Meet our amazing team

Ukraine Team Lead

Tanya joined USPUK in April 2022. She is from Zaporizhzhia in eastern Ukraine but has now found sanctuary in the UK. Tanya has been an integral member of the team since its inception, utilising her background in product management and her compassion for others to develop effective strategies for refugee resettlement. She currently leads USPUK’s work to support and assist displaced Ukrainians.

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Afghan Team Lead

Anil joined USPUK in 2023 as the Project Lead for USPUK’s Afghan Resettlement Project. Drawing from his personal experience, he passionately dedicates himself to guiding refugees by providing crucial information and connecting them with essential services. Anil works closely with the Afghan community and organizations devoted to aiding refugees, utilising his expertise to advance discussions on migration and foster understanding of refugee-related issues. His ultimate goal is to empower fellow refugees, helping them navigate towards successful pathways despite the challenges they face.

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Lead Consultant

George is the founder of SEJA, a charity focused on accelerating and lifting up social leaders in Brazil and London. He joined USPUK as a consultant during its inception to aid in its establishment and operations. Responsible for team management, George ensures smooth sailing within the organization. He coordinates working trips with partners, donors, and journalists to Poland, supporting the team on the ground and raising awareness of USPUK's work.

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Community Manager

Nasir joined the team in December 2023, bringing with him 19 years of experience in programme and project development and management. He has previously worked with the British Red Cross and UNDP in Kabul before coming to the UK as a refugee. Nasir's role at USPUK involves providing prompt and informed responses to the Afghan cohort seeking advice and guidance in the UK.

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Marketing & Communications Manager

Anna joined the team in February 2023, with a background encompassing marketing, social media management, event execution, and community engagement. Originally from Kharkiv, Ukraine, Anna fled the war in her home country and resettled in the UK. In her role, Anna develops and implements impactful communications and marketing strategies to raise awareness about USPUK's work.

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Lviv Manager

Nadiia has been a caseworker and consultant at USPUK since March 2022. With a background in aviation, she brings over 10 years of customer support experience to her role at USPUK. After the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, she provided consultations in refugee centres in Warsaw for several months before returning to Ukraine later that year to continue her work remotely. She now leads the Ukrainian Sponsorship Project. She is keen to assist people and likes listening to the inspiring stories of Ukrainians who have found refuge in the UK.

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Lviv Team Consultant

Valeriia has also worked at USPUK since March 2022, working from refugee centres in Warsaw and then continuing her work remotely from Lviv. Her principal responsibility is managing the relocation of displaced Ukrainians who have encountered problems in their sponsorship application or who have struggled to find a sponsor. She also acts as an interpreter on the initial ‘matching calls’ between guests and hosts. She is passionate about helping as many people as we can.

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Chair of the Board

Nick founded USPUK in 2022 as a response to the UK government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme and is the chair of USPUK’s board of trustees. He is the executive chair and co-founder of a FT250 listed public company, the Big Yellow Group PLC. Nick has held positions such as vice chair at Bedales Schools and chair of the Finance Committee at the Royal Drawing School. He has been actively involved in human rights issues for a decade, co-founding the Uyghur Tribunal and serving on the China Tribunal. He is also a member of the Board of The Fund For Global Human Rights His dedication to refugee services led to him being awarded a CBE in the 2023 New Year Honours List.

Trustee

Louise brings a wealth of experience to her role as a trustee at USPUK. With a background in HR and business, including leadership positions in two global companies and 29 years at the helm of a City of London-based Search and Selection firm, Louise's expertise is invaluable. She served as Vice Chair of an Independent School for 9 years and currently holds board positions at Herts Sport Partnership and Welwyn Hatfield Community Trust. Additionally, she serves as a Regional Ambassador for parkrun UK and as a Magistrate on the Bedfordshire Bench. Louise has been dedicated to USPUK's mission since its founding in March 2022.

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Trustee

Heather holds Non-Executive Director roles for various esteemed organisations, including the UK Parliament’s Information Authority, the Big Yellow Group PLC, and His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service. Heather is also a member of BSI’s DSAG. Previously, she served as co-chair of the UN Global Working Group on Big Data, Director General for Data Capability at UK ONS, Chair of the UK Open Data User Group, and on the RICS Regulatory Board. With her extensive experience and dedication to humanitarian causes, Heather makes a significant contribution to USPUK's mission in supporting refugees.

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