Shifting Power: exploring the value of pooled funds in the UK funding landscape webinar

Husna leads on JRF’s public engagement strategy, developing our programme on narrative change and movement building. She began her career in a local education authority, reviewing pupil and school performance and has since held senior policy positions in organisations such as the Department for Communities and Local Government, the Care Quality Commission and Leonard Cheshire.

Husna holds a Master’s in Public Policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science and has undertaken leadership training at Ashbridge Business School. She is a Trustee of Toynbee Hall, whose pioneering activity in East London focuses on breaking down the barriers that keep people in poverty. 

Lena is a freelance consultant and researcher with a focus on philanthropy and effective grant-making. Her work draws on over 15 years of experience advising a wide range of UK funders, their boards and staff. Lena worked at New Philanthropy Capital for 9 years, where she headed the Funder Team and was Deputy Director of Research and Consulting, before being appointed the first Head of Grants at the Fore. In 2021-22, Lena headed the UK Democracy Fund (a pooled fund hosted by the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust).

Alice works as a cultural strategy consultant, specialising in creative research, narratives and strategic communications. She has authored a series of reports on narratives and cultural change and has worked with Comic Relief to establish the Power of Pop Fund (a pooled fund, currently in its pilot phase), where she continues to work as an adviser to the fund. In 2023 Alice joined the staff team at Unbound Philanthropy where she works as a UK Program Officer and UK Head of Cultural Strategy.