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We’re a multi-disciplinary
team of digital experts with
decades of experience
Dan Sutch
If we can mix the creativity and persistence of charities, funders and nonprofits, with the flexibility and power of digital, we can create incredible social impact. I'm excited about how CAST can help make this happen.
Dan’s responsible for ensuring CAST continually lives by our own mantra – to understand the changing needs of those we seek to support, and adapt our programmes and approach accordingly. This includes a particular focus on how we best organise with others towards a collective ambition and continually identify how CAST can create the most value within and beyond our networks.
Sam Sparrow
It’s a privilege to watch organisations grow in confidence through our programmes, and I’m excited by a future where the social sector have both the tools and the space to design truly user centred services.
Sam leads our digital practice programme at CAST, which focuses on providing social sector organisations with practical training and support in embedding digital in their strategy, services and culture. A passionate and successful digital entrepreneur herself, she also ensures the personal development and emotional needs of anyone on our training programmes are considered and met.
Suraj Vadgama
I love designing and building tech for good products at CAST, and I’m particularly interested in getting all levels of the social sector to use the best processes from digital product development in their work.
Suraj designs, builds and grows digital products and services for good. He’s worked at all levels of the social sector – from leadership to the front-line – and brings a wealth of real world experience on what it takes to deliver user, social and financial value with design, technology and data.
Tori Ellaway
I really enjoy working as part of a close-knit team with charities of all shapes and sizes, and particularly love seeing the positive impact the user centred design can have on the amazing people and organisations we work with.
As service design manager, Tori provides guidance to charities in user-centred service design, and integrating the methodologies they learn back into their organisations. This includes developing new programmes of support, resources and training with our partners, as well as working with our alumni charities to continue to grow their digital services. Tori also provides expertise across all our work on user research and user testing.
Chris Thorpe
I love the point when organisations use technology, data, and digital tools so well, that the technology effectively disappears and all that remains is a better way to interact and hopefully, an improved relationship between organisations and their users.
Chris is a technologist and strategist. He has worked in organisations large and small, and is a great believer in the value of empowered individuals and small, mission-aligned multifunctional teams to lead transformation in any size of organisation. He’s also an advocate for the importance of Open Standards, Open Data, Open Source and for technology described in accessible, everyday terms wherever possible, to drive meaningful innovation whilst not leaving anyone behind.
Ellie Hale
‘Tech for good’ and ‘ethical tech’ is making headlines across the world. I believe charities - with their unparalleled understanding and experience of complex social issues - can be leaders, not laggards, in this exciting movement.
Ellie is responsible for the design, delivery and measurement of our training for charities. As well as well as facilitating many of introductory training sessions, Ellie works to build partnerships with a range of organisations across the country in order to build a strong local support network for charities taking their first steps in digital. She also is a trustee of Quaker Social Action and a volunteer with Animal Aid.
Charné Tromp
I am passionate about user experience and my role at CAST gives me the opportunity to work with charities to explore the potential of digital to address key challenges and effect real change.
Charné is a digital enthusiast and experienced project manager, who has previously worked across communications, publishing and digital teams. She is an advocate for the value of user research and has witnessed first-hand what can be gained by putting users at the forefront of any design process.
Joseph Dudley
Digital tools have the potential to dramatically increase the amount of impact that charities can have, so I'm thrilled to be able to support them in that journey.
Joseph has extensive experience working with charities and building digital tools. As a student, he led UKSEDS, the national student space society, where he built SpaceCareers.uk, a careers website for young people as well as providing many digital tools. He previously worked at the Fair Education Alliance, supporting a coalition of over 150 charities in tackling educational inequality.
Gilly Clyde-Smith
Technology can enable positive social change when it’s used to reinforce the great work that charities are already doing. It’s our job at CAST to cut through the tech-noise and share what works so that charities can benefit from the opportunities that digital, data and technology has to offer.
Gilly has been delivering Digital Services for the past 14 years. She’s led teams in delivering digital strategy and solutions across the commercial and social sector most recently at UK poverty charity, Turn2us. Gilly is coordinating and managing CAST’s multiple programmes to prioritise and deliver quality solutions that will allow charities to scale up their digital practices.
Debby Mulling
Debby is a strong collaborator and change leader, passionate about addressing inequalities and injustices within society through impactful and user-centred initiatives. Bringing organisations and designers together, Debby focusses on accelerating the take-up of digital and design approaches with civic and social organisations through the Catalyst’s network.
"In my experience, you can approach CAST with high expectations, and have them comfortably exceeded. They are a team who deliver. I like working with CAST as they combine real digital expertise with an understanding of the dynamics of the social sector. I'd recommend them for anyone who wants to put technology and users at the heart of their work, and to see results quickly"
Our Board
Lord Jim Knight
Education, technology and digital inclusion expert. Former Labour Schools minister, Chief Education Adviser at TES Global Ltd.
Mary McKenna MBE
Tech entrepreneur and angel investor, Entrepreneur in residence at the NI Science Park, Digital Catapult Advisory Network member,.
Nat Hunter
Social, digital and communications designer. Founder of Airside, former director of design at the RSA and director of Machines Room.
Emma Thomas
CEO of YoungMinds, the UK’s leading children and young people’s mental health charity,with wide-ranging experience across commercial and third sectors, as well as working at the BBC developing new digital services and campaigns.