Grants Unlocked - 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.

Ryan Miemczyk is a government-accredited research psychologist specialising in social impact strategy and measurement.

Through his consultancy, Trust Impact, he works with some of the world’s largest charities, social enterprises, and CSR partners, including Help for Heroes, MND Association, Cancer Research, PDSA, the RSPCA, the Felix Project, and Shell PLC, to design evidence-led frameworks that help organisations understand, improve, and communicate the difference they make.

He’s also the founder of The Impact Lab, Group-pulse, and OurImpact, platforms offering free and low cost, practical tools for smaller charities. These include AI-powered sentiment analysis tools, media monitoring dashboards, bid writing support, and real-time operational monitoring systems, all designed to help purpose-led organisations become more data informed.

Outside of his consultancy and tech work, Ryan serves as Chair of Trustees at Manchester Young Lives and is a trustee at YMCA Manchester, bringing his commitment to social impact into governance and community development.

You can follow his latest work and thinking on Bluesky.

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.

Visionary technology leader and entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience building and scaling innovative digital businesses. Recognised with an OBE for services to Philanthropy. Currently leading Maybe*, an enterprise-grade AI platform that transforms business operations through intelligent automation, brand-safe content generation, and data-driven insights. Trusted advisor to government and industry on digital transformation. Proven track record of raising capital, building high-performing teams, and delivering measurable business impact across multiple sectors.

Neela Jane Stansfield (MInstF) is a major gifts fundraising specialist, with 18 years’ experience working with trusts, foundations and high net worth individuals. She is the author of Grants Fundraising, published by the Directory of Social Change.

Neela Jane has been an Associate at Fundraising Training Ltd since 2020, having previously worked across the international development, health and education sectors, including five years with UNICEF UK. Whilst at UNICEF, she led the trusts and foundations team as interim Head of Foundation Partnerships and then as Private Funding Lead, responsible for an annual income budget of over £10million. Prior to UNICEF, she worked for Marie Curie Cancer Care and The Stroke Association in the UK, and Chatteris Educational Foundation in Hong Kong.
For six years, Neela Jane was Chair of the Trusts and Statutory Special Interest Group at the Chartered Institute of Fundraising (CIoF), leading a membership body of 4,000 fundraisers across the UK. She was also a board member and speaker for several years at the CIoF National Convention.

She holds a BSc in Psychology from the University of Nottingham and a diploma in fundraising from the CIoF, and has written about major gifts fundraising for Third Sector magazine and The Guardian’s Voluntary Sector Network. She has also been a Trustee for an international children’s charity, Children in Crisis, and is currently a Trustee for ATLEU – the Anti-Trafficking and Labour Exploitation Unit, working to provide safety, recovery and redress for victims of trafficking and modern slavery.

Neela Jane lives in Devon with her husband and three little people. In her spare time she loves going for a run (and the odd charity marathon), playing the piano and hiding in the cupboard eating chocolate biscuits when the kids aren’t looking.

Helen has over 15 years’ experience in the charity sector, including roles at St Albans Cathedral and Hertfordshire Community Foundation. Her earlier career included positions at CMS Cameron McKenna and Baker Tilly. A Lay Member of St Albans Cathedral’s Chapter, she volunteers regularly and is passionate about tackling inequality and driving positive social change through grant funding.

Neil joined the Foundation in January 2019, having worked in the voluntary and community sector in the North East and Cumbria for over 20 years and for local authorities in the region for 11 years. He brought with him experience of providing operational and strategic support to local, regional and national charities, mainly in the health & social care fields.

Before starting with the Foundation he ran a voluntary sector consortium, was an independent evaluator, and managed a number of projects.

When not at work Neil is an active peer counsellor, run's a men's book group and enjoys cycling.

Rob Avann is a values-led Charity Consultant and Interim CEO, with 8+ years’ experience as a charity CEO and 16+ years’ experience as a trustee of 5 very different charities. Rob provides leadership, governance and strategy support to charities, not-for-profits and their leaders based on his experience, skills and passion for social impact.

His services include:
Interim CEO and leadership assignments; leadership mentoring and critical friend/extra bandwidth for both CEOs and trustees; governance reviews; strategy development; Board development, facilitation and recruitment; training on a range of topics for both trustees and senior leaders; incorporation, changing charitable form and reviewing governing documents.

He is a member of Consultants for Good and an associate with Interims for Impact and 4front Partners. He is a Strategic Applicant Consultant for leading funder The Fore, and a consultant with the Association of Independent Museums’ AIM Higher programme. He also holds several pro bono roles across the sector. He is led by his values which are integrity, compassion, inclusion, collaboration and flexibility.

Gill is an expert trainer and consultant with over 30 years of charity sector experience. She has been a fundraiser, manager, director, and before setting up her own consultancy, headed up the fundraising for one of the top 10 income generating charities in the UK.

A psychology graduate, Gill is passionate about helping others to achieve their full potential. She works with regional, national and international charities and past clients include Interpol, WWF, Redwings Horse Sanctuary, Build Africa, various adult and children’s hospices, Cambridge University Colleges, numerous Wildlife Trusts and Sue Ryder Care.

Gill is a regular speaker at conferences and has contributed to a number of books. In 2012, in recognition of her contribution to fundraising, Gill was made a Fellow of the Institute of Fundraising.

Emma Rowe is a senior fundraising leader with nearly two decades experience spanning health, human rights and social justice organisations including Amnesty International UK, Freedom from Torture, Terrence Higgins Trust and Moorfields Eye Charity.

In their current role as Head of Relationship Fundraising at Crisis, Emma leads on philanthropy, trusts, and community & events income.

Passionate about building positive team culture and showing supporters the impact of their gifts, they will share how trust fundraising can spark growth across other income streams, with practical tips on drawing fresh ideas and actionable insights from the wider fundraising mix.