Team – ACEVO

Jane Ide

Chief executive

Jane joined ACEVO in May 2022, and previously headed up Creative and Cultural Skills, working to create fair and inclusive opportunities within the creative and cultural sectors. Before that, she spent four years as CEO of NAVCA, where she led the transformation of the national membership body for local voluntary sector infrastructure organisations in England. She has leadership and communications experience in both the voluntary and public sectors and a genuine commitment to delivering a valuable and impactful experience for members.

Anne Wallis

Head of membership & marketing

Anne joined ACEVO in February 2018 after 11 years overseeing membership, member services and marketing at an international not-for-profit membership club. She has a wealth of experience spanning the charity sector, government, and the private sector. With members being at the heart of everything ACEVO does, Anne is responsible for leading the membership team, growing the ACEVO community and enthusiastically engaging directly with ACEVO members.

Pete Johnson

Head of business development

Pete joined ACEVO in 2017 and is responsible for generating income for the organisation. Pete has worked for corporations, start-ups, and charities over the past 15 years. He possesses a wealth of experience in the areas of sales and marketing, innovation, events, sponsorship, and corporate partnerships. With a focus on strategic thinking, Pete can use skills more generally seen in a start-up environment to grow business for ACEVO and corporate companies who wish to work with charities and voluntary organisations.

Yetunde Ogundele

Head of finance & operations

Yetunde joined ACEVO in October 2021 bringing a vast wealth of experience built up over 10 years of working in the non-profit sector. She is a finance professional with experience of leading and developing teams and new finance operations. Over the years, she has gained experience and a great understanding of managing finances in very difficult times and circumstances. Outside of work, Yetunde has a keen eye for fashion and is a music lover with a vast collection 90s music on vinyl.

Roberta Fusco

Head of influencing

Roberta joined ACEVO in October 2022 and has over 20 years of experience in public policy and communications roles gained in the public and social sector, including central, regional and local government, charities and charity infrastructure.

As a volunteer, she chaired a local branch of a national charity for several years, supporting over 1000 autistic people and their families and has also been a School Governor. She also enjoys singing in her local community choir.

Natalie Westerman

Membership & marketing manager

Natalie joined ACEVO in April 2016 as the office manager, moving to the membership team in 2018. She previously worked for Channel 5 as a researcher and founded her own greeting card company. Natalie uses her skills in design, project management and CRM to create, monitor and manage our membership marketing campaigns, while working alongside other colleagues and external contributors to make sure existing ACEVO members make the most of our support, services, benefits and resources.

Jenny Berry

Senior support advisor

Jenny joined ACEVO in April 2008 and now leads on guiding our members with charity governance advice and supporting members through any difficulties or crises they may have. Previously, Jenny’s 25 year career in the third sector took her to the role of CEO of the Community Transport Association a UK wide membership body with over 2,500 members. Jenny is also a member of the Charity Governance Code steering group and a trustee for two charities, one local and one UK wide.

Tom Andrews

Senior support advisor

Tom joined ACEVO in October 2019 and is a qualified coach and counsellor. Tom works alongside Jenny to help members through mentoring, advice and one-to-one support. He is the founder – and ex-CEO – of two pioneering charities: Music for Change (intercultural understanding through music participation) and People United (exploring how creativity can grow kindness and social change). Most recently he has worked as a freelance coach, facilitator and mentor, supporting charity leaders.

Gareth Oughton

Member services manager

Gareth joined ACEVO in June 2023, bringing over 15 years of senior leadership experience from the charity sector. He has a wealth of experience spanning membership service provision and higher education.

Gareth is responsible for overseeing the services ACEVO provides, ensuring they meet the current and future needs of members.

Outside of work, Gareth is a passionate music lover and a keen football fan.

Heloisa Righetto

Communications & content lead

Heloisa joined ACEVO in November 2018. She was an editor of trend forecasting website WGSN and contributed to travel blogs and websites. She co-founded a feminist digital platform which included Youtube live broadcasts, podcasts, articles and social media. She was a volunteer at Latin American Women’s Aid before joining ACEVO. Her MA research focused on digital activism, specifically on the emotional impact of feminist hashtags.

She has a podcast and a book club about Jane Austen, and is passionate about plants, nature and outdoor activities.

Marlene Cursoux

Corporate partnership executive

Marlene has lived and worked in three countries before moving to the UK. She has held positions in sales, marketing and project management in small and large organisations, before joining ACEVO in January 2020. Passionate about the positive impact local and international NGOs can make on civil society, she translates her enthusiasm for stakeholder management, digital marketing and events as part of the corporate partnerships team where she nurtures relationships between ACEVO and its key partners in the corporate sector.

Melanie Jeanton

Senior membership officer

Melanie joined ACEVO in May 2018 and is responsible for all aspects of membership administration. She has over 20 years of customer service experience including membership administration in both profit and non-profit sectors. If you have a membership enquiry, just give Mel a call and she’d be happy to help.

Shareen Patel

Policy & Influencing officer

Shareen joined ACEVO in June 2022. She has an undergraduate degree in International Relations and Spanish and an MSc in Human Rights. Her previous work experience includes working for a public relations firm, a public affairs and communications firm, a think tank, and an NGO. She has also spent some time in India volunteering with a charity that focuses on giving deprived and vulnerable children their right to an education. Shareen is passionate about civil society and human rights.

Marie Moss

Events, Programmes & Activities lead

Marie joined ACEVO in May 2022 to manage our events programme, including #ACEVOFest, our annual festival of leadership. She has worked in the events industry for over 20 years managing countless events for a variety of charity and membership organisations including the NHS, Hospice UK, Cancer Research UK, Charity Retail Association and British Damage Management. Outside of work Marie is a keen runner, is the chairperson of her local running club, and has completed eight marathons including five of the six marathon majors!

Lauren Slack

Membership administrator

Lauren joined ACEVO in November 2022. With almost 20 years of experience in business administration in both the private and public sectors, she finally settled in the charity sector six years ago. Lauren thrives in a busy environment and enjoys being able to support both colleagues and members.

Outside of work, Lauren enjoys spending time in her garden, planting, growing, and maintaining the pond, often accompanied by her tabby cat and Dobermann dog.

Rahela Hussain

Finance manager

Rahela joined ACEVO in January 2023 and has over 20 years’ experience in finance management and administration, working for a myriad of sectors. The majority of her career has evolved in the charity sector, which she is most passionate about, as this has been an opportunity for her to give back to society.

Rahela completed her Human Resources Management Degree during the covid pandemic, is an avid listener of jazz, and loves to dance to soul, deep house and R&B.

Gemma Davies

MEMBER SERVICES administrator

Gemma joined ACEVO in March 2023 and is responsible for supporting colleagues across the member services team.

Gemma has six years’ experience in the charity sector working in administration and volunteering. Fundraising has always been close to her heart and she has taken part in many charity events such as abseiling, mountain climbing, and even fire walking!

In her spare time Gemma enjoys long walks in the countryside with her spaniel and has discovered a love of gardening.

Pamela Daniels

Project manager - Home truths 2

Pamela joined ACEVO in July 2023 to project manage Home Truths 2. With a wealth of expertise and a passion for positive social change, she is committed to driving transformation and creating inclusive environments where everyone can thrive.

She was co-founder of Ethical Fashion Forum, the industry body supporting and promoting sustainable practices, facilitating collaboration, raising awareness; and providing the tools and network to transform social and environmental standards in the fashion industry.

Working as a producer with Reframing Race has deepened her commitment to supporting the race equity conversation toward building an anti-racist future.

Natasha Davies-Strickleton

Salesforce administrator

Natasha joined ACEVO in August 2023 to develop and maintain our data-related digital systems.

She has five years experience as a Salesforce Administrator within the charity sector and demonstrates enthusiasm for ensuring a positive digital experience for our staff and members.

Natasha has a passion for celebrating and championing the LGBTQIA+ community and is a committee member for a local Pride charity.

Diana Collier

Admin & operations officer

Diana joined ACEVO in September 2023, primarily supporting the CEO, finance and operations and governance. She also assists the wider ACEVO team across a variety of administrative areas.

Diana spent 20 years in the education sector, and more recently worked as an executive assistant in a small charity which offered transitional housing to disadvantaged young people.

Diana has a passion for supporting ventures that deliver community benefit and promote social justice. She loves wildlife gardening and is a folk musician.

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If you have any queries please email info@acevo.org.uk or call 020 7014 4600.