Meet the Team
Natasha Ferguson
Chief Operating Officer
Natasha’s appointment comes full circle, as an alumnus, former programme manager and freelance consultant for the Foundation. Having returned in 2023, she is now leading the Foundation through a change and transformation programme to position the 2024- 2027 growth strategy.
Focusing on national expansion, she will diversify partnership opportunities to expand flagship programmes and partners in new industries while overseeing the charity’s day-to-day operations.
Natasha is an international communications specialist with over 15 years of experience across industries in the consumer, corporate and not-for-profit sectors. As a former journalist, editor and EU strategic communications consultant, Natasha’s entrepreneurial expertise and specialist experience across executive recruitment, talent management and career progression over the last seven years underpins her leadership, innovation and future-proofing drive for increasing diverse representation in the workplace.
As a senior talent advisor, Natasha provides global businesses including FTSE companies, SMEs and government institutions with counsel in implementing accountable talent solutions that increase underrepresented diverse talent into senior and executive roles.
Gabrielle Thuesday
Head of Programmes
Joining the Foundation in 2019, Gabrielle is the Head of Programmes and leads the strategic direction and development of the Foundation’s six professional development programmes. With previous project management experience spanning across the educational tech and charity sector, Gabrielle’s expertise in managing the team’s operational programme delivery continues to achieve award-winning success for the young people we support.
As a champion of our core mission, Gabrielle is a people-focused leader who cultivates a culture that promotes productivity, creativity, and growth across her team and our alumni network. She is also the Mental Health Workplace Responder for the Foundation and a neurodiversity awareness and social mobility advocate.
As part of our 2024-2027 growth strategy, Gabrielle will strategically lead the innovation of our programmes alongside increasing our social mobility footprint.
Lucinda Lalor
Finance Manager & Company Secretary
Lucinda is the MVP at the Foundation, as she has been the Finance Manager & Company Secretary for over ten years. As a self-employed consultant, Lucinda is responsible for our finance department. She delivers the planning and management of our finances and maintains and develops financial systems and processes that are fit for our purpose.
As well as contributing to the Foundation’s strategic planning, Lucinda ensures the Foundation is compliant with all statutory and regulatory requirements as our company secretary.
Jessica Chinegwu
Programme Manager (PR Training Programme)
Jessica joined the Taylor Bennett Foundation in 2023 as a Programme Manager responsible for our award-winning flagship PR Training Programme. Managing the delivery of the eight-week full-time course four times a year, Jessica delivers day-to-day programme, project and stakeholder management for our flagship changemakers; Brunswick Group, HSBC, FGS Global and FTI Consulting. She is also the trained Mental Health Manager for the PR Training Programme.
Before joining the Foundation, Jessica worked at a diversity recruitment company, focused on social mobility, working with Black college students to develop their university applications. She has previous experience in community engagement and programme delivery.
Jessica has a well-built interest in representation and access. She is also an author and cultural entertainment columnist passionate about storytelling, and dedicates the majority of her free time to creative writing, championing stories written by and for diverse voices.
Shanet Mehari
Programme Manager
(Pr Mentoring and TBF x CIPR Reverse Mentoring Programme)
Shanet joined the Taylor Bennett Foundation in 2024 as a Programme Manager responsible for our TBF x CIPR Reverse Mentoring and PR Mentoring Programmes. With experience in mentoring, programme management and fundraising, Shanet supported sixth-formers and university students from disadvantaged backgrounds secure places at top universities and insight and work experience within the legal sector.
Shanet also volunteers at a charity which supports adults and families from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds to engage with their local community and receive support with education and employment.
With a keen interest in improving access, workplace culture, personal development and entrepreneurship, Shanet will focus on the innovation of our mentoring and reverse mentoring programmes to align with our 2024-2027 growth strategy.
