Best Startup
At Best Startup UK we track over 130,000 UK startups and over 500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top United Kingdom based Executive Director operating in the Non Profit space. If you think a Executive Director is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on editor@beststartup.co.uk.
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Companies House UK, Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Jens Madrian
Executive Director of NEOM
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About NEOM: NEOM is a government administration firm that offers economic growth, progressive laws, a healthy foundation and innovative solution.
Phil Bloomer
Executive Director of Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
Phil became Executive Director of Business & Human Rights Resource Centre in September 2013. Based at the Centre’s London headquarters, Phil is responsible for leading the global organization, delivering the mission and strategic priorities, and ensuring effective management of programme, personnel, finance, and administration. Prior to joining the Resource Centre Phil was Director of Campaigns and Policy at Oxfam GB, where he was responsible for a team of 170 staff working across policy, advocacy, programme and campaigns. His team’s priorities were food justice, humanitarian protection and assistance in conflict zones, and the provision of essential health and education for all. Previously he was head of Oxfam International’s Make Trade Fair, and Access to Medicines campaigns. Prior to joining Oxfam, Phil spent 11 years in Latin America and worked on human rights dimensions of business, including in food security, resource extraction; mega-projects; and business relations with public and private security in repressive environments.
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About Business & Human Rights Resource Centre: Business & Human Rights Resource Centre is dedicated to advancing human rights in business and eradicating abuse.
Laura Kyrke-Smith
Executive Director of International Rescue Committee
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About International Rescue Committee: IRC responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises & helps some of the most vulnerable people from harm to home.
Benjamin Todd
CEO, Co Founder & Executive Director of 80,000 Hours
In under three years with Ben’s leadership, 80,000 Hours has grown from a student society, to an Oxford affiliated charity, featured on TED, the Washington Post, the BBC Today Programme and more. Ben has a 1st from Oxford in Physics and Philosophy, has published in Climate Physics and speaks Chinese. Before 80,000 Hours, he was the first undergraduate to intern as an analyst at a top investment fund. Rather than taking the job, he persuaded the Chairman to donate £60,000 to 80,000 Hours.
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About 80,000 Hours: 80,000 Hours is an evidence-based advice on careers that make a difference.
Paul Chisnall
Executive Director, Financial Policy & Operations of British Bankers Association
Paul’s responsibilities include banking reform, financial reporting, tax and corporate governance. Paul prepared industry responses to the Independent Commission on Banking, the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards and various financial stability related UK government consultations. He is currently working on issues arising from the Financial Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013, including its provisions on ring-fencing and measures arising from the Government and regulatory response to the PCBS recommendations.
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About British Bankers Association: The BBA is the leading trade association for the UK banking sector with more than 230 member banks headquartered in over 50 countries
Irene Graham
Executive Director of Business Finance of British Bankers Association
At the BBA Irene leads the overall policy work across SME and corporate businesses, including key industrial sectors. This includes running Better Business Finance and strategic initiatives across products such as export finance and capital markets. Prior to joining the BBA Irene was a senior banker at Standard Chartered Bank, undertaking executive roles across its international footprint. This included heading its Corporate and Institutional business, and transaction bank in Europe, co-heading SCB’s European wholesale bank and leading international regulatory affairs. She sits on the board of the UK Business Angel Association.
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About British Bankers Association: The BBA is the leading trade association for the UK banking sector with more than 230 member banks headquartered in over 50 countries
Winnie Byanyima
Executive Director of Oxfam International
Winnie Byanyima is Executive Director of Oxfam International. She is a leader on women’s rights, democratic governance and peace building. She served eleven years in the Ugandan Parliament, and has served at the African Union Commission and as Director of Gender and Development at the United Nations Development Program. She co-founded the 60-member Global Gender and Climate Alliance and chaired a UN task force on gender aspects of the Millennium Development Goals, and on climate change. Born in Uganda, Ms. Byanyima was elected for three terms and served eleven years in the Ugandan Parliament. She led Uganda’s first parliamentary women’s caucus, championing ground-breaking gender equality provisions in the county’s 1995 post-conflict constitution. A world recognized expert on women’s rights, she founded the still-thriving civil society organization Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE). She has served at the African Union Commission and as Director of Gender and Development at the United Nations Development Program. Ms. Byanyima is a signatory to her country’s 1985 peace agreement and has helped to broker and support women’s participation in peace processes in Rwanda, South Africa, Burundi, Sudan and other countries emerging from conflict. She co-founded a 60-member Global Gender and Climate Alliance of civil society, bilateral and multilateral organizations and chaired a UN-wide task force on gender aspects of the Millennium Development Goals, and on climate change. She has served on numerous global boards and commissions including the African Capacity Building Foundation and the International Centre for Research on Women. She holds a M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering in Energy Conservation and the Environment (University of Cranfield), and a B.Sc. in Aeronautical Engineering (University of Manchester). She began a five-year term leading Oxfam International on May 1 2013.
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About Oxfam International: Oxfam is a world-wide development organization that mobilizes the power of people against poverty.
Myrna Atalla
Executive Director of Alfanar
Myrna Atalla serves as Alfanar’s Executive Director. Since 2010, Myrna Atalla has overseen Alfanar’s growth and expansion. Prior to joining Alfanar, Atalla worked for the National Democratic Insititute for International Affairs (NDI) in Beirut, Lebanon from 2004 to 2008, managing its civil society strengthening partnerships. Atalla also engaged in regional initiatives, including women’s candidate training and international election observation missions in Egypt, Jordan Morocco, and Yemen. Atalla holds a BA in International Relations from Brown University and a dual-degree Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from Columbia University and the London School of Economics.
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About Alfanar: Alfanar is a venture philanthropy organization to improve the quality of children’s education.
Indy Johar
Co Founder & Executive Director of Dark Matter Labs
Indy is a founding Director of 00 and Dark Matter Labs. An architect by training, Indy is a Senior Innovation Associate with the Young Foundation and a visiting Professor at the University of Sheffield. He co-founded Impact Hub Birmingham and Open Systems Lab, was a member of the RSA’s Inclusive Growth Commission. He is a thought leader in system change, the future of urban infrastructure finance, outcome-based investment, and the future of governance.
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About Dark Matter Labs: Dark Matter Laboratories design institutional infrastructure for a distributed and collaborative future.
Joe Jenkins
Executive Director, Social Impact of The Children’s Society
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About The Children’s Society: The Children’s Society focuses on the well-being of young people with various social services and counseling to meet the necessary needs.
Chris Gibson
Executive Director of FIRST
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About FIRST: FIRST aims to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders.
Dylan Tanner
he Executive Director & Founder of InfluenceMap
Dylan Tanner currently works as the Executive Director and Founder for InfluenceMap.
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About InfluenceMap: InfluenceMap provides information and analysis on the impact of business and finance on the climate crisis.
Catherine Callow
Executive Director of Operations of Knowledge Transfer Network
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About Knowledge Transfer Network: KTN Connects people. To speed up innovation, solve problems and find markets for new ideas.
Andy Bates
Executive Director of Global Cyber Alliance
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About Global Cyber Alliance: Global Cyber Alliance is an international, cross-sector effort designed to confront, address, and prevent malicious cyber activity.
Jim Killock
Executive Director of Open Rights Group
Jim Killock is Executive Director of Open Rights Group.
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About Open Rights Group: Open Rights Group is a non-profit organization that exists to protect civil liberties.
