LfL is a small organisation with a commitment to keeping down overheads to ensure that the maximum resources reach the field. We have three full-time staff in our London office.

We are supported by a team of committed volunteers, who bring a variety of skills and experiences. Many have a strong background in development or education, and experience of living and/or working in the developing world.
LfL also has a group of expert advisors, leading academics and professionals in the fields of development and education, who are able to provide us with specialist advice as required.

Ujwala Samant - Director
Ujwala joined Learning for Life in November 2003. Prior to that she was a senior researcher at the National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy at Rutgers University, USA. Her research foci included immigrant education, ESOL, engagement by learners in formal education, and cross-cultural communication. She has taught at the International Literacy Institute at the University of Pennsylvania, and been a consultant in the field of development, education and gender. Her doctoral research examined the links between literacy and social change amongst women in Mumbai slums. She has helped in organising the gender and education archives for the National Institutes for Literacy (USA) and presented at national and international conferences on issues of education, gender, social change and inter-cultural communication. Ujwala's hard work was recognised in May 2007 when she received an Asian Women of Achievement 2007 award

Rokunuz Zaman - Programmes Officer
Zaman joined Learning for Life as Programme Officer in April 2007. He has a degree in Humanities from Rajshahi University in Bangladesh with work experience including The British Leprosy Relief Association, Disability and Development Partners, Health Link Worldwide and Handicap International to name a few. Zaman has experience in developing, designing and managing projects, training and supporting NGO's, strategic planning, and fundraising.

Mehreen Syed - UK Schools Programmes Officer
Mehreen joined Learning for Life as a volunteer in June 2006 after completing her MA in European Business from Royal Holloway. During the course of her Masters she became increasingly interested with Business Ethics, which led her to write a dissertation on the financial impact of CSR investment on European petroleum firms. Mehreen first became involved with Learning for Life in October 2005 following the devastating earthquake in South Asia, when she organised a charity dinner and auction for 350 people which raised over £10,000 for Learning for Life and MSF.

Rebecca Harrison - Programmes Assistant
Rebecca joined Learning for Life as a volunteer in July 2006 after completing a degree in politics at the University of Warwick and returning from a period of seven months traveling across Africa, Australia and South America. During the course of her travels Rebecca spent some time in a youth organization in Africa and recognized the importance of education in development, which in turn led to her interest in LfL. Rebecca was employed as Programmes Assistant in January 2007.

We are fortunate to have Lisa B as our patron; please click here to find out more about her work for the organisation.

Susan Gibson - Chair of Trustees
Susan has been an international training consultant and microfinance programme advisor since 1992. She has extensive experience conducting workshops and seminars for management and staff from international NGOs, UN agencies and donor governments in more than 50 countries. Susan has designed and implemented eight microfinance programmes in South America, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and the Caribbean. Prior to entering the microfinance field, Susan trained at the Bank of Nova Scotia, an international commercial bank, and then went on to be a professional corporate fundraiser at United Way in Toronto.

Rohan Hewavisenti - Treasurer
Rohan is the Director of Finance and Resources at Breast Cancer Care. He has worked in the not-for-profit sector for 10 years. After qualifying as an accountant, he worked for Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) in China, for Sayer Vincent, an audit firm specialising in the not-for-profit sector, as Head of Audit for Action Aid, and as Principal Auditor and Risk Adviser at the Strategic Rail Authority.

Chris Hough
Chris joined the board of Learning for Life in 2004. He is a barrister practising in the fields of medical law and catastrophic personal injury, and a Director of a charity supporting medial facilities and staff in Orissa, India.

Cyrus Todiwala, MBE
Cyrus is Proprietor and Executive Chef of the Café Spice Namasté restaurant group. Cyrus graduated from Mumbai's Catering College and trained as a chef with the famous Taj Group, India. He moved to Europe in 1991 and now runs two London restaurants - Café Spice Namasté in the City, and The Parsee in Highgate. In 2000, Cyrus was awarded an MBE in recognition of his extensive knowledge, skill, commitment and expertise in the restaurant and catering industry. Cyrus is a passionate believer in'lifelong learning' and is a pioneer of training and development schemes within the catering industry. Cyrus has also been a member of the National Advisory Council for Education and Training Targets since 1999.

Laurence Percival
Laurence Percival has spent a 24-year career in marketing and advertising in both creative and management roles. Beginning as a writer and Creative Director, he created campaigns for major brands like The Sunday Times, Intercontinental Hotels, British Airways and Nike. His campaign 'The Sunday Times is The Sunday Papers' is one of the longest running in UK advertising.
In 2002 Laurence founded Electric, an advertising agency structured to simplify the whole process of generating big ideas, and involve clients in genuinely interactive creative development.
Laurence joined the board of Trustees in 2004 and has is responsible for re-branding of Learning for Life. Laurence and his staff at Electric have been instrumental in transforming our website into its current vivid form and developing and producing all recent marketing materials.

Shernaz Engineer
Shernaz's career in recruitment has spanned 25 years. She is the founder of Verity Appointments, primarily a legal secretarial agency, and then Verity Education, an agency which supplies permanent and temporary staff to schools and other educational establishments.
In addition to joining Learning for Life's board of Trustees in 2004 Shernaz is an active member of European Federation of Black Women Business Owners and was EFBWBO winner in 2000. Shernaz was awarded the 'London Day Business Award' by Ken Livingstone in 2003 for making a difference to life in the Capital. She is Vice-Chair of Governors of Charlotte Sharman School in Southwark, a member of Bank of England Small Business Advisory Panel, and a board member of the Equal Opportunities Commission investigation into Pregnancy Discrimination.

Elizabeth Horgan-Novarro
Elizabeth Horgan-Novarro is an Irish citizen who was born and educated in Ireland and spent several years living and working in New York. Elizabeth was formerly a product development professional with Liz Claiborne and Polo Ralph Lauren. Elizabeth was an associate with St. Andrews Textiles, a textile and apparel producer based in New York.
Elizabeth holds a university degree in British Literature from Hunter College and a university degree in Textile Development and Marketing from the Fashion Institute of Technology and is a member of the British Textile Counsel. During her time in New York, she served Project Outreach Ireland, an Irish charity, for nearly two years.

Minaxi Desai
Minaxi, a seasoned Human Resources expert, has just started working in the charity sector. She is intending to work part-time following her early retirement from HR. She has over 25 years experience in HR starting her career with the Ford Motor Company and has gained experience in the Entertainment Industry (Thorn EMI). She has worked the last 16 years within the Logistics Industry (United Transport International, Danzas, Tibbett & Britten, and Exel). A British citizen, Minaxi is the daughter of Gujarati parents, and was born in Tanzania. She has a BSc Combined Honours in Science, from the University of London and an MA in Administrative Sciences, from the City University Business School. Minaxi is also a member of the Institute of Personal Development (IPD).

Theresa Simon
Theresa chose to make a career in the arts, having studied English Literature at University, followed by a History of Art diploma at Christie’s Education. She set up her own PR business in July 2001, after three years experience with a PR agency that specialised in architecture and design. Theresa Simon Communications focuses on the arts, incorporating visual and performing arts clients into the architecture and design mix. She has built relationships with the Wallace Collection, Arts Council England, London Architecture Biennale, City of London, Archives Libraries Museums London, Zoo Art Fair, Asia House, Canary Wharf Plc and Swiss Re. Theresa joined Learning for Life as a trustee in April 2006.