We've worked with 36 leaders through the ILA since 2021, 22 of whom secured new and more senior roles during their time on the programme. Learn more about who we've worked with and why they chose to be a part of the Impetus Leadership Academy:
Alecia began her journey working with children and young people over a decade ago as a playworker in local Croydon schools, after her dream of becoming a professional netball player didn't work out. That pivotal moment led Alecia to discover her true calling: serving and empowering young people. Now Head of Service at Reaching Higher, Alecia leads the organisation’s community delivery with a strong focus on contextual safeguarding and contextual youth work. She has designed and delivered numerous projects that champion youth participation, amplify youth voice, and encourage social action often through the powerful vehicle of leadership.
Her commitment to creating life-changing experiences for young people is evident in every aspect of her work. As a previous member of the BBC Children in Need advisory board, Alecia is passionate about improving accessibility and representation. Most recently, she has been involved in building the capacity of funders and raising awareness of the realities faced by smaller grassroots organisations, particularly around safeguarding.
“I’m not a one-dimensional person, I wear different hats, have many goals, dreams, and hobbies. I’m a cool aunt, a no-nonsense youth worker, and ultimately, a positive disruptor.”
Amira Ismail
Regional Programme Manager South & Midlands, EY Foundation
Amira leads delivery of employability programmes and work experience for young people, across the South and Midlands.
With a background in youth development and coaching at a social mobility charity, she is passionate about supporting young people to thrive. Amira enjoys seeing the confidence young people gain through their work and is committed to making education and employment systems more inclusive and fair.
“I enjoy creating spaces where young people can build the confidence and resilience that will carry them through life’s challenges. And honestly, there’s nothing better than watching them walk into places like EY and feel — without question — that they belong there.”
Aron leads Causeway’s national programme delivery, supporting young people to transition into higher education, apprenticeships, and work.
Originally a football coach, he discovered a talent for mentoring and programme development and his experience further highlighted the disparity in resources and opportunities for young people, leading him to pursue roles that allowed him to support them on a bigger scale. He works to address inequalities in access to high-quality careers and education and one day hopes to lead a mentoring charity as CEO.
“I was already involved in youth sport but my desire to continue working in the youth sector developed through my experiences working with young people in first jobs, helping them to develop professionally and becoming increasingly aware of the importance of role modelling and informed decision making.”
Joe leads cross-cutting national programmes at upReach, focusing on improving educational and employment outcomes for young people. With eight years of experience in the charity and education sector, Joe enjoys building partnerships that create long-term impact.
He is committed to using data and collaboration to promote equal opportunity and inclusion for less privileged students, support them in developing their skills and confidence, and improve social mobility at scale.
“Although I have a varied career in the charity sector, the golden thread of my career has been to promote equal opportunity and inclusion for less privileged students, families and young people. This has involved working directly with them to develop skills, confidence and needs, as well as developing strategies and building partnerships to provide opportunities for their development.”
Koyes began as a service user at Streets of Growth, a youth intervention charity, before becoming a youth worker and now senior manager.
With lived experience of marginalisation and communities where "harm and hopelessness was common", he has built a career providing early intervention for young people to navigate complex systems and reduce harm in their lives. Koyes is passionate about leadership development and empowering others through coaching and trust.
“I received the 'Lifetime Achievement Award' from the Tower Hamlets Celebrating the Voluntary & Community Sector Awards 2025 [in recognition of] my outstanding dedication, leadership, and long-standing contributions to transforming the lives of vulnerable young people and communities in East London. This was an award that helps explain a lot about me and my passion.”
Lisa manages a pilot accommodation service across multiple boroughs of London within a consortium of three other charities for young men at risk of youth violence.
With a decade of frontline experience, she brings a trauma-informed approach to her leadership. Lisa is driven by her values and faith and is working towards a senior leadership role where she can confidently continue to improve systems for vulnerable young people.
“I was based in a rural part of New York state for my first experience of working with young people from the projects (inner city NY) and dealing with safeguarding. I was thrown in the deep end in which I had to teach myself and learn from my lessons as to how I would develop relationships and set boundaries with the teenagers. I believe it built up my resilience and it was here that I learnt how to become adaptable to change and different environments.”
Oyin leads personal development programmes for young people at 2-3 Degrees. She combines lived experience with professional expertise to help young people build confidence and resilience in their personal and career development.
Oyin is passionate about amplifying the voices of young people from minoritised backgrounds and thinks deeply about how her team and the wider sector can stay creative and innovative when writing new programmes that genuinely support their needs.
“[I want] for Black girls to be seen, heard and valued, not sexualised or demonised. For Black girls to be treated as girls, and not have to mature before their time because the world forces them to. They are seen as creative, bold, empathetic and kind individuals. This is something I want to see in all institutions.”
Patricia previously oversaw national programme delivery at Future Frontiers and is currently working with Brightside, supporting project management and school partnerships. A former teacher, she brings classroom experience and a deep commitment to social justice into her work.
She has worked at organisations such as IntoUniversity, which focus on widening participation for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to get into higher education, and will be joining the Social Mobility and Widening Participation Team in July 2025. Patricia is focused on helping young people develop their ambitions and is driven by a desire to remove barriers to career and education success.
“I feel my whole life has been gearing me to work in the youth sector. I was a beneficiary of a lot of interventions due to my background and have a strong belief that education can unlock so many opportunities for young people having seen it change my whole family’s life.”
Reena manages Brentford’s youth and employability programmes, using sport and mentoring to reach young people facing disadvantage.
She brings deep knowledge of local systems and a long-standing commitment to the West London community. Reena is passionate about ensuring young people's best interests are at the heart of everything she does, including doing things with young people rather than to them.
“My ultimate career goal is to be in a position where I am able to make a difference and to be in an environment that shares my values and passions around learning, development, supporting underrepresented groups, community having a good work-life balance. And influencing the next generation of work force and leaders.”
Sanjay is an experienced coordinator with a strong track record in education and skills delivery for marginalised communities.
He leads a range of employability programmes at Pathway Group, supporting people from diverse backgrounds to access training, coaching and jobs. His work is rooted in personal experience and a belief in the power of opportunity and the right support to enhance learners' confidence and life chances.
“I most enjoy seeing the impact of our training on learners’ confidence and life chances. Supporting young people in gaining practical skills and securing employment is incredibly rewarding, especially when you witness their personal growth and increased self-confidence.”
Silvino has more than 12 years of experience in sports coaching and development, teaching sports qualifications, and programme delivery. At Fight for Peace, he uses sport to engage young people affected by crime and violence, and open up new pathways to personal and professional growth.
With lived experience of "growing up in a disadvantaged community", Silvino is passionate about equity and believes in the power of community-based solutions to social issues. In the long-run, he wants to contribute to shaping national policy that improves outcomes for young people from disadvantaged communities.
“Growing up in a disadvantaged community, I witnessed many young people take the wrong path. Sport, especially boxing, gave me structure and purpose. That experience inspired me to help others find similar opportunities to grow, feel valued, and succeed. My work is focused on creating safe, inclusive spaces where young people can thrive through sport, develop life skills, and build positive futures.”
Sumayah began her career volunteering for a local youth organisation in her hometown of Slough and now leads the pastoral programme at the Roundhouse. She designs projects to help young people with the often-overlooked, every day skills and needs, such as financial literacy, how to tackle loneliness and the ‘manosphere’.
Sumayah is committed to building safer spaces where young people can develop personally and professionally. Part of this work includes identifying which trends are impacting young people, and finding solutions through running consultations with young people to hear from them directly.
“I think my first experience working in the youth sector with Together as One is what really locked me into the work and sector! The work was important, fun and all created with young people - they were always in every part of the projects delivered. ”
Impetus Leadership Academy: 2023/24 cohort
Aisha Lysejko
Amma Anderson
Becky Hartle
Dami Folayan
Dean Walker‑McKenzie
Jason Charles
Dr Marcellus Baz
Mwila Mulenshi
Nahim Ahmed MBE
Shamaine Armstrong
Tony Tran
Tranai Todd
Impetus Leadership Academy: 2022/23 cohort
Busola Afolabi
Daniel Cox
David Williams
Jenneh Edem-Hotah
Jean‑Pierre Moore
Mona Vadher
Nikita Vyas
Saad Mohammed
Sabah Choudrey
Sarah Mehrali
Dr Shivonne M. Gates
Wesley Lau
Impetus Leadership Academy: 2021/22 cohort
Aaron McDonald
Anita Chouhan
Annum Mahmood
Charlene Theophile
Chi Kavindele
Kim Rihal
Samantha Marcus
Sasha Gay Smith
Sat Singh
Tejesh Mistry
Troy Norbert
Zipporah Kissi
Find out more
22/07/2024
From non-racism to anti-racism: leading an anti-racist organisation
An Impetus Leadership Academy event on why it is not good enough to be merely ‘non-racist’ and how leaders can effectively embed anti-racism in their work.
