JO COX FOUNDATION - Key Persons
Amanda joined The Jo Cox Foundation board in early 2022 having admired to Jo's campaigning and advocacy work, particularly for the rights of women and children. Prior to this, she has been on multiple trustee boards and has been involved in political campaigns, always using both routes to amplify the voices of young people in the decisions that affect them. By day, she works for the NHS and lives in London.
Job Titles:
- Operations and Projects Officer
Danny joined the team in September 2023 as Operations Assistant and added Yorkshire Projects Officer to his role in July 2024 . He previously worked in a number of charitable organisations across the UK, primarily in Events and Fundraising at Bath Festivals, New Wine and St Peter's Hospice among others. He has a degree in Media Writing and loves spending time with his wife and three children, reading, film and going to gigs with any spare time he has!
Job Titles:
- Executive Director and Co - Founder of Pandemic Action Network
Eloise Todd is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Pandemic Action Network, a global network of more than 350 organisations working to stop future outbreaks from becoming pandemics in every country.
Eloise is an advocacy, policy, campaigns, communications and strategy specialist with over 20 years' experience on international development, health and campaigns, and has worked as a political adviser within the EU institutions, as Global Policy Director of the ONE Campaign and has helped kickstart digital campaigns for free school meals, anti-racism and the fight against Brexit.
Eloise was one of the founding Board members of the Jo Cox Foundation, and was driven to join to honour the memory of her close friend Jo who she met in 2000, and take forward the issues they had a shared interest in.
Job Titles:
- CEO of Youth Charity Redthread
Geethika is currently CEO of Youth Charity Redthread and has 20 years experience as a senior charity and local government leader in children and family services and social justice charities.
Job Titles:
- Civility Commission Manager
Hannah is a policy professional and advocate researcher promoting civility and gender equality in public life. She has worked on local, national and international levels including at the London Borough of Lambeth Council, the UK House of Commons and the United Nations. In addition to her work at the Foundation, Hannah is a DPhil (PhD) Candidate at the University of Oxford. When not working, she will probably be binge reading another novel.
India joined the team in October 2023. She has previously worked and volunteered in charitable organisations that focus on mental health, community building, international human rights and women's rights. With degrees in Cultural Studies and Gender & Sexuality - she is committed to expanding her understanding and advocating for compassion-led working. Outside of work, she can usually be found baking or reading.
Job Titles:
- Evaluation and Impact Manager
Jennie has worked in the charity sector for over 10 years, managing evaluation, impact measurement and community cohesion projects for multiple charities. She has worked across varied sectors including care, health, education and the environment with a specialism and passion for work that tackles loneliness and isolation in communities. Outside of work, Jennie has been a charity trustee and creative mentor for an arts and disability charity in Bristol. She is also a trained illustrator and has illustrated for a number of children's books.
Job Titles:
- Jennie Is Director of the Consultancy Firm Impact Works Associates, Working With a Range of Social Change Organisations on Strategy and Impact
She has been a leader in international development, working on policy and programmes, in government, funders, the UN and NGOs, and on humanitarian, long-term development and influencing initiatives for over 20 years.
Jennie has previously held senior roles in Comic Relief, Oxfam, the UK Department for International Development and Christian Aid, and was previously a trustee for the Oxfordshire Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre.
Meena joined the Foundation in November 2021 to manage and grow the More in Common Network nationally. Her experience of working with different communities spans over 18 years, with a special interest in meaningful engagement with seldom-heard groups and community cohesion. Her previous roles include managing the community-led Big Local initiative in Bradford, where she supported local people to work together and spend £1 million to improve their neighbourhoods. Meena is a Batley-born Yorkshire lass who has a keen interest in connecting communities to build long-term positive relationships.
Nisha Jani is a (trainee) Medical Herbalist and experienced Complementary Therapist specialising in supporting people affected by cancer. She is a passionate believer in equality, fairness and kindness.
Her life was immeasurably improved when she made friends with Jo Leadbeater (before she was Cox!) at university and as a Jo Cox Foundation Trustee she aims to carry on the work Jo cared about.
Penny joined the foundation in February 2022 as Communities Officer to support and develop the More in Common Network. She has worked and volunteered for many community groups, charities, universities and in the public sector. Her focus is on connecting people and resources, enabling people to speak up in decision making processes, and sharing learning, to promote wellbeing and social justice and reduce division. In 2019 she set up an online peer support group for community helpers around North Staffordshire where she lives. Her favourite things are fresh air, community singing in many languages, and great theatre, film and TV.
Job Titles:
- Public Affairs and Policy Manager ( Loneliness )
Rebecca joined the Jo Cox Foundation in January 2025, bringing over a decade of experience in the charitable sector. Before joining the Foundation, she worked in homelessness, leading cross-sector partnerships to tackle the issue through innovative, whole-society approaches. Passionate about upholding Jo Cox's legacy, Rebecca is dedicated to building stronger, more connected communities and addressing the growing challenge of loneliness on a national scale. Outside of work, Rebecca enjoys creative writing and supporting local community organisations.
Job Titles:
- Head of Community Programmes
Richard joined the team in November 2022 as our Connection Coalition Manager. He is now our Head of Community Programmes. He previously worked with communities across the UK to take action for national behaviour change at Mind (on mental health stigma and discrimination) and at Parkinson's UK. He's taught in schools in East London and Shropshire, and in community groups in Nicaragua. He has studied Fine Art, Psychology and Psychotherapy, and loves gardening, painting, running and exploring the local landscape with his young family.
Job Titles:
- Yorkshire Programme Manager
Rory joined the team in January 2025 as Yorkshire Programme Manager. He has previously worked across Yorkshire leading on co-producing mental health and community development services as well as leading on and facilitating arts for health and community arts projects with a frequent focus on music-making in migration contexts. Uniting all Rory's work is a commitment to asset-based approaches and shifting power back to communities. Rory holds a global profile in the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) movement including delivering training with ABCD Institute in Chicago, USA. Rory is also a PhD candidate conducting participatory research on community music-making as social and political activism in global struggles for justice. In any spare time Rory can be found walking the dog or playing jazz, blues, funk & soul music.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Interim Chair
Rosamund Blomfield-Smith spent 30 years in the City, latterly as a director of both Rothschilds and ING Barings, but since 2003 has been non-executive.
She has served on many boards, including Thames Water and Hartpury Agricultural College and is currently chairman of Museum of London Archaeology and a member of Ofgem's Challenge Group.
She and her husband rear traditional breeds on their 386-acre farm in Herefordshire.
Job Titles:
- CEO of a Growing Multi Academy Trust
Sam is the CEO of a growing Multi Academy Trust based in the heart of Batley and Spen in Yorkshire, and a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching. Sam is passionate about the positive impact education can have on transforming young people's lives, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Sam also believes that schools can be the social glue that hold communities together, and building stronger together networks of young people, families and educators can help build stronger, more united communities.
Sam was privileged to meet Jo Cox many years ago when they were both working in Batley, and she became a trustee to help build a legacy to Jo and continue the great work Jo started around building stronger communities, empowering women-young and old, and building a society that is stronger, fairer, happier, healthier and more equitable for everyone.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Consultancy Firm Portland
Steve is Chair of the consultancy firm Portland. Previously he worked in 10 Downing Street and as a spokesman for the European Commission in Brussels. He and Jo became friends at university.
Will joined the team in November 2021 as Head of Operations and Finance and was appointed Interim CEO in September 2024. He's previously worked for a variety of charities in the youth, education and LGBTQ sectors, undertaking a range of roles which have led him to working in charity operations. Will is a serial volunteer with a keen interest in governance and is currently a governor at his local secondary school and the Chair of Derbyshire Mind. He lives in Derbyshire with his two dogs, where he is a District and Parish Councillor.