Who We Are

Director of Communications – Julia Cream and Victoria Flint: Julia and Victoria both have strong backgrounds in leading communications strategy for the non–profit sector. Victoria started out handling media enquiries for Damien Hirst’s formaldehyde sheep while at Goldsmiths College. She then led corporate communications at Asthma UK where she developed award-winning websites and worked on the rebranding of the charity. Later, as a freelance communications consultant, Victoria worked for the Department for Children, Schools and Families, the Audit Commission and the National Childminders Association. Julia began her communications career at Sense, the national deafblind charity, and then managed communications and public affairs at the Alzheimer’s Society, including successful campaigns such as access to drugs and paying for care. She later worked freelance for the Department of Health, and produced a set of questions for patients to ask their doctor. Prior to joining FPI, Julia was head of communications at TimeBank, the national volunteering charity.

Victoria and Julia both worked at The Health Foundation, where they shared leadership for the communications department. Victoria managed the re-launch of the organisation with new name and corporate identity. Julia led on developing the Foundation’s policy influencing, corporate affairs and campaign work. Julia and Victoria have three young children between them who provide an excellent in-house market research facility for testing out new product and service ideas.

Marketing Manager – Ruth Lawrence: Ruth manages the FPI’s marketing and publishing. She is an information marketing specialist with particular market experience with parents and families; legal professionals; central and local government; health and education. Originally qualified as a lawyer, with an MA from Cambridge University, she was Head of Publishing and Multimedia at the Law Society for 10 years, before moving on to the Family and Parenting Institute via secondary education languages publishing with Nelson Thornes. She believes that digital information offers a truly revolutionary and democratic way forward for marketing information to families and those who work with them and is engaged in marketing a number of exciting new FPI projects.

Media and Information Manager – Priya Shah

Director of Finance and Operations – Virginia Grace: Virginia is Director of Finance and Operations. She has been working with FPI since June 2010, since her return from two years overseas working as Financial Secretary to the Government of St Helena. Before that she held the position of Finance and Corporate Services Director in several charities and housing associations in the UK. She is a chartered accountant and spent 5 and a half years with Coopers & Lybrand before joining the not for profit sector. She has also held a number of non-executive and technical advisory roles associated with the third sector.

Finance Manager – Beth Haile: Beth joined FPI as Finance Officer in May 2007. Prior to joining FPI she worked for Kings College London Student Union as a Finance Assistant and Middlesex University as a Junior Researcher. She has a BA Hons Accounting and Computing from London Metropolitan University and a Post-graduate Diploma in Charity Accounting and Financial Management from South Bank University.

Senior Administration Officer – Angela Miller: Angela joined the FPI as Senior Administration Officer in May 2011. Prior to the FPI Angela worked for the Institute of Healthcare Management as Office Manager and Membership & Events Administrator for four years where she was responsible for all membership administration, keeping the office running and liaising with staff at all levels within the NHS. She has also worked as a Course Administrator arranging GP placements for medical students within the Department of Primary Care & Population Sciences at UCL. Angela graduated from Nottingham Trent University with a BA(Hons) Business Studies in June 2005.

PA/Administrator - Llewellyn Mauricio: Llewellyn joined FPI as PA for Chief Executive and Director of Finance in March 2011. Prior to FPI, she worked as an Administrator for Platform2 at Christian Aid and BUNAC, an international development volunteering programme responsible for volunteer recruitment and organising national and local events. Llewellyn graduated from University of Lincoln in 2007.

PA/Administrator – Swati Patel: Swati joined FPI in January 2008 as a Communications Administrator. From October 2010 following the restructure, her job title changed to PA/Administrator. Her main role at FPI has been organising events. She has also been responsible for publications, journals/membership and general administration. Prior to FPI, she worked for Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants where she was casework/policy administrator. This entailed providing administrative support to solicitors/caseworkers dealing with immigration cases. JCWI also ran seminars with other human rights organisations.

Director of Research and Policy - Peter Grigg: Peter joined FPI in May 2011. Previously, as Assistant Director for Enterprise UK, Peter led policy and public affairs activity, research and evaluation work. His work included representing the UK at the G20 young entrepreneur’s summit in Toronto, leading evaluation work across 104 countries as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, campaigning to ensure enterprise was recognised in 14-19 education reforms, and development of a peer-support scheme for young entrepreneurs that secured £1m investment from Virgin Media. Previously Peter worked in further education policy as Head of Strategy Development for the Learning and Skills Improvement Service and at the Learning and Skills Development Agency. After graduating in Social Policy and Government from the London School of Economics, he worked as a researcher for the political adviser, Philip Gould, advising senior political audiences through opinion polling and focus groups. Peter lives in London with his wife and their sleepless baby daughter.

Research and Policy Officer – Dr Yan-Shing Chang:Yan-Shing joined FPI in 2007 as research fellow from the University of Cambridge where she received her MPhil and PhD degrees. She has a background in early years and primary education. She has conducted research into a range of parenting issues including cross-cultural research comparing parental involvement in children’s learning among white English and Chinese ethnic families in England. She has also undertaken research projects on couple relationships support as well as older couples’ health and housing issues.

Policy Officer - Adam Butler

Interim Head of Fundraising - David Nagle: Prior to joining FPI in July 2012 David specialised in developing relationships between the corporate and cultural sectors. As an Account Manager with Kallaway, he worked on a number of national arts, education and community sponsorships before moving to the Science Museum to manage their portfolio of corporate partnerships and sponsorships. Following a brief period as Director of Development at the National Youth Orchestra, David spent some time freelancing in the cultural and charitable sectors before taking up his current role to develop FPI’s work with its partners and supporters

Corporate Development Manager - Charlene Overend: Charlene has had many roles including project delivery, project management and fundraising. In the past five years she has successfully raised over #1.5 million in funding from 35 corporates, trusts and foundations. Charlene graduated with a B.Sc Hons Social Psychology from University of Ulster in 2002.

Project Officer for Family Friendly – Lucy Rex: Lucy originally joined FPI as a volunteer, before taking on a PA/Admin role. Previously she was a Fundraising and Parenting Fund Administrator. She was previously Pensions Administrator for MNPA Ltd. Lucy graduated from University College London in 2008.