Our people

Nikhita Kataria joined us in August 2022. Nikhita has a degree in Applied Social Sciences from the University of York. Previously, she was a Student Ambassador and mentored at a charity supporting deaf young people.

Nilufer Kheraj spent her career at Slaughter and May where she was a partner for 27 years. She retired in May 2021. Whilst at the firm, she had a wide corporate, commercial and financing practice which included private and public mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, IPOs, financings, equity and debt capital markets transactions and corporate governance.

Oliver Haarmann is our Chair of Trustees. He is a Founding Partner at Searchlight Capital Partners, a private investment firm. Previously, he served as a Partner at Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. Ltd. (KKR) for 12 years. Before this, he worked for various firms in the investment industry in the United States and Europe. He received an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School in 1996 and has a dual B.A. in History and International Relations from Brown University.

Olivia Webster joined us in April 2024. Olivia has a degree in History from the University of Oxford. Previously, she worked as a Senior Outreach Officer at Magdalen College, Oxford as well as acting as a Student Ambassador at Merton College, Oxford.

Ollie Sewell joined us in January 2024. Ollie has a degree in History from the University of Bristol. They previously worked as a Group leader at a holiday camp and Teaching Assistant .

Oonagh Shiels joined us in May 2024 and is our Assistant Head of Operations and Programme Delivery (London & South Coast, Maternity Cover). Oonagh has a degree in Theology and Religious Studies from the University of Cambridge. Previously, Oonagh worked as Partner Development Director and Head of Learning & Development at InvestIN Education, supporting young people to maximise their potential through career-experience programmes. She has also volunteered with the Access Project.

Pasha Michaelsen is Vice-Chair of Trustees. She helps organisations design and deliver social justice strategies in the areas of migration and education. She was head of operations for Refugee Education UK, which supports refugee and asylum-seeking young people to build more hopeful futures through education and is vice-chair of Praxis, which provides holistic support to migrants across London. Previously, Pasha was a finance solicitor.

Patrick Middleton joined us in August 2021. Patrick has a degree in Medieval and Modern Languages from the University of Oxford. Previously Patrick was an Intern at Church of England (St Aldates Church) and a Tutor at Yingyixuan Educational Company.

Phill Evans joined us in August 2022. Phill has a degree in Psychology from Manchester Metropolitan University where he volunteered as a WP Ambassador.

Phoebe Mumby joined us in September 2023. Phoebe has a degree in English Language and Literature from the University of Oxford. Previously, she volunteered at the charity ExVac, which began as a student-run charity at Exeter College.

Piero Freestone joined us in September 2023. Piero has a degree in Sport and Exercise Science from the University of Lincoln. Previously, he worked as a Sports and Summer Camp Coach at Premier Education.

Polly Rumley joined us in July 2023. Polly studied French and Spanish at the University of Bristol and previously worked as an au pair and tutor.