Grants Unlocked 2026 - Speakers

George joined DSC at the beginning of 2017 and, having previously led the sales and customer service teams, moved into training at the start of 2020.

He trains in Management & Leadership, Fundraising, Personal Development, Project Management and Wellbeing. He has extensive experience in helping organisations make positive changes to how they approach social change.

He is also qualified as a Mental Health First Aider, with additional time spent studying Psychosis.

The favourite part of his role is knowing that the work DSC performs has a major impact on both the charities and individuals that we are able to serve.

Rhiannon is Head of Research at Directory of Social Change (DSC), where she leads the team responsible for Funds Online and DSC's commissioned research services. With almost a decade of research experience, she has worked with a diverse range of charities, helping them identify funding opportunities, measure and demonstrate their impact, and make informed, evidence-based decisions.

Sarah Watson is Head of Innovation at The National Lottery Community Fund, working in a small Innovation Unit that supports the Fund to deliver its strategy. The Unit approaches all its work through the Curb Cut effect, working with historically underserved communities and those most in need. Focusing on the strategy’s missions and commitments through an equity lens, the Unit is delivering on a range of projects with internal and external partners, including the development of AI. Working collaboratively, the Unit has supported the development of internal AI Principles and Policies, is experimenting with small proof of concepts to support grant making, and works across the sector to share learning and collaborate, including through an annual AI Funders Festival.

Elizabeth is Philanthropy Manager at Tommy’s, the pregnancy and baby charity. With fundraising experience across a range of charities and sectors, she has built strong partnerships with donors and secured philanthropic support that helps organisations deliver meaningful change. She is passionate about connecting supporters with causes they care about and helping charities achieve lasting impact.

Jacob launched JMJW to engage directly in new projects and work more closely with innovative SMEs to exploit project results. As well as writing grant funding applications and public sector bids, JMJW delivers Concept Development Workshops and Bid Writing Training. JMJW’s first new project has been working closely with Maybe*, leveraging the power of AI to develop grant and bid writing tools to help democratise funding and contracts for SMEs.

Victoria is a Business Development Manager at Evouchers, helping charities, local authorities and housing associations get financial support to those who need it most. She takes time to understand the real challenges support providers face, then works alongside them to streamline the whole journey - from receiving and assessing applications through FundingConnect, Evouchers' specialist grant management platform, to distributing support quickly and securely through digital vouchers. For Victoria, it's about building genuine partnerships and making a real difference to the communities her partners serve.

Will is a Business Development Manager at Evouchers, which creates secure, flexible fund management and distribution platforms that help organisations support their communities. He works with charities, local authorities and housing associations to simplify funding at every stage — using FundingConnect, Evouchers' specialist grant management platform, to help partners receive, assess and distribute funding, and Evouchers' digital vouchers to deliver support securely and with dignity. Will's focus is always on the people at the end of it: making sure support lands where it's needed, without the barriers.