meet our team
Get to know the talented team, Trustees and Youth Advisory Board working towards Mission 44’s vision of a fairer future for young people.
Jason Arthur
CEO
He/Him
Jason is CEO of Mission 44. After starting his career as a teacher in East London, he has held leadership roles in the non-profit sector, including at Teach First, the #iwill campaign and Youth Futures Foundation. Jason also served as a senior local councillor in London. He holds a BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Oxford and a Masters in Education from the University of Cambridge.
Yeonju Ahn
Head of Corporate Partnerships
She/Her
Yeonju is Head of Corporate Partnerships at Mission 44, where she leads partnerships with companies to advance the organisation’s mission of widening access to inclusive education and STEM careers. She has over a decade of experience working across the nonprofit, government, and philanthropy sectors, with a focus on building long-term collaborations that create lasting, shared value.
Beatrice Animashaun
Impact Manager
They/She
Beatrice is an Impact Manager, who manages relationships within Mission 44’s education pillar and will be playing a key role in developing our reimagining education strand. Beatrice’s background is in fundraising within the international development sector with a strong passion for girls education and gender based violence.
Xavier Banson
Senior Communications Manager (Brand and Digital)
He/Him
Xavier is Senior Communications Manager (Brand and Digital) at Mission 44, responsible for content production, brand and managing our digital platforms. Xavier previously worked in the non-profit sector at social mobility charity upReach, before joining Mission 44 in July 2022. He graduated from the University of Manchester with an MA in History.
Nazia Bibi
People and Culture Manager
She/Her
Nazia is People and Culture Manager at Mission 44, playing a central role in building an outstanding workplace culture for our talented and diverse team. She has previously held the position of People and Culture Advisor at AllChild and People Generalist for Victoria and Albert Museum. Nazia has experience leading on talent and HR roles for organisations with multi-country operations.
Hannah Brown
Chief of Staff
She/Her
Hannah is Chief of Staff at Mission 44, supporting the CEO, Board and Senior Leadership Team across Governance and Strategy. She joined Mission 44 in January 2022 as Operations Manager, having previously held roles at The Jo Cox Foundation and Ark Ventures. Hannah is also a Local Governor at a primary school in north London.
Stephen Brown
Chief Engagement Officer
He/Him
Stephen Brown is the Chief Engagement Officer at Mission 44 overseeing fundraising, communications, and events. Stephen has spent his career in the not-for-profit and political spaces in the UK and the US, and has held executive roles in leading education and international development organisations. Stephen most recently led Global Campaigning at WaterAid and served as an Advisor to President and Secretary Clinton at the Clinton Foundation.
Cara Cinnamon
Chief Impact Officer
She/Her
Cara is Chief Impact Officer at Mission 44, leading on our grantmaking, research, evaluation and advocacy work. Cara started her career in the private sector at Procter and Gamble, and has held various senior leadership positions over the last 15 years, most recently serving as the CEO of a youth justice charity and before that, as Head of Business Development for Teach First.
Jacqueline Darkwa
Impact Manager
She/Her
Jacqueline is an Impact Manager, leading relationships with funded partners within Mission 44’s STEM Employment pillar. Her expertise cuts across science communication & early-career experiences. A passionate documentary photographer & filmmaker, she is also a founding member of the Black Scholarship Collective.
Chiara De Luca
Head of Impact (STEM Pathways)
She/Her
Chiara is Head of Impact (STEM Pathways), leading on Mission 44’s international expansion. She has over a decade of experience documenting and analysing human rights challenges and opportunities across multiple geographies. Prior to joining Mission 44, Chiara co-led the Women’s Rights programme at the Sigrid Rausing Trust. Chiara holds an MSc in Sustainable Development from the University of St Andrews and a BA (Hons) in Communications and Psychology from John Cabot University (USA/Italy).
Leicia Feare
Associate Director of Advocacy and Campaigns
She/Her
Leicia is Associate Director of Advocacy and Campaigns at Mission 44. She is an award-winning communications professional and a specialist in reaching underserved communities. Prior to joining Mission 44, Leicia held national roles at NHS England leading on activity to drive health equity. Leicia is passionate about reducing inequalities and the power of storytelling to drive lasting social change.
Kayley Goff
Head of Engagement and Events
She/Her
Kayley is Head of Engagement and Events, leading Mission 44’s global events strategy, as well as donor stewardship and engagement programs. She has a multi-disciplinary background across events, strategic projects, climate policy and impact campaigns and has spent years working within the not-for-profit, elite sports, education, and private sectors.
Laurie Hunte
Senior Impact Manager
He/Him
Laurie is Senior Impact Manager at Mission 44, responsible for leading our work to build a more Inclusive Education system. Prior to working at Mission 44, Laurie led The Barrow Cadbury Trust’s Transition to Adulthood programme which focused on 18 to 25 year olds in the justice system. Laurie was also a civil servant for 13 years, working for the Ministry of Justice, Home Office and Department of Education. He is currently a Trustee for the charity One Small Thing.
Holly Ibrahim
Executive Assistant to the CEO
She/Her
Holly is the Executive Assistant to the CEO at Mission 44, supporting the organisation’s leadership and strategic priorities. Before Mission 44, she worked at the UN Secretariat in New York, focusing on integrating sustainability into peacekeeping infrastructure and supporting major events, including the 2026 General Assembly. Holly holds an MA (Hons) in International Relations and Sustainable Development from the University of St Andrews.
Tamanna Islam
Corporate Partnerships Manager
Tamanna is the Corporate Partnerships Manager at Mission 44, where she plays a key role in the delivery and stewardship of the organisation’s corporate partnerships. Prior to joining Mission 44, Tamanna spent over seven years working in the youth sector. She began her career at 2-3 Degrees, a social enterprise, where she managed a diverse portfolio of corporate partners across the built environment, legal, and finance sectors, helping to champion access and opportunities for young people. Tamanna brings experience across project management, relationship management, marketing, event planning, and income generation.
Daniel Johnson
Finance Manager
He/Him
Daniel is Finance Manager at Mission 44, focused on enhancing the finance function of the organisation. He has previously led the finance function in the non-profit sector for an Adult Vocational College. Daniel also has recent experience controlling financial operations for multiple entities across the UK and Europe. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Accounting and Finance from the University of Essex, and aims to complete his Chartered Institute of Management Accountants professional qualification.
Freya Johnson
Youth Participation Officer
She/Her
Freya is the Youth Participation Officer at Mission 44, focused on supporting the organisation’s youth empowerment strategy and embedding youth voice across the organisation. Prior to working at Mission 44, she worked for Islington Giving leading their Young Grant Makers programme, and launched and led employment programmes at Action for Race Equality. Freya holds a BA (Hons) in English and Drama from Queen Mary University of London and is passionate about human rights, diversity, equity and inclusion, and championing youth voice.
Sharon Jones
Head of Impact (Education)
She/Her
Sharon is Head of Impact (Education) at Mission 44, responsible for overseeing our grant-making approach. She has a long history in grant-making, having worked for The National Lottery Community Fund, Children in Need and Youth Futures Foundation amongst others. She is Vice Chair of the Co-op Foundation and as a proud northerner also sits on the Board of the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity.
Rob Luke
Chief Operating Officer
He/Him
Rob is COO at Mission 44. Having started his career as a grantmaker, Rob then spent over 15 years as a British diplomat, serving overseas in Brazil, France and as High Commissioner in Malta. Most recently he was COO at purpose-driven communications consultancy Social. Rob is passionate about enabling organisations to maximise their positive social and environmental impact.
Aisha Miah
Operations Manager
She/Her
Aisha is Operations Manager at Mission 44, responsible for supporting the Finance and Operations team with office management, HR and governance. Aisha previously worked in Operations for a non-profit organisation known for tackling environmental change. She holds a BA (Hons) in Politics from Goldsmiths University.
Keith Odidika
Fundraising Operations and Data Manager
Keith is the Fundraising Operations and Data Manager at Mission 44, supporting system improvements and operational efficiency. Prior to this, he worked in the non-profit sector building partnerships aimed at promoting equality, diversity and inclusion. He holds a BSc in Economics from Northeastern University and an MSc in Local Economic Development from the LSE.
Josh Oduro
Impact Officer
He/Him
Josh is Impact Officer at Mission 44, supporting the grantmaking team. Joshua has a postgraduate degree in International Human Rights Law from the University of York. He has worked primarily in the non-profit sector focusing on addressing environmental and social challenges, through grantmaking and utilising Human Rights Law. He is alo a volunteer with Restorative Justice for All.
Keziban Osmanogullari
Events and Stewardship Manager
She/Her
Kez is Events and Stewardship Manager at Mission 44, bringing people together through global events, inspiring potential supporters and celebrating existing ones. She spent almost six years at The King’s Trust, primarily in Philanthropy, leading the stewardship of donors and helping to grow Women Supporting Women – a collective-giving initiative that empowers young women. Passionate about education and opportunity, she began her career at The Switch, coordinating school-business partnerships in Tower Hamlets. She holds a degree in English and Philosophy from Durham University.
Amy Pearson
Head of Marketing and Communications
She/Her
Amy is Head of Marketing and Communications at Mission 44, leading the organisation’s communications and engagement programme. Amy has over a decade of experience in the non-for-profit sector, with a particular focus on young people, collaborating with global brands on multimedia change-making campaigns. Amy graduated from the University of Bath with a BSc in Sociology.
Olivier Pierre-Noël
Head of Finance and Operations
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Olivier is Head of Finance and Operations. He has worked in the private and public sector, in France and the UK, and has been a theatre producer for many years. Olivier is a Chartered Accountant and recently held finance roles at Somerset House Trust, Soho Theatre and Artsadmin. He holds a Master’s degree in Executive Engineering and is currently doing an MBA at Warwick Business School. He is also the Vice-Chair of Talawa Theatre Company and a Trustee of Paines Plough.
Deshni Pyndiah
Head of Youth Impact
She/Her
Deshni is Head of Youth Impact, leading the organisation’s youth empowerment strategy while supporting Mission 44’s Youth Advisory Board. Deshni has over 15 years of experience working in the third sector for various charities and social impact organisations. Outside of work, she serves on the board of directors for the social enterprise Saffron Music, a music tech education platform that supports women and non-binary individuals by addressing the gender imbalance in the music tech industry.
Jenny Smith
Senior Impact Operations Manager
She/Her
Jenny is Senior Impact Operations Manager at Mission 44, responsible for overseeing and enhancing our grantmaking processes and impact measurement. Jenny has a background in grants and social investment, working for Social Investment Business and UnLtd in various research, learning and data roles. She started her career in academia, completing her PhD on refused asylum seekers in 2018.
Maariyah Teladia
Digital Communications Officer
She/Her
Maariyah is the Digital Communications Officer at Mission 44, playing a key role in maintaining Mission 44’s digital presence across our website, social media, and email marketing. She creates impactful content that connects diverse audiences to our mission. Maariyah previously worked in the travel industry as a copywriter and content executive in a B2B role. She is deeply committed to volunteering and fundraising, and works closely with the non-profit organisation Humanity Without Borders.
Sophie Wall
Head of Strategy and Learning
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Sophie is Head of Strategy and Learning at Mission 44, leading on the development of our impact and evaluation framework and cultivating a culture of continual learning, curiosity and improvement both within our organisation and more broadly. Sophie held previous roles at Turn2us and Unlocked Graduates where she designed and delivered various evaluation projects. She graduated from the University of Sheffield with an MA in Political Economy.
Kim Willingham
Senior Impact Manager (Motorsport Engagement)
She/Her
Kim is Senior Impact Manager (Motorsport Engagement) at Mission 44, where she plays a key role in developing and maintaining strategic relationships with motorsport employers to support young people from underrepresented backgrounds in accessing early career opportunities. Prior to this, Kim spent four years within a Formula 1 team, most recently as Inclusion and Outreach Lead. Kim previously worked in Human Resources and holds a CIPD qualification in Human Resource Management.
