Our Team

Chief executive, finance and operations

Tony Wong - Chief Executive Officer

Tony WongChief Executive Officer

Tony joined Hackney CVS in November 2018. He has been in the third sector for over ten years and has worked on a range of issues including refugee and asylum seeking women, domestic abuse, and prostate cancer.

In his spare time, Tony keeps a healthy mind and body by going to gym, and has promised himself to take up tennis.

Mark Boisson - Director of Finance and Resources

Mark BoissonDirector of Finance and Resources

Mark joined Hackney CVS in December 2014 as its Finance Director and leads on all aspects of finance including that of our trading subsidiary, City and Hackney Together.

Mark is an experienced accountant and has previously worked at a senior level in a number of not-for-profit and other sectors, most recently in education.

mark@hcvs.org.uk

Berhane Gebrealfa - Senior Finance Officer

Berhane GebrealfaSenior Finance Officer

Berhane has many years of accounting experience, mainly working in the not-for-profit sector.  He had been Finance Officer at Hackney CVS between 2007-12.

He is also a treasurer of a community football club coaching kids between ages 7-18.

berhane@hcvs.org.uk

Delia Mattis  - HR and Operations Manager

Delia Mattis HR and Operations Manager

Delia joined Hackney CVS in January 2023 as HR and Operations Manager and leads on all HR matters including policy and procedure, as well as operations.

Delia is an experienced senior manager who is qualified in employment law and has worked in a number of not-for-profit and VCS sector organisations throughout her career.

delia@hcvs.org.uk

Hristina Nikolova  - Operations Officer

Hristina Nikolova Operations Officer

Pat Afrane-Kesey - Receptionist/Administrator

Pat Afrane-KeseyReceptionist/Administrator

Sharon Karikari - Receptionist/Administrator

Sharon KarikariReceptionist/Administrator

Popi Begum - Receptionist

Popi BegumReceptionist

Popi is one of Hackney CVS’ longest serving staff members and supports visitors at front of house as Hackney CVS receptionist.

reception@hcvs.org.uk

Communications and VCS Support

Matt Bray - Director of Communications and VCS Support

Matt BrayDirector of Communications and VCS Support

Matt has been producing and directing digital and print media for 15  years and heads up the communications team.

He is also the lead for  Hackney Giving, a local giving programme to support the borough’s smaller grassroots charities and community groups.

In addition to lots of hands on experience, Matt has an MA in Global Society and Media Communication.

In his spare time Matt enjoys playing tennis, cycling up mountains and watching dance productions.

matt@hcvs.org.uk

Sarah Watson - Development & Programme Manager, Hackney Giving

Sarah WatsonDevelopment & Programme Manager, Hackney Giving

Sarah joined Hackney CVS in February 2020 to revive and develop the Hackney Giving programme, a local giving programme to support the borough’s grassroots charities and community groups.  Sarah has worked in and around the voluntary sector throughout her career and has previously managed several funding programmes offering grants at different scales: from one-off events to multi-year partnership projects.

When she’s not working, Sarah can often be found running in the local parks and green spaces and she enjoys sewing.  She was part of the team that saved Homerton’s Chesham Arms from closure and is a founder member of Protect Pubs, a network of campaigners supporting communities nationally to retain their pubs.

sarah@hackneygiving.org.uk

Mark Drinkwater - Communications Coordinator

Mark DrinkwaterCommunications Coordinator

Mark has over 28 years’ experience working for charities, including 20 years working for CVS organisations in London.

markd@hcvs.org.uk

Fatou Gassama - Community Giving and Partnerships Coordinator

Fatou GassamaCommunity Giving and Partnerships Coordinator

Fatou@hcvs.org.uk

Communities and Partnerships

Jessica Lubin - Director of Health Transformation

Jessica LubinDirector of Health Transformation

Jessica joined Hackney CVS in July 2021 and leads our health system integration programmes. She has worked across health and social care in the voluntary sector as a support worker, health governance in hospitals and social care. Jessica is passionate about community and believes firmly in the power of community having the solutions to health and better quality of life.

jessica@hcvs.org.uk

Shamima Aktar  - Networks Coordinator

Shamima Aktar Networks Coordinator

Shamima started work at Hackney CVS in March 2011 as an apprentice and was later employed as a receptionist before taking up the role of Network Coordinator – supporting the Health and Social Care Forum and the Children and Young People’s Provider Forum.

She enjoys spicy food and going to the cinema with family and friends.

shamima@hcvs.org.uk

 Soraya Akrouche - Hackney Refugee and Migrant Forum coordinator

Soraya AkroucheHackney Refugee and Migrant Forum coordinator

Soraya has been working with migration and humanitarian aid for 8 years in Europe, South America and the Middle East.

She is also the coordinator of Hackney Migrant and Refugee Forum and VCS Outreach worker at Hackney CVS, she supports the borough’s grassroots charities and community groups.

In addition to lots of hands-on experience, Soraya has an MA in Development and poverty alleviation.

In her spare time Soraya enjoys theatre, travelling and anthropological research in the Middle East.

soraya@hcvs.org.uk

Veryan Wilkie-Jones - Programmes Manager, VCS Neighbourhoods

Veryan Wilkie-JonesProgrammes Manager, VCS Neighbourhoods

Veryan has nearly 7 years of experience working in the community in the fantastic borough of Hackney. She previously managed community cooking class programmes at the food justice charity, Made In Hackney, and is now programmes manager for VCS Neighbourhoods.
Veryan runs a Friends community group for a local park in her home area south of the river in Crystal Palace. She enjoys bringing up her two teens, practicing yoga and cooking for friends and family.

Jonathan Otoo - Neighbourhoods Team and VCS Enabler Administrator

Jonathan OtooNeighbourhoods Team and VCS Enabler Administrator

Jonathan has gained most of his experience in the charity sector, particularly in front-line organisations. He believes charities and organisations need to come together has never been more vital to help communities and that Hackney CVS is a great organisation to do that.

Kemar Walford - Neighbourhoods Organisational Development Manager

Kemar WalfordNeighbourhoods Organisational Development Manager

Kemar is a consultant, project manager, trainer and public speaker. He specialises in organisational development, with a focus on fundraising.
Kemar has over 16 years of experience in supporting non-profit organisations to thrive and deliver real impact for their communities. Helping organisations to secure over £3 million of funding in the last seven years for a variety of causes.
He is also the former chair of the Black Fundraisers UK special interest group of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising, a group established to support Black and Ethnic Minority fundraisers across the UK.
He is also a big Sci-Fi and Marvel fan, with a touch of classic anime.

Youth Programmes Team

Jahada Abdul - CYP/Safeguarding Officer & Health and Social Care Forum Coordinator

Jahada AbdulCYP/Safeguarding Officer & Health and Social Care Forum Coordinator

Jahada joined Hackney CVS in October 2016 as a Community Care Navigator.

Jahada has over 8 years of experience working in social care sector within community and hospital settings. Previously she had worked for Age UK East London and in various roles for the NHS.
 
She enjoys trekking for different charities, travelling and oriental food.  
Monique Smith - Programme Development Officer

Monique SmithProgramme Development Officer

Fouad Al Kadi - Youth Team Programme Development Manager

Fouad Al KadiYouth Team Programme Development Manager

Fouad@hcvs.org.uk

Amelia Wornell - Youth Leader

Amelia WornellYouth Leader

Cindy Agbonwaneten - Youth Leader

Cindy AgbonwanetenYouth Leader