Our team
Meet the people behind WHEN
WHEN brings together an exceptional group of women with deep experience across higher education, leadership, organisational development, coaching, strategy and systemic change. Together, our team includes former university leaders and directors, nationally recognised academics, executive coaches, organisational development specialists, programme leaders and experienced change practitioners. Our work is powered by four distinct groups: the core team who run WHEN day to day, our National Steering Board who oversee our direction and strategy, our Programme Leaders who lead the delivery of our work, and our Programme Coaches and Facilitators who support participants to turn insight into action.
Core Team
Our core team keeps WHEN moving day to day. They bring substantial experience from across higher education, organisational development, equality, programme management, finance, operations and leadership. Together, they are responsible for turning WHEN’s strategy into high quality delivery for our university partners and participants. Our core team is based across the UK and brings experience from universities, organisational development, coaching, systems change and programme delivery. Our different professional and lived experiences, including disability and neurodivergence, strengthen how we design and deliver inclusive work.
Alice Chilver
Founder and CEO I Oxfordshire
Alice brings extensive experience in leadership development, organisational change and higher education. She was formerly Director of Organisational Development at UCL and Head of People and Organisational Development at the University of Oxford. At WHEN, she leads the organisation’s strategy, growth and approach to systemic change.
Anna Reader
Programmes Lead I Yorkshire
Anna is an experienced equality, inclusion and organisational development practitioner and coach. Formerly Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the University of York, she has also led national career development programmes for women across Australian universities. At WHEN, Anna leads the quality and delivery of our programmes.
Madelaine Swift
Systems Lead I Oxfordshire
Madelaine brings experience in women’s progression, STEM and the development of national systems designed to improve people’s experiences. At WHEN, she leads the systems and infrastructure that underpin our delivery, alongside the development of our Progression Transparency Tools.
Amanda Stanford
Programme Manager I Leicestershire
Amanda brings extensive experience across higher education, trade unions and organisational development. An experienced coach and programme practitioner, she combines a strong understanding of people, institutions and delivery to ensure WHEN’s programmes are coordinated and delivered to a consistently high standard.
Eleanor Devitt
Communications Manager I Oxfordshire
Eleanor brings experience in executive education, international leadership consultancy and project management. She previously managed senior programmes at London Business School and worked as a project manager for global leadership consultancy IMEC in the Netherlands. At WHEN, she is establishing our communications activity, helping us share our work, impact and ideas with greater clarity and reach.
National Steering Board
Our National Steering Board provides strategic oversight, challenge and guidance. Drawn from senior leaders and experts across higher education, the Board helps shape WHEN’s priorities, strengthens our thinking and ensures our work remains ambitious, relevant and focused on measurable change.
Dr Ifeoma Dan-Ogosi
University of the West of England, BristolÂ
Associate Professor in Public Health and Social Justice, pioneer of the Transformative Multicultural Classroom Model and Co Chair of WHEN’s 100 Black Women Professors NOW Steering Board.
Dr Olajumoke Okoya
University of East London
Associate Professor of Leadership and Dean of Institutional Equity, with over 20 years’ experience in inclusive leadership and organisational transformation. Co Chair of WHEN’s 100 Black Women Professors NOW Steering Board.
Professor Dawn Edge
University of Manchester
Professor of Mental Health and Inclusivity, with senior experience in equality, diversity and inclusion and a strong focus on race and religion.
Professor Marcia Wilson
Birmingham City UniversityÂ
Pro Vice Chancellor for Education and Student Experience, and an award winning academic leader with deep expertise in tackling inequalities across higher education.
Programme Leaders
Our Programme Leaders bring deep expertise to the delivery of WHEN’s programmes. They combine sector knowledge, facilitation skill and lived experience to create powerful learning environments, helping participants make sense of where they are, where they want to go and what needs to happen next.
Ellie Rich-Poole
Executive level coach, co-creator and founding faculty of WHEN's Career Accelerator programme. Former partner in executive search across the private sector. Â
Marshah Terry-Dixon
Executive level coach, co-creator of WHEN's Career Accelerator programme. Founding faculty of 100 Black Women Professors NOW, the Career Accelerator, Career Aspirations and Career Reformer Programmes.Â
Claudine Charles
Executive coachÂ
Louisa Joseph
Executive level coach. Founder of BAME to Boardroom. Founding faculty of 100 Black Women Professors NOW.Â
Dr Miriam Lynn
Former Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Cambridge University.
Professor Susan Lea
Former Vice Chancellor, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Pro Vice Chancellor.Â
Programme Coaches
Our Programme Coaches support participants to translate insight into action. Experienced in leadership and career coaching, they create the space for focused reflection, challenge and strategic decision making, helping participants move forward with greater clarity and purpose.
Alison MacKay
Coach
Anne Wilson
Coach
Dr Amy-Jo Lynch
Coach
Claudine Charles
Executive coachÂ
Donna Page
Executive coachÂ
Georgina Cox
Facilitator
Dr Jane Clossick
Facilitator
Jane Van de Ban
Digital consultant and coach
Kate Faxen
CoachÂ
Maryane Mwaniki
Coach and counsellor
Pamela Leonce
Executive coach
Dr Paulet Brown-Wilsher
Coach
Rachel Stewart
Coach
Dr Rula Al-Abdulrazak
Executive Coach
Valerie Ritchie
Vanetta Morrison
Emma Todd
Professor Sarah Shinton
Part of WHEN’s journey
WHEN has been shaped by many people over the years. Former team members, advisors, volunteers, collaborators and contributors have all played a part in helping us grow, strengthen our thinking and extend our impact. We are grateful to everyone who has contributed their time, expertise, challenge, creativity and commitment to WHEN’s development and to the progress we continue to make together.
Adèle MacKinlay
