Mel Leung (she/her)

Programme Manager

Mel joined InCommon in May 2023 as the Programme Manager for Digital Platform & Communities. Previously, Mel has worked in tech start ups and has most recently worked at the charity, FareShare UK. She is passionate about making tech accessible for all ages and making everyone feel welcome and valued. Alongside her work with InCommon, Mel supports over 60s to use their phones and laptops and rescues surplus food with The Felix Project.

Sarena Shetty (she/her)

Programme and Partnerships Lead

Sarena rejoined InCommon in June 2023 as Programme and Partnerships Lead after previously working with the charity through the social innovation programme Year Here. Alongside working for InCommon she ran a consulting project for the East End Community Foundation on their older person funding strategy and launched a prototype digital inclusion service. Following Year Here, she worked for Participatory City Foundation as their lead programmes designer. Currently she’s a Civic Futures Fellow developing an intergenerational activism project and volunteers for Age UK. She’s deeply passionate about the importance of intergenerational connection in creating resilient communities that leave no one behind.

Hannah Kayi Mason (she/her)

CEO

Hannah is strategic leader, and cultural producer, working at the intersection of inclusion, art and community within the public and private sectors. She has over 20 years’ experience in the arts, media and social business sectors. With a love for all things creative, her experience spans music, theatre, digital media, contemporary visual arts and heritage. Previously, as the Head of Social Entrepreneur Support at UnLtd, Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs, she managed a complex portfolio of awards by finding, funding and supporting social entrepreneurs from the most marginalised communities with solutions to change society for the better. She is Chair of the Board of Trustees for the West Yorkshire Print Workshop and a non-executive Director at Creative United. Most weekends you can find her in a gallery or walking her 12 year old Jackapoo.

Michaela Tranfield (she/her)

Programme Manager

Michaela joined InCommon in 2022. Previously, she worked in social mobility and for a social 'think-do' tank. Michaela is passionate about the power of intergenerational connection to create social change and greater radical care in our communities. She grew up having very formative relationships with older people in her local community and has had daily phone calls with her grandad for as long as she can remember. Alongside her work with InCommon, she is a creative associate and freelances as a content writer and podcast producer.

Amber Newlands (she/her)

Programme Officer (Jack Petchey Intern)

Amber joined InCommon in March 2024 as Programme Officer. Previously working in a Secondary School as a Teaching Assistant, Amber grew passionate about the power of intergenerational connections when facilitating a Christmas Party for the residents of a local retirement home. Watching how the younger and older guests effortlessly integrated with one another and the joy this brought all who attended, is a key motivator for Amber in her work at InCommon. Outside of work, Amber is driven by a love for the environment, volunteering for the Countryside Charity to research rural affordable homes.

Rosie Shambrook (she/her)

Programme Officer

Rosie joined InCommon in September 2023 as Programme Officer. Growing up surrounded by people of all ages in her family home and volunteering at her local community social club, she developed a keen interest in creating positive connections. Focusing her undergraduate dissertation on an intergenerational project she volunteered with, she felt inspired to build her experience in the social care and charity sector before joining the team at InCommon.

Rosanna Hutchings (she/her)

Communications and Fundraising Manager

Rosanna joined InCommon as Communications and Fundraising Manager in June 2023. A former volunteer for East London Cares, she is a strong supporter of community-based intergenerational connections. Rosanna has worked for several small charities, including children's educational charity the Literacy Pirates. Outside of work she loves to read and can often be found running around Hackney's parks.

Our Co-Founders

Charlotte Whittaker and Laura Macartney started InCommon in 2017 after participating in Year Here’s social innovation programme. They met on the programme, bonding over their interest in supporting us all to stay connected to our communities as we grow older. InCommon still believes in making this vision a reality, and the organisation stays true to the values they set out 6 years ago.

Charlotte Whittaker (she/her)

Growing up, Charlotte had close relationships with grandparents and older friends that made her passionate about the value of having friends of all ages. After university Charlotte became a Year Here Fellow, spending time working in a care home and learning to apply social innovation tools to the challenges of later life. After meeting Laura, they founded InCommon to bring people of different ages together for meaningful connection. Charlotte featured on the Women in Social Enterprise 2019 list and is a Fellow of the School for Social Entrepreneurs.

Laura Macartney (she/her)

After working in education, theatre and development across Spain and Latin America, Laura decided to focus on a social issue a bit closer to home and spent time working with older people in the social care sector. Laura was struck by the lack of opportunities for older people to stay connected to their communities in later life, and believes that we all benefit when we are all included. Laura has been named as one of the WISE 100 top women in social enterprise and has won an UnLtd social enterprise award for her work with InCommon.

Trustees & Advisors

Kirsty Allerton (she/her)

Currently on maternity leave

Kirsty is Head of Programme (Mentoring) at The Diana Award - a a charity legacy to Diana, Princess of Wales’ belief that young people have the power to change the world. Prior to that Kirsty was Head of Frontline Innovation at Year Here, a postgraduate course designed to cultivate entrepreneurial approaches to entrenched social problems. Previously she forged a career in public health and consumer healthcare at Johnson & Johnson Ltd, and worked for the Sozo Foundation, a grassroots NPO based in one of Cape Town’s oldest townships.

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Hector Smethurst (he/him)

Hector founded and runs Appt Health, a healthtech social enterprise that uses behavioural science and accessible digital technology to increase public participation in preventative healthcare. Hector is passionate about finding pragmatic solutions to social problems - including finding sustainable, scalable ways to support the ageing population in the UK. He believes that connecting generations can help achieve this and simultaneously address the wider social determinants of health.

Simren Priestley (she/her)

Simren is a corporate and financial communications specialist with over fifteen years’ global experience, both in agency and in-house, and has worked extensively across the UK and European, US and Asian markets, having lived and worked in both London and Singapore during her career. She is currently Head of Communications at BC Partners, a leading alternative investment manager focused on private equity, credit, and real estate, with deep networks across Europe and North America. Simren holds a BA Hons from University of Lees in English Literature. She is passionate about literacy and education and is a Trustee on the Board of Directors of the English Speaking Board and a Co-Opted School Governor at Canonbury Primary School in North London. Simren grew up moving around Southeast and East Asia, predominantly Hong Kong. She lives in Earlsfield with her Partner and dog, Huckleberry.

Anthony Wheeler (he/him)

Interim Chair

Anthony is passionate about social action and education. He first became a trustee at 21 and has volunteered for and supported a number of organisations including Routes into Languages, Getting on Board and widening participation initiatives at the University of Cambridge. He was also a founding ambassador for the Young Trustees Movement, working to diversify trustee boards and continues to mentor on their Board Boost Programme. Most recently, he was the Chair of Trustees at Cambridge Student Community Action. In his day job, he’s a CIM qualified Marketing Manager at Dukes Education, a family of nurseries, schools and colleges. He became a Chartered Marketer in summer 2021.

Sue McDonald (she/her)

Sue is the Director of Finance at Nesta - the UK’s innovation agency for social good. Prior to that Sue was the Head of Finance for the Competition Commission (now merged to be the Competition & Markets Authority) and was the lead accountant for the National Audit Office. She has spent her working career within the not-for-profit sector and is passionate about making finance not just a supporting role within an organisation but part of its strategy.

Caroline Gordon (she/her)

Caroline is the founder of Mix Partners, a coaching and advisory business focused on team performance, impact and cohesion. Prior to this, she spent two decades working in campaigns and public affairs. Most recently, she was Partner and Head of Health at WA Communications, building and leading an award-winning team delivering public affairs and communications across the healthcare sector. She has also worked for national and local politicians and several charities working in social policy. She strongly believes in the power of human connection to improve lives – regardless of age or background.

Harmony Chan (she/her)

Harmony brings her commitment to social entrepreneurship and volunteering together with her background in finance. She has worked and volunteered in secondary and primary schools, including developing a social action programme and running an arts and crafts club. She believes in building strong and healthy communities by connecting with people from all walks of life. In her day job, Harmony makes social investments at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, an independent social change organisation focused on ending poverty in the UK.

Rose Delfino (she/her)

Rose has over ten years experience in the third sector and is passionate about the power of bringing people together to change things for the better. She is currently Senior Innovation Manager at Macmillan Cancer Support where she is piloting new initiatives to improve equitable access to early diagnosis and treatment for people living with cancer. Before this, she worked at Year Here as Head of Innovation and Programmes, which is where she came across InCommon and became completely inspired by their excellent work. She lives in North London with her partner and is currently trying and failing to adopt a cat.

Brian Hodkinson (he/him)

Brian represents our Intergenerational Panel. He has always enjoyed working with children, from his days as a Scout Leader to running residential weekends for young people at his church. He has lived in Australia, spending three years studying at the University of Adelaide. In his career, he has worked as a prison officer, supporting children removed from their home by the courts. This experience has shown him how important it is to support children and give them good opportunities. Brian has been a volunteer for our programmes since 2019, taking part in over 20 intergenerational workshops.

Eric Hodges (he/him)

Advisor

Eric has over 20 years of community development, social investment and business start up experience. Most of his experience has been focused on investing in and supporting the charity sector and social enterprises. Specialising in governance, strategic planning, change management and business development, Eric brings an energy that is acutely focused on user outcomes and organisational goals. During his ten years working on investing in local communities within the Social Housing sector, Eric oversaw a range of projects that supported some of the most vulnerable people in UK society. From InCommon’s inception Eric has played a role as an advocate, ambassador, and advisor. He is excited by the potential for intergenerational connection to improve people’s lives!