Led by Dr Alison Wood (Academic Director), Changemakers is supported by Dr Soraya Jones (Senior Programme Lead), a Steering Group, and a Student Ambassadors Group.
We also draw on a network of innovators, academics, philanthropists, professionals, and entrepreneurs to offer the programme, building a courage-motivated community of people within the College and beyond.
Dr Alison Wood
Alison is Academic Director of Homerton Changemakers, and Fellow Homerton College. of Homerton’s pioneering programme on whole-person education, combining two decades of experience building cross-sector and cross-disciplinary initiatives (from healthy ageing to nineteenth-century studies to research leadership) with a research career in the history of intellectual institutions and universities. She recently led a British Academy Network on ‘Critical University Studies’ and is now working with colleagues - in the US, Germany, Italy, South Africa, and India - on the relationship between the future of higher education and sustainability; on scenario planning for the future university; and the future educated self.
Alison holds a BA and MA (Res) in English from the University of Adelaide, and a PhD from King’s College London. She’s worked in 7 different disciplines, including medicine; spent 10 years as a musician and music teacher; and has long-standing interests in psychotherapy, high-performance, leadership, meaningful work, and institutional reform.
Dr Soraya Jones
Soraya Jones is the Senior Programme Lead for the ambitious and innovative Homerton Changemakers Programme. After many years as part of the senior leadership team of Tribal Technology (part of Tribal Group Plc), Soraya became the first CEO of Cambridge Wireless (CW) from 2007 to 2015, where she was successful in growing the business from a one-person company to a membership cluster of over 425 companies and 20 industry-focused Special Interest Groups Forums, making it one of the premier tech clusters in the UK. She stepped down in 2015 to pursue other ventures including becoming an entrepreneur-in-residence at St. John’s Innovation Centre and setting up her own consultancy business. She is also on the board of UEA Innovation Advisory board and is also the INNOVATEUK Ambassador for Women in Innovation. Born in Malaysia, Soraya holds BSc and MSc degrees from Indiana University, USA, and a PhD from the University of Cambridge (Education). She is driven by her passion to promote innovation and entrepreneurship, especially amongst the next generation.
Steering Group
The Steering Group meets once each term, offering oversight and advice to the Changemakers Team.
- Dr Chibeza Agley (Fellow of Homerton College, CEO of Obrizum)
- Dr Penny Barton (Senior Tutor, Homerton College;Chair of the Steering Group)
- Dr Soraya Jones (Minuting Secretary; see above)
- Dr Paul Elliott (Admissions Tutor, Fellow of Homerton College)
- Dr Louise Joy (Vice Principal, Fellow of Homerton College)
- Dr Ros McClellan (Fellow of Homerton College, Faculty of Education)
- Matthew Moss (Director of External Relations and Development, Fellow of Homerton College)
- Aaron Westfall (Fellow of Homerton College)
- Dr Alison Wood (Fellow of Homerton College; see above)
Student Ambassadors Group
Each year Homerton students can apply to become a Changemakers Ambassador. The Student Ambassadors Group meets once each term with the Academic Director and Senior Programme Lead, advising on all aspects of the Changemakers Programme. Ambassadors also have the chance to join Steering Group meetings and develop experience in governance; access bespoke leadership training and opportunities for volunteering; and gain support for their own initiatives and events if they wish.
The Network: Lecturers, Mentors and Champions
Changemakers benefits from an outstanding group of people - from business, politics, not-for-profits, the arts, medicine, sport, law, tech, academia and NGOS - who generously contribute hands-on to programme events, mentor students, and champion Changemaker work (and lively connections) in many sectors.
More info coming soon.
Find out more
Student Ambassadors
Student AmbassadorsHomerton Changemakers
Homerton ChangemakersRelated Pages
Testimonials
“Above all, I feel empowered by the opportunity that Changemakers have given me to deeply connect and exchange ideas with like-minded people of all ages and backgrounds - and a powerful reminder that it is up to our generation, each and every one of us, to make this world a better place to live in.”
Changemakers has introduced me to a community of wonderful and inspiring people. Each Changemaker event I have attended has left me feeling energised and excited to tackle the big challenges our world is facing today. Having the right values, tools, attitude and people on my side has emboldened me to champion radical positive change.
"The world has come undone and I would like to change it every day. Change does not come at once, it is a wave, building before it breaks. I support Changemakers because I am part of that wave committed to a present moment rooted in satisfaction for all"
"Homerton Changemakers is a brilliant and necessary invitation for us to raise our game as humans. To explore how to draw new maps for a world with a future.”
"Homerton Changemakers helped me realise how much push for change there currently is - the programme creates a supportive environment to channel it into proper changemaking."