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 is a major gifts fundraising specialist, with over 15 years of experience working with trusts, foundations and high net worth individuals. She has worked across the international development, health and education sectors, including UNICEF, Marie Curie, The Stroke Association and Chatteris Educational Foundation in Hong Kong.

Neela Jane was Chair of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising (CIoF)’s Trusts and Statutory Special Interest Group for six years and a board member and speaker 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 trusts 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 for the Anti-Trafficking and Labour Exploitation Unit (ATLEU).

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.