the world. Prior to joining YBI, Carol worked for Aliança Empreendedora, YBI`s member organisation in Brazil, for 10 years - supporting low income entrepreneurs in the field and developing and systemising entrepreneurship training methodologies. Carol holds an MBA in Business Management, an MBA in Group Dynamics, and speaks Portuguese, English, Spanish and German.

Carolina is the Development Manager at YBI and supports the delivery of partnerships with Corporates, Trusts and Foundations. She has a background in Political Science and Human Rights. She has work experience in the public and non-profit sector, writing proposals and developing projects with marginalised groups such as women, victims of conflict, migrants and refugees in Latin America, with a particular emphasis on social inclusion, access to education and relief of poverty.

Daniela is a MEL Manager in YBI's Evidence and Learning Team focused on learning systems for programme partnership and network initiatives. Her role includes codifying what works for young entrepreneurs through research and analysis, developing and implementing learning agendas, and ensuring learning from YBI’s programming informs best practices across the network. Before joining YBI Daniela spent a decade working in international development and humanitarian programming in over 10 countries. She speaks Spanish and Swahili holds two MSc degrees from the London School of Economics.

Dejan is Head of Innovation, leading the innovation agenda to deliver a step-change in the number of young people accessing our products and services and, in our ability, to equip them to thrive in a digital, globalized world. Dejan has considerable experience in developing and implementing strategic, innovation and business development ambitions as well as innovation project design and delivery using Human Centered Design and Lean Startup. Before joining YBI in 2020, Dejan began his career at Deloitte before moving on to lead corporate strategy and innovation at Bupa for eight years. Having spent over ten years in the private sector, he went on to work for one of UK’s largest charities focused on building a more integrated society. Dejan holds a Biotechnology degree from UCL and an Executive MBA from Quantic School of Business and Technology.

Federica is the Membership Manager at YBI, where her role is to support YBI members in all their needs, managing accreditations of new and existing members of the network. She previously worked for five years for Microlab, YBI’s Italian member. She has an extensive experience as project manager and communications manager, specialising in the non-profit sector and media across Europe and the US. Her professional experience stems from her International Politics and Data Journalism studies and from years of working in the field, concentrating on human rights, community building and anti-discrimination with different organisations, international networking and creative problem solving. She speaks Italian, English, Spanish and Serbian. Her goal every day is to bring positive change in the world, making it more equal, just and diverse.

Gideon is Head of Finance and Operations at YBI.

Hannah is Head of Development and Programmes at YBI and works in the Network Team to ensure the delivery of high quality and impactful global partnerships and programmes with institutions, corporates and foundations. She has extensive programme management experience in the international development sector, having delivered education, livelihoods and health programmes across the Middle East and Africa. Hannah is passionate about international development and empowering both the underserved populations to support themselves and the organisations that help them.

Josh is a Programme Manager for multiple YBI programmes and oversees and runs two YBI Communities of Practice including organising and running the face-to-face workshops. Alongside programme management, Josh works on the development process from writing concept notes to proposals. Josh holds a Master's degree from Birkbeck College, University of London in International Development and is passionate about supporting underserved people to reach their full potential.

Laura is YBI’s People Manager, a role that sits within the Finance and Operations team. She has worked in the charity sector for several years and enjoys the opportunities afforded by working in HR to support YBI’s biggest asset – its people. Laura holds a Masters in Human Resource Management.

Linsey is a Programme Manager at YBI.

Margarita is Communications Assistant at YBI.

Miranda is Head of Communications and works to promote the impact of our partnerships, the network and its members through a variety of online campaigns, story gathering and membership communications. She and the team showcase the inspiring stories of the young entrepreneurs supported by the network and work to shift stereotypes and promote YBI as a thought leader. Miranda has been working in the humanitarian and not-for-profit sector for the last 10 years and holds an MSc in International Security and Global Governance.

Neelam is Head of Development and Programmes at YBI.

Rosie is Membership Services & Engagement Coordinator at YBI.

Simon is Interim Head of Evidence & Learning at YBI.

Sophia is Head of Evidence and Learning and supports our members to develop monitoring systems and conduct evaluations for their entrepreneurship programmes as well as building the evidence base of what works in youth entrepreneurship. Previously, Sophia has led fuzzy set analyses of WFP food assistance and international earthquake response and coordinated the first national perception survey of young people in Sierra Leone for UNDP. She speaks four languages and has an MSc in European Public Policy.

Soraya is an Executive Assistant at YBI.

Vicki is Head of Membership at YBI and is responsible for delivering the membership strategy to grow and foster connections across the network. Vicki’s career to date has been spent working with organisations that support young people to reach their potential both internationally and within the UK, having held senior posts at Mosaic Network, Prince’s Trust International and The University of Kent prior to joining YBI. Vicki is passionate about empowering young people, building communities, and equity of opportunity. Vicki holds an MA in International Relations from the University of St Andrews.

As part of the Communications Team, Wanda plans and delivers online communications campaigns relating to key partnerships, events, and themes. She creates content for YBI's website, social media, and member communications. Wanda has previously worked in PR and marketing and holds an MSc in International Relations from Cardiff University.

Zain is a Development and Programme Manager developing and managing future programmes and partnerships. Zain holds a BA in Religion, Philosophy & Ethics from King’s College, London and a Graduate Diploma in Law. Alongside his job, Zain has practiced as an art director and held civil society roles across the globe – including British Council India, the Cabinet Office in Japan, where he was awarded a scholarship on their Community Core Leaders Programme. Most recently, Zain lead a programme supporting underserved communities to innovate and deliver initiatives for their local areas through local authority grant funding. Zain sees art, creativity and youth led initiatives as powerful tools for social change and entrepreneurship.