Yasmine Davies | Autistica
I’m a highly motivated, proactive and experienced fundraiser, always working to expand my horizons and try new things. I am proud to have worked in the charity sector since leaving university, primarily in roles covering corporate and major donor fundraising, but also collaborating with colleagues and managing junior staff across multiple forms of fundraising.
I started my career at the Woodland Trust, where I gained an incredible grounding in top-quality account management and business development as part of a highly successful corporate fundraising team.
Since moving to London, I have worked at Autistica, the UK’s leading autism research charity, for over four years, leading both major donor and corporate fundraising. I have secured gifts from donors ranging from a few thousand pounds up to a million (Autistica’s first ever corporate donation at that level) and led corporate partnerships across financial services, retail and media. I created the charity’s first gala dinner which smashed its fundraising target and brought in many new donors.
My passion is creating those breakthrough moments with supporters and prospective supporters: working with major donors one-to-one often for years to find just the right project for them to fund or delivering large-scale events which inspire and enthral a crowd. I feel so lucky to be working for Autistica - it’s a fantastic, fast-growing organisation with an incredibly tightly knit, energetic team and I have the opportunity daily to meet truly inspiring people using the power of science to ensure people with autism can live longer, happier, healthier lives.
Tonia Ashikodi | Mumtrepreneur Club
Tanya Compas | The Change Foundation
Natalie Campbell | A Very Good Company
Trishna Bharadia | MS Society
I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis aged 28, in 2008, and since then have become a leading and award-winning advocate for people with MS/chronic illness/disability, using my experiences to help others, largely through charitable work.
I’m a full-time translator but in my spare time collaborate with organisations in the UK and abroad, including MS Society (Ambassador), Sue Ryder, the Wheelchair Dance Sport Association (Patron), the Cambridge MS Therapy Centre (Patron), Asian MS (Newsletter Editor and Committee member), the MS Trust, MS-UK, the European MS Platform, Disability Horizons, the Patient Information Forum, and various pharmaceutical companies, among others, to raise awareness about MS/chronic illness, improve support for people living with chronic illness/disability, and improve patient and volunteer engagement.
I speak at events and in the media about issues affecting people with MS/chronic illness/disability, campaign, write, vlog, blog, advise on health projects/research studies and educate pharmaceutical staff and healthcare professionals about living with MS/chronic illness. I’m on the steering committee for the The World vs MS Project run by Sanofi Genzyme, as well as being a member of “The Ozone” virtual round table for key opinion leaders across healthcare specialties by Oyster Healthcare. In 2015 I put MS on the national map by appearing in the first ever “People’s Strictly for Comic Relief” on BBC1, a four-part Strictly Come Dancing spin-off, in recognition of my charity work. I’m regularly asked to speak at conferences and workshops on topics ranging from living with chronic illness, improving patient engagement and volunteering.
I’ve been pioneering within the Asian community, where chronic illness/disability (especially for women) is still not talked about openly.
My charitable work has had a profound impact on the world of MS, particularly when it comes to increasing understanding and showing people how living a positive life is possible with chronic illness.