The Kids Network is passionate about connection and driven by fun, commitment and diversity. Meet the team that makes the magic happen.
Ops & Fundraising Team
To learn about how you can connect with TKN to donate to the work we do, you can reach out to the below team members
Jonjo Warrick – Trusts Fundraising Manager
Adam Jack – Development Officer
Natalie Worms – Managing Director
Lyza Koshy – Operations Officer
Programmes Team
If you are a school or interested in becoming a volunteer mentor, please connect to one of the below team members for your borough in London
Delivery
Ruth Simmonds– Head of Programmes
Priya Nagda-Swainson – School Partnerships Manager
Joni Warner – Team Leader
Hend Abushowayb– Team Leader
Hawri Ahmed – Programme Manager
Nikki Dolby – Programme Manager
David O’Rourke– Programme Manager
Niamh Lynch – Programme Officer
TRUSTEES & CEO
Louise Johns-Shepherd
CEO
Before coming to The Kids Network, Louise was the Chief Executive of the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education, the headteacher of two London schools and also worked in national education policy. Louise serves on the board of Brixton House Theatre, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Oscars Book Prize and is a founding governor of Kings Cross Academy. Louise has a career long commitment to making sure that children have the very best experiences in their youngest years so that they can be happy and confident about themselves and their futures.
Neil Hunt
Chair
Neil’s first full time role was as teacher to children of traveller families in the West Midlands. Despite a teaching qualification he spent many years in social care working with children in need of care and protection. He joined the NSPCC, becoming Director of Child Protection. After a stint at the Home Office he became CEO at Alzheimer’s Society and then the Royal College of GPs. He has chaired many project teams and committees. Following his executive experience he is now determined to support the marvellous team at the The Kids’ Network to increase its scope and impact. “It’s incredible work’ he says.
Simon Lucey
Simon is the founder of Hype Collective, a student marketing agency that creates opportunities for young people. Over the last 3 years Hype Collective have directly employed over 600 students and funded 100+ grass roots groups. Hype Collective’s clients include Co-op, Adobe and Warner Brothers.
Naa Acquah
DEPUTY CHAIR
Naa got involved with The Kids Network as a mentor in 2018. She works in the education charity sector managing programmes for the Transformation Trust. She was elected as the first Black Woman General Secretary of the University of Manchester Students’ Union (UMSU). She was a director of both the University of Manchester Students’ Union and the University; chairing the Board of Trustees. Naa loves spending time with her mentee every Saturday and seeing London through a child’s eyes.
Jess Henderson
Jess strongly believes in the power of mentoring to shape lives for the better was motivated to further support TKN’s mission after volunteering as a mentor in 2022. Jess graduated with a first in Social Sciences from the University of Cambridge and has since worked in the Civil Service in a variety of policy and operational roles across four government departments, currently as a Chief of Staff in public health. Jess has a passion for promoting youth advocacy and social mobility through activity in both her work and personal life. Jess enjoys balancing life between living in and exploring London and returning to her hometown in Lancashire.
Paul Rees
Paul Rees MBE is CEO of the National Pharmacy Association, where he has led the modernisation of a century-old organisation – securing a substantial growth in national media coverage and membership.
Before that, Paul was CEO of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, where he helped transform culture and performance, through a values-based approach – and won the Louis Armstrong CEO Leadership Award and was awarded an MBE.
Paul has also worked as Director of Policy and Engagement at the Royal College of GPs, Director of Communications at the Charities Aid Foundation, Head of Campaigns and Communications at the National Housing Federation.
Paul has joined the Board of the Kids Network because he believes in social justice and the power of mentoring.
Taanya Khare
Taanya started her impact career as a teacher in 2016 and has since then been driven by creating just and equitable opportunities for all. She currently works within the impact team at Acumen, an impact investment fund and has 8+ years of experience working with social enterprises with a specialization in impact measurement, advisory and thought leadership. She is an MBA graduate from the University of Oxford.
Ravi Sharma
Ravi established My Tribe Homes to bring about life-changing outcomes for vulnerable children. He passionately believes that with unwavering love and guidance, every child has the potential to radically improve the trajectory of their lives. Ravi is a purpose-driven, hands-on entrepreneur, with two decades of experience building companies across real estate development, technology, and international trade. He earned a 1st class degree in Law and further honed his leadership and innovation skills through the Ignite entrepreneurship program at Stanford University. As South East Regional Lead for the Independent Children’s Home Association, Ravi promotes excellence, innovation and leadership across the sector.
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Luke Hollander
Luke is a charity accountant who currently works for the City of London Corporation. He provides due diligence, training, and technical guidance relating to the Corporation’s significant grant-making portfolio, including the City Bridge Trust. He previously built experience working with charities and government departments as an auditor at the National Audit Office.
Lucy Halton
Lucy is a former TKN mentor, and international child rights advocate. She has worked for organisations in Geneva and London advocating for the rights of children in the most vulnerable situations, all the way from local council level up to the UN. Lucy is currently Advocacy & Campaigns Manager at Lumos Foundation, where she advocates for all children to live in safe and loving families. Lucy is passionate about The Kids Network after mentoring in Hackney in 2020-2021, and cares especially about the child-led approach. In her spare time, Lucy loves spending time with her dog, Nessa, and reading.
