Who We Are

Staff

The Executive Director and founder of Pi Foundation is Ben Ramsden, also the founder of Pants to Poverty.  Ben started his career in sales and marketing, moving into international development having learned first-hand the impact of man-made poverty after spending 3 years in the Global South. He then led the youth movement for the Make Poverty History campaign before spending two years at Amnesty International working as an international mobilisation coordinator.

The Programme Manager is Emily Stenning.  Emily was recruited based on her experience in initiating and developing  projects and social enterprises in Africa and India.  She has 5 years experience in coordinating successful international relationships and in mentoring micro enterprises.  Emily moved into ethical fashion initially on the agricultural side working with Zameen Organic, a fairtrade organic farmer owned cotton trading company in India.

Board of Trustees

Graham Burden - Supply Chain – CHAIR

Graham was the Sustainable Raw Materials Manager of Marks and Spencer’s introducing Fairtrade, organic and recycled textiles as part of their Plan A sourcing strategy. He retired after 34 years of working with Marks and Spencers in 2008. Since then Graham has started his own consultancy company Sustainable Textile Solutions Ltd.

Devadass Gnanapragassam - Participatory Methodology and Governance –TREASURER

Devadass Gnanapragassam is an organizational development specialist who has been working at Amnesty International for 14 years.  He is currently head of special growth projects within the Mobilization Programme at the International Secretariat in London.  He has in depth knowledge and hands on experience for the appropriate governance of small to medium sized organizations. Previous to his work at Amnesty, he established a very successful NGO called the Legal Resource Centre – providing legal support and advice to marginalized communities in India.

Sophie Johnson –Law – COMPANY SECRETARY

Sophie worked as solicitor at Lovells lawfirm before being called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn in July 2008.  She is currently completing pupillage at a leading London Criminal Defence Chambers.  While a solicitor at Lovells, Sophie was the Pro-Bono Coordinator for Lovells, where she revolutionised the firm’s Pro Bono Strategy.  Sophie has spent time studying international law in Singapore and working as a Legal Officer in New Delhi, India for a leading Human Rights NGO with ECOSOC Special Consultative Status.

Conrad Barwa - Development Economics

Conrad Barwa is a specialist on South Asian economic history. He researched and co-authored a joint report, Global Fund Debt Conversion by Advocacy International and the Global AIDS Alliance. Conrad has a BSc in Economics and Economic History from LSE and an MPhil (with Distinction) from St Anthony's College, Oxford University. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Development Economics at London's School of Oriental and African Studies.

Dr. Audrey Selian - Social Investment

Audrey has a particular interest in sustainable, socially-oriented investments in emerging markets and currently works at Rianta Capital specializing in social investments in India.  Since 2000, Audrey has worked as a consultant for both the International Telecommunication Union at the United Nations and USAID, in areas ranging from e-government research and analysis, to regulatory analyses and the evolution of 3G mobile standards. Audrey has a background in management consulting from PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Dilys Williams - Fashion

Dilys Williams is the Director of Sustainable Fashion at the London College of Fashion.  Her key mission is to embed environmental and ethical design, sourcing and production teaching into the curriculum. Dilys is on the steering panel of "Fashioning an Ethical Industry" a Labour Behind the Label project, which aims to equip students to play an active role in raising standards in the supply chains of the companies they will be working for by providing them with a global overview of the garment industry and an awareness of initiatives for improvement.

Richard Bennett CBE- effective coalitions

Richard Bennett is a freelance consultant specialising in the principles and practice of leading, managing and participating in effective coalitions, networks, confederations and consortia.  Prior to this he was the General Secretary of BOND for over 10 years.  As part of his role within BOND, Richard was made the Chair of Make Poverty History. He has a strong base of experience in both the practical and conceptual side of developing and evaluating a range of organisation support frameworks.