Meet The Advisory Board
Astrid Bellay
Astrid an expert in innovation and product development with over 12 years of experience in the cosmetics, skincare, and fragrance industries. As Head of Product Development for Hair Care at Philip Kingsley, she drives market innovation and has previously worked with brands like The Body Shop and L’Oreal, creating-winning products with a focus on sustainability. Passionate about business strategy and inclusive leadership, her values align with FundHerShip’s mission to create a self-sustaining grant model that distributes £10,000 monthly.
Ranjini Sachin
Ranjini is a purpose-driven leader and change strategist. She has successfully led complex transformations across multiple functions and has worked in more than 25 countries throughout her career. She has worked with organisations like EDF Energy, Barclays, Vodafone, PwC, and KPMG, where she has created strategies that boost business growth, drive operational change, and lead to investment success. With her expertise in corporate strategy, change leadership, and governance, she is a vital asset. This expertise helps FundHerShip thrive as a self-sustaining funding model.
Sadia Mir
Sadia is a cultural connector, researcher, and advocate for diversity, inclusion, and equity. With extensive experience in public speaking and advisory roles, she focuses on mental health, local heritage, and health inequity in Greater Manchester and Lancashire. Serving on various advisory groups, she provides strategic insight into systemic change, aligning her dedication with FundHerShip’s mission for equitable funding for Black and Brown women. We are honored to have her expertise in community impact research-led decision-making.
Sheila Nyayieka
Sheila is a seasoned legal expert in mergers and acquisitions, corporate law, and investment transactions, currently serving as Vice President at Swiss Re Management Ltd, UK Branch. She has previously held global M&A counsel roles at SoftwareONE UK and Anjaralla & Khanna Advocates, focusing on multi-jurisdictional investments and corporate governance. With a Master of Science in Law and Finance from the University of Oxford, Sheila enhances FundHerShip with her legal and financial expertise. We are honored to have her on our team, ensuring a sound and strategically managed funding ecosystem.
Nanna Soenya
Nanna, the founder of OmegaSeven and the force behind FundHerShip, brings 20 years of experience in international development and nonprofit consulting, emphasizing grassroots initiatives in the UK Mexico. She excels in organizational development, systems design, and empowering women-led social ventures.
Nanna, as Chair of the FundHerShip Advisory Board, guides the vision for the ecosystem. She does not take part in grant discussions, which keeps the process transparent and community focused.
Her skill in starting from scratch, questioning flawed systems, and creating fair structures is key to FundHerShip’s goal of changing funding for Black and Brown women in the UK.
Angella Johnson
Angella has a long and distinguished career as a print journalist working as a staff writer on major national newspapers for over 30 years. This includes
The Guardian, The Times and the Mail on Sunday, where for 18 years she was a senior features writer covering foreign and international stories. She has always worked passionately to empower women in the workplace. A former member of the Women in Journalism organisation, she mentored and supported young female journalists of colour. Now retired she is a trustee for The Pound charity, a thriving theatre and community centre in Corsham, Wiltshire, where she is a part of the fundraising committee.
Anika Ashraf
Anika, an Australian citizen living and working in London, holds a bachelor's degree in accounting and finance from the University of Technology Sydney and is a Chartered Accountant. With over a decade of management experience in banking and financial services at firms like Crowe Horwath, PwC Australia, Westpac Group, and the London Metal Exchange, her expertise in financial accounting, risk management, and business transformation will ensure FundHerShip's strong governance and long-term sustainability.
Chiedza Museredza
Chiedza is a corporate lawyer specialising in M&A, venture capital, and investment funds. She has worked with top global firms. She advises pension funds, institutional investors, and startups. She is skilled at structuring deals, negotiating deal terms, and navigating the complexities of private equity and venture capital.
She offers expertise in fund structuring, deal negotiations, and legal compliance. She has a background in corporate law, governance, and corporate transactions. This means she will help ensure FundHerShip’s funding distribution is fair and strategic.
We are thrilled that her legal and investment expertise will be invaluable to FundHerShip’s future.
