Staff
David Johnston, Chief Executive Officer
David joined the Social Mobility Foundation having been the first Director of Future, a charity which supports organisations working with young people and which is the sponsor of Pimlico Academy, a secondary school for 1300 pupils in the heart of London.
He was previously Coordinator of the Oxford Access Scheme, where he ran a range of one day and residential programmes for 10-18 year olds to raise their aspirations and encourage them to consider higher education and the University of Oxford.
In addition to being a governor at Pimlico, he is a governor of a sixth form college in East London and is on the board of an organisation for 11-16 year olds in Oxfordshire. David has a BA in Modern History and Politics from the University of Oxford.
Jade Broughton, School & College Relations Manager
Having graduated with a degree in English Literature and Language from Oxford University (BA Hons), Jade undertook a PGCE, teaching English in an Oxfordshire comprehensive school prior to joining the SMF. Whilst at University, she pursued her interest in widening access to Higher Education by volunteering for various schemes and organisations.
Samantha Barker, Employer Relations Manager
Before joining the Social Mobility Foundation, Samantha worked as Policy Manager for Employment and Skills at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, the largest Chamber in the UK with over 5,000 members. Here, she advised firms on relevant education, training and employment policy issues and represented the views of industry to local government, Whitehall and the media.
Prior to this, she was Education Programme Manager at the Manchester United Foundation and worked closely with the Food Standards Agency on a project to improve the health and wellbeing of pupils of school age. She has also worked as an Education Development Officer at Save the Children, where she was involved in a number of projects and campaigns aimed at bringing about positive changes for disadvantaged young people.
Samantha is a qualified teacher and has previously been a Lower School Coordinator for English at secondary school level. She has a BA (Hons) in English Language and Literature and a PGCE from the University of Manchester and is currently studying part-time at the University of Bristol for an MSc in Policy Research.
Matthew Browne, E-Mentoring Coordinator and Employer Projects Officer
Matthew graduated from the University of Nottingham in 2008 after reading Politics and American Studies before completing his PGCE at the Institute of Education in 2009.
Tom Bateman
Tom recently graduated from Queen Mary University with a history degree. For the last two years, while at university, Tom has been working as mentor in a sixth form college in East London as well as volunteering with young people as a football coach in South London.
Sheena Bhadresa
Sheena recently graduated from Kings College, London, with a law degree. During her time at university, she developed a particular interest in family law and the legal issues surrounding children. Sheena has worked part time at a children’s education centre and has also volunteered at several primary schools in the East London area.
Katharine Sanders
Katharine graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2007 with a degree in History and went on to complete an MA in Governance and Public Policy at the University of Manchester. Whilst Studying in Manchester, Katharine worked as an Aimhigher Associate and a tutor on the University of Manchester Access Programme.