See who's speaking at this year's National Youth Homelessness Conference.
In order of appearance:
Toni-Ann (She/Her), Lived Experience Ambassador
Toni-Ann is a dynamic force, a true community facilitator whose myriad roles and contributions have left an indelible mark on the Lewisham borough and beyond. With a rich tapestry of experiences and a passion for change, she stands as an exemplar of advocacy, activism, and artistic expression.
She is a true Multi-Disciplinary Community facilitator, her activism is covering areas from Food insecurity to Youth Unemployment and Economic Inactivity as a Youth Ambassador for Youth Employment UK & Youth Ambassador for Connected Futures Downham Cohort.
In the realm of creativity, Toni-Ann explores her talents in voiceovers, Spoken Word, Singing, podcasting, hosting, and public speaking, breathing life into events and discussions. Her impressive podcast roster includes Award winning "Front Line Young Minds" for Lewisham Music and "Point Made" for Centrepoint.
Toni-Ann embodies the essence of community leadership, artistic expression, and unwavering dedication to the betterment of society, making her a beacon of inspiration in Lewisham and beyond.
Adam Pemberton Wickham (He/Him), Director of Strategy and Performance, Centrepoint
As Centrepoint’s Director of Strategy and Performance, Adam Pemberton works across the organisation to join up our efforts to end youth homelessness nationally by 2037. Previously he was Corporate Director of Strategy and Performance at Barnardo’s and Assistant Chief Executive at Victim Support as well as working in the Cabinet Office and at PA Consulting.
Hashi Mohamed (He/Him), Barrister, Broadcaster and Author
Hashi is a barrister specialising in planning and environment law at Landmark Chambers, and a broadcaster and presenter of multiple documentaries on BBC Radio 4. Hashi is a published author of two critically acclaimed books; People Like Us; What it Takes to Make it in Modern Britain (Profile Books, January 2020) and A Home of One’s Own: Why the Housing Crisis Matters (Profile Books, September 2022). He is the Chair of Coin Street Housing Cooperative on the South Bank, responsible for 220 high quality affordable, social housing, including in the OXO Tower.
Jill Boak (She/Her), Youth Homelessness Adviser, Homelessness Advice & Support Team, Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Directorate, DLUHC
Jill has 25 years’ experience working in the voluntary sector and local authorities delivering services to support children and young people in specialist residential and secure accommodation, and to prevent youth homelessness, in roles from directly supporting young people, managing supported accommodation services, service design and development, commissioning and coordination of partnerships to deliver a young people’s homelessness prevention pathway.
Jill has been with the HRS Directorate for 4 years advising local authority housing and children’s services working together to prevent homelessness for 16 and 17 year olds, care leavers, young people leaving custody and 18 – 25 year olds.
Samad Nadimi (He/Him), Youth Homelessness Adviser, DLUHC
Samad has over 16 years experience of working in the homelessness sector. He has been with DLUHC as a youth homelessness adviser, specialising in support for care leavers, for 5 years. He works with local authorities on developing their approach to preventing homelessness and wider accommodation offer for care leavers including strengthening joint working arrangements and also oversee delivery of a programme of Department of Education funding supporting care leavers at risk of homelessness and rough sleeping.
Prior to working in central government, he spent over 10 years in the third sector, managing housing and homelessness prevention services supporting young people and care leavers in a range of settings including Housing Advice, floating support, mediation and supported accommodation.
Kim Davis (She/Her), Senior Youth Homelessness Adviser, Homelessness Advice & Support Team, Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Directorate, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Kim has 30 years’ experience of working in the housing and homelessness sector. For 25 years she worked across the spectrum of housing services within Local Government, leading, designing, and developing services cross departments, with key stakeholders and partners, achieving Gold Standard homeless prevention services for families and young people. Since 2018 Kim has been a Youth Homelessness Adviser within DLUHC, working directly with local authorities across England, reviewing their services and practice, providing supportive challenge, help and advice to develop and improve their youth homeless prevention services, compliant with guidance and focused on best practice.
As a Senior Youth Homelessness Adviser she supports local authority Housing and Children Services departments to embed the Homelessness Reduction Act, and focus on homeless prevention for vulnerable young people, particularly those who are care experienced or aged 16-17. She also works directly with government policy leads on youth homelessness and leads a team of Youth Homelessness Advisers, who together deliver national funding programmes to provide accommodation and support, and dedicated posts to support young people and care leavers from homeless and rough sleeping.
Emma Leech (She/Her), Early Careers Manager, Howdens
Emma is passionate about creating Early Careers opportunities that provide jobs and training for people from all backgrounds, enabling them to fulfil their potential, succeed in a successful and growing organisation, and celebrating everything they achieve.
Rob Hiden (He/Him), HR Business Partner, Howdens
An experienced business partner who strives to keep things simple and practical. Rob has experience of partnering at all levels and has a passion for creating great places to work for everyone.
Rosalind Compton (She/Her), Senior Legal & Policy Manager, Migrant Children’s Project, part of Coram Children’s Legal Centre
Rosalind co-manages the legal training programme, as well as specific funded projects. She sits on a number of working groups related to children and asylum, education and care. Rosalind is an immigration solicitor with extensive experience in working with children, young people and families at all stages in immigration, asylum and nationality processes. She qualified in 2013 at Fisher Meredith, before running outreach advice projects across London with the Migrant Children’s Project. In 2018 she was seconded to the Greater London Assembly, working on the Citizenship and Integration Initiative for a year.
Dr Helen Miles (She/Her), Consultant Clinical & Forensic Psychologist and Head of Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE), Centrepoint
Dr. Miles is a Chartered Psychologist / Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and is registered with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC). Prior to joining Centrepoint in May 2019, she worked therapeutically for over 20 years in various NHS, Criminal Justice and community settings with individuals experiencing complex needs and multiple disadvantage (e.g. mental health, substance use, offending behaviours, past trauma, homelessness etc.), and consequently is passionate about the benefits that a psychologically informed approach can offer this client group.
Dr Miles has also been a clinical lead for research, development and governance within the NHS, has been an honorary lecturer with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IOPPN), Kings College London and University of Christ Church, Canterbury. She has carried out clinically relevant research, writing over 15 peer reviewed academic publications and several book chapters in the area of clinical / forensic psychology.
She has experience of facilitating reflective practice and training sessions with a range of professionals in the UK (and abroad), as well as experience of service development, management and supervision.
Dr Leah Francis (she/her) Clinical Psychologist, Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE), Centrepoint
Leah qualified as a Clinical Psychologist at the University of Essex and the Tavistock course where she was also awarded the doctorate in clinical psychology prize.
She is passionate about social justice and supporting people from marginalised backgrounds which led her to work at the South East London Vanguard, a pilot scheme to support young people involved in and impacted by serious violence, where clinicians work closely with community groups and youth workers to provide input and support to young people, their families and the networks around them.
Leah is now bringing her passion for developing innovative projects to Centrepoint and co-leading on the development of the PIE neuropsychology pathway together with Dr Marc Pescod as part of her new role at Centrepoint.
Dr Marc Pescod (He/Him), Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE), Educational Psychologist, Centrepoint
Dr Marc Pescod is qualified as an Educational Psychologist from the Tavistock and Portman course in 2020 having completed his thesis on the educational experience of young homeless people. Throughout his career Marc has spent time working with children and young people living in poverty and unsuitable housing situation within different settings.
Since graduating, Marc has worked with Centrepoint, initially as a volunteer and later within the PIE team, to embed psychological practice into support young homeless people access Employment, Education and Training (EET). During this time Marc has completed research into the reasons for NEET and has actively supported the development of the PIE neuropsychology pathway with Dr Leah Francis.
Natasha Robertson (She/Her), Corporate Partnerships Manager, Centrepoint
Natasha joined Centrepoint in August 2023 and is responsible for managing the charity’s multi million pound three year partnership with Coventry Building Society.
Natasha has spent the last 25 years working with individuals and corporate funders to make a meaningful impact for charitable causes. Her experience spans in both national and local charities having worked at The Royal British Legion, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Essex & Herts Air Ambulance and Help for Heroes.
Natasha has substantial experience in business development and account management through corporate partnerships and her strengths lie in having a strategic focus, the ability to develop impactful new partnerships and excellent relationship building which have helped charities to grow their corporate portfolio and income.
Erina Hughes (She/Her) Business Development Officer, Centrepoint
Erina joined Centrepoint in September 2023 and is responsible for identifying, cultivating and securing new business opportunities. Prior to this, she spent two and a half years at Leeds Hospitals Charity as a Corporate Partnerships Officer, securing new business opportunities and nurturing long-standing corporate partnerships.
Her career reflects a commitment to fostering connections and contributing to the growth of charitable organizations. Erina specializes in establishing new and impactful partnerships that actively support positive change while generating substantial income for charities.
Jennie Lucas (She/Her), Chief Executive, The Maggie Oliver Foundation
Jennie has been with The Maggie Oliver Foundation since 2021, playing an instrumental role in the charity’s development. The Foundation supports adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and exploitation to turn the pain of their abuse into power, through emotional support, legal advocacy and elevating their voices raising awareness of issues surrounding childhood sexual abuse and exploitation, its investigation, prosecution and prevention. She is an accredited trauma-informed educator, providing training to the Foundation’s staff and volunteers.
Before joining the Foundation, she worked in women’s prisons teaching restorative justice. For many women, this was a difficult journey as they reflected on traumatic past events that had led to their offending, sometimes involving sexual violence and coercion.
Jennie has always had a keen interest in supporting women and was part of the team that established London’s biggest baby bank charity, Little Village, supporting women and families living in poverty.
Mayameen Meftahi (She/Her), Senior Legal Advocacy Caseworker, The Maggie Oliver Foundation
Maya is a Senior Legal Advocacy Caseworker for The Maggie Oliver Foundation, where she lives out her passion and mission supporting and advocating for survivors. She has been working within the field of sexual violence for over 10 years as a Trauma Specialist, Educator and Accredited Trainer.
She has used her survivor voice to successfully pave the way to changes in policies and forcing change within fractured services for better victim protection. Maya’s passion for supporting survivors of sexual violence is driven through her lived experience as a childhood sexual abuse survivor. She gained national media attention and recognition when she waived my lifelong anonymity in September 2018, exposing the serial sexual abuse at the hands of her father, during his release from prison after serving just 6 years of his 10-year sentence.
Proudly taking the TEDx stage, numerous speaker engagements, panel involvement and giving her poignant first-hand account of surviving Child Sexual Abuse in her Channel 5 Documentary. In 2020, she was honoured to be awarded the prestigious British Empire Medal (BEM) for my services to child victims.
Matthew Brazier HMI (He/Him), Project Director (Supported Accommodation), Ofsted
Matthew Brazier is a registered social worker and is one of His Majesty’s Inspectors. Based within Ofsted’s social care policy team, he is Ofsted’s Specialist Adviser for Looked After Children.
Matthew is currently leading Ofsted’s plans to regulate supported accommodation for children in care and care leavers aged 16 and 17. He previously led on the development and implementation of Ofsted’s social care common inspection framework (SCCIF). Matthew also undertakes inspections of children’s services in local authorities and has led several thematic inspections relating to children in care.
Prior to joining Ofsted, Matthew gained more than twenty years’ post-qualifying experience as a manager and social worker within local authority children’s services.
Matthew Hill (He/Him), Project Manager (Supported Accommodation), Ofsted
Matthew Hill is based within Ofsted’s social care policy team, currently working as project manager for Ofsted’s plans to regulate supported accommodation for children in care and care leavers aged 16 and 17. He has held a number of roles at Ofsted, having worked there for over 20 years. The majority of his work has been in Early Years regulation, where he worked as Senior Officer in the south west region.
Recently, Matthew was regional business manager for the south west region, with operational responsibility for the delivery of Ofsted’s work across schools, early years, social care and further education and skills.
Balbir Chatrik (She/Her), Director of Policy and Communications at Centrepoint
Balbir’s remit covers raising public awareness of homelessness and influencing public policy. Balbir has worked as a front-line youth worker, a student counsellor and a policy advisor in the Department for Education.
Steven McIntyre (He/Him), Chief Executive, Stonewall Housing
Steven has significant experience in the third sector having worked for Barnardo's, NSPCC and Action for Children before joining Stonewall Housing. Steven has a background in Psychology, holds an MBA from Cranfield School of Management and is a Qualified Social Worker.
Under Steven's guidance, Stonewall Housing has become widely recognised for its excellence in providing comprehensive support to LGBTQ+ people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and since 2020 the organisation has more than doubled the number of people they support each year. Steven chairs the London Queer Housing Coalition, a steering group of by and for LGBTQ+ Housing Organisations, Co-Chairs the HouseProud Pledge Scheme Advisory Board which aims to ensure all housing providers are LGBTQ+ inclusive and teaches at London Metropolitan University on their under graduate and post graduate social work courses.
Steven is deeply committed to championing equality and inclusion and is dedicated to making a positive impact and creating change that benefits marginalised communities.
Matt Blow (He/Him), Policy and Public Affairs Manager, Become
Matt is the Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Become, the national charity for children in care and young care leavers in England. Matt leads on the design and delivery of Become’s policy and influencing strategies; and is passionate about ensuring that the voice, views and experiences of care-experienced children and young people are at the heart of reforms to the care system.
Previously, Matt has led the policy and public affairs team at YoungMinds, worked on international human rights at the Equality and Human Rights Commission, and worked with a range of local charities and organisations in South Manchester.
Ben Keegan (He/Him) Chief Executive, Roundabout
Ben Keegan has been the Chief Executive of Roundabout, South Yorkshire's youth homeless charity, since 2005. Under his leadership, the organisation has experienced substantial growth and expansion, both in terms of its capacity to support young people and its range of services.
Under Ben's leadership, Roundabout has strengthened its partnerships with local businesses, government agencies, and community organisations. This collaborative effort, along with Ben’s commitment to improving the lives of young people facing homelessness, has led to the development of new programmes and initiatives aimed at addressing the root causes of youth homelessness and providing sustainable solutions.
Recognising the limitations of being reactive to the problem by providing housing and support once someone became homeless, Ben saw the benefit of being proactive in preventing homelessness from occurring at all where possible, and established Roundabout's Homeless Prevention Service in 2014. This initiative encompasses a range of vital services, including Drop-In Advice, Mediation, Education, employment and skills support, Counselling, Future Builders projects, and a pioneering Peer Education programme.
Stephen Elder (He/Him), National Prevention Manager, Centrepoint
Stephen’s career has been driven around supporting young people. Following running multiple youth groups, Stephen undertook a Youth and Community Work Degree and Social Work Masters before joining Centrepoint in 2015.
Since Joining Centrepoint, Stephen has managed the floating support team, the mental health team, worked in compliance and is now the National Prevention Manager, focusing on the work around the Upstream Survey. He is looking forward to working towards Centrepoint’s mission to end youth homelessness, and excited to lead on this project and develop this work in England.
Frankiebo Taylor (She/Her), Senior Policy and Research Officer, Centrepoint
Franki works within Centrepoint’s Policy, Research and Campaigns team. The Policy, Research and Campaigns team carries out research on the issues affecting homeless young people. From that research, we then think about the solutions needed to bring about real change and we campaign for these solutions to be taken on by the government.
Franki has researched a variety of subjects at Centrepoint including projects exploring: young women's experiences of homelessness; homeless young people's access to and experiences of social and private accommodation; and most recently homeless young people's employment aspirations.
Alicia Walker (She/Her), Head of Policy, Research and Campaigns, Centrepoint
Prior to her role at Centrepoint, Alice (Lily) gained extensive experience across the Civil Service and held roles at HM Treasury and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spanning tax, spending control, digital strategy, local and international government policy.
Lily believes passionately in breaking down systemic barriers to vulnerable and disadvantaged young people’s success so that they can not only survive, but thrive. Lily is a trustee at the homelessness charity The Connection at St Martin’s and Chair of Governors at St. Martin in the Fields High School for Girls.
Benjamin (He/Him), Lived Experience Ambassador, former service user and care leaver Centrepoint
Subsequent to his departure from care, actively participated in an arts charity. Over the past seven years, Ben has engaged in numerous projects, dedicated to assisting fellow care leavers in experiencing the therapeutic benefits of the arts.
Additionally, he collaborates intermittently with Centrepoint, contributing to the creation of content for social media, including posts and podcast episodes.
During the festive season, Ben works alongside Stormflowers London to adorn Christmas trees in offices and communal spaces, embellishing them in varying sizes, extending up to 18 feet. He endeavours to bring smiles through humour, even if employing less refined jokes.
Milly (She/Her), Lived Experience Ambassador, current Centrepoint Resident
Milly has been a Centrepoint resident for just under a year. Milly is currently enrolled on a Princes Trust course to help build confidence and employability skills. In her spare time, she enjoys listening to music, playing the guitar and gaming. Milly would like in the future to own her home and have a comfortable life.
Sharon (She/Her), Lived Experience Ambassador, former Centrepoint resident
Sharon recently graduated from university and where she studied Sociology and Politics. Sharon is currently a Bank Supported Housing officer for Centrepoint. She has also done some work with the Policy Team where she wrote a blog on the Centrepoint website addressed to the Conservative Government to address young people’s futures nationally.
She currently still volunteers for the policy team where she completes research and campaigns for social change nationally. In her spare time, Sharon enjoys going to the gym, mentoring others who need help and reading.