Radical Leadership in a Changing World - Speakers

Ruth is a respected strategist and leader, Ruth with over 20 years’ experience of delivering growth, change and positive impact with and for charities and purpose-led organisations.

Ruth built her career in fundraising, winning multiple awards for her innovation and results, before transitioning from fundraising to philanthropy.

Ruth joined Comic Relief to lead their global grant-making, social impact investing and advocacy and was promoted to Interim Chief Executive and led the organisation through Covid-19. Ruth’s career as a CEO continued as joined Refuge where she developed their first multi-year strategy, transformed their internal culture, secured vital new funds as well as delivering significant policy change through advocacy and campaigning.

Ruth has served on the Boards of multiple major non-profit organisations including Oxfam GB and Greenpeace UK. She currently serves on the Board of the UK’s National Emergencies Trust.
After a year working in the private sector, leading global impact for The Conduit, Ruth now works across charities, grant-makers and purpose-led organisations, supporting them to increase their sustainability and impact. She is also a regular columnist for DSC and New Food Magazine.

Adeela has been CEO of CharityComms since 2017. She is passionate about the strategic role of communications in driving social change and helping support a thriving community of communications professionals to share and learn together.

Adeela has over 20 years’ experience in charity communications across multiple skills and functions: strategic planning, market research, media, PR, events, brand, publishing and digital. Before joining CharityComms, she led the development of organisational communications, brand, and audience strategies for Friends of the Earth, putting them at the heart of the charity’s campaigning success and supporter engagement.

Adeela was awarded an OBE in 2021, for services to charity communications and is a Fellow of the RSA and an ACEVO mentor.

"If we want to make a difference, then we need to do things differently - I’m here to show you how." As the founder of Coliberate, Christopher Owen (he/they) offers inclusivity and liberation coaching, consulting, speaking and training to individuals, groups and organisations seeking to improve their impact for positive social change.

A 2024 Northern Gamechanger, Christopher has a PhD in intersectional systemic oppression and Black feminisms, with over a decade of experience in LGBTQ+ inclusivity and consulting. They have presented to thousands internationally and published on intersectionality, identity, social change, queer resistance, and inclusive practice, with his second book now forthcoming from Routledge Education.

Dan Sutch is Co-founder and Director of CAST, a charity that works to ensure the voice, presence and influence of civil society in the technologies that affect us all. CAST works with nonprofits, charities and funders to ensure worthwhile uses of digital, design and AI across their services, strategy and governance and works with sector leaders, funders and government to make this happen. CAST initiated and incubated Catalyst (thecatalyst.org.uk/), now an independent CIC as an ambitious collective dedicated to shaping technology through building community power.

Dan is the co-chair of the Charity AI Task Force; AI Innovator in Residence at The National Lottery Community Fund, and formerly a Trustee of NCVO.

Nathalie is the CEO of SEO London, an education and training charity that advances social mobility by empowering exceptional students to access and thrive in competitive industries across the UK and France. She is also the co-founder of EduKit and The Funded Team, social enterprises that help schools and third-sector organisations drive efficiency and amplify their impact—particularly in the areas of mental health and wellbeing.

With extensive board and governance experience, Nathalie currently serves as a Non-Executive Director at the internationally recognised Caribbean Climate Smart Accelerator, and has previously been a trustee of Virgin Unite, The Liontrust Foundation, Voice4Change England, and Generating Genius. Across these roles, she has championed initiatives that expand educational access, strengthen communities, and create opportunities for underrepresented groups. She also has an MBA from INSEAD, a top-ranking European business school.

As a CEO, trustee, and non-executive director, Nathalie has had to learn to balance creativity and innovation with strong governance and strategic risk management—recognising that effective leadership means seeing around corners, responding swiftly to warning signs, and identifying and drawing on the counsel of exceptional boards, mentors, and advisors.

Suzy Madigan brings a unique perspective to AI shaped by humanitarian work in nearly 20 emergency contexts including Gaza, Iraq, Somaliland, Haiti and Ukraine. A human rights specialist with on-the-ground experience for the UN, NGOs and government, her approach to AI is shaped by working with and in support of crisis-affected communities, where risk analysis and participatory decision-making are vital for ethical and effective interventions.

As Director of The Machine Race Ltd, she provides independent consulting to help organisations deploy AI systems responsibly and inclusively, working with technology companies, civil society organisations and policymakers. She was recognised in the global 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics™ List 2025.

A former M&C Saatchi advertising executive, Suzy brings strategic communications expertise to her other work. She writes The Machine Race blog series on AI and society (on Substack and LinkedIn) and speaks regularly on podcasts, panels and broadcast media.

Previously, as Responsible AI Lead at CARE International, she led and co-authored research with Accenture examining AI's impact as perceived by civil society in 12 Global South countries. Their report provides a blueprint for more equitable collaboration between technology companies, governments and communities.

Garry has been Chief Executive of the VCSE membership charity Support Staffordshire since it’s founding in 2014, having coordinated the merger of 6 Local Infrastructure Organisations.

He was previously Chief Executive at York CVS and before that spent the best part of a decade in the nature conservation sector, working in education and community roles

Tim is the founder of AIConfident, a social enterprise seeking to ensure that the rapid AI transformation is equitable, by helping leaders across society to responsibly embrace the transformative opportunity presented by AI.
Time brings over a decade of applying AI to societal challenges within Government, and four years as the deputy head of the Government's Office for Artificial Intelligence.
AIConfident combines this extensive AI background with leadership coaching, workshop facilitation and a passion for change, in order to empower leaders to create the environment for responsible, confident use of AI technologies.
AIConfident reinvests profits to support those organisations least likely to be able to afford AI expertise, working with charities, schools and other organisations with a social purpose.

Mat joined Rotherham Hospice in July 2023, bringing over 18 years of experience in fundraising, marketing and charity leadership. Since then, Mat has led the organisation through a period of transformation, guided by a strategic vision to ensure everyone can access dignified, personalised end-of-life care wherever and however they choose.

Under Mat’s leadership, Rotherham Hospice has achieved national recognition, winning Charity of the Year at the Charity Times Awards 2025 and earning a shortlisting for CEO of the Year. These accolades reflect a commitment to bold, values-driven leadership and innovation in a challenging sector.

Mat is passionate about moving beyond survival to create sustainable growth and impact. The Rotherham Hospice six-year strategy, Living Life’s Wishes, focuses on:

- Expanding community-based care so more people can receive support at home.
- Championing inclusivity and equity, ensuring services are accessible to all.
- Investing in staff well-being and development, because our people are the heart of our hospice.
- Driving innovation and financial sustainability, enabling us to meet rising demand with excellence.

Zia joined Islamic Relief in 2010 and has taken on multiple roles within the organisation, including Deputy Director, National Community Fundraising Manager and Head of Fundraising.

Zia has over 20 years of service in the third sector. His extensive career covers areas such as community development, youth empowerment, and race equality. He has served as an independent advisor to various public sector organisations, and holds a degree in Software Engineering.

Zia’s international experience is extensive, and he has been actively involved on the ground during several major global emergencies, including the Indonesia Tsunami, Somalia famine, Iraq war, and the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis.

Zia is dedicated to enhancing capacity within the third sector, particularly among community organisations. He provides fundraising support and guidance to community groups, youth organisations and mosques.