Action for Children has appointed five senior advisors through ConnEx, our pro bono programme connecting technology and transformation leaders with UK charities. The group brings board-level experience across data and AI, technology, operations, finance and large-scale transformation, and will work alongside the charity’s leadership team as a dedicated Advisory Group over the coming months.
What ConnEx exists to do
UK charities face many of the same technology, data and transformation challenges as commercial organisations, but rarely have the budget to access the senior expertise needed to meet them. ConnEx exists to close that gap, connecting C-suite executives with charity partners in an advisory capacity, completely free of charge. Action for Children was one of the charities to pitch at ConnEx’s launch event in February 2026, when we brought together 400 C-suite leaders at the Natural History Museum to connect them with UK charities in need of this kind of support.
About Action for Children
Action for Children works alongside children, young people and families across the UK, supporting those facing some of life’s toughest challenges. Its work spans early help for families, support for young people and campaigning for lasting change, with the aim of ensuring every child has a safe and happy childhood and the foundations they need to thrive.
How the advisors will support Action for Children
Demand for Action for Children’s services continues to grow at a time when charity funding is under sustained pressure and the way organisations communicate and fundraise is changing rapidly. Delivering an ambitious strategy in that context raises difficult questions around prioritisation, governance and capacity, alongside the opportunity to adopt AI responsibly and safely.
The five advisors matched through ConnEx bring senior expertise across each of those areas, expertise that would otherwise sit well beyond a charity’s typical budget, at no cost to Action for Children at all.
Kevin Cassar, CDO, TalkTalk
Kevin joins as Data Advisor, bringing his experience in data and AI to help Action for Children explore how new technology can be adopted responsibly and safely.
“Thanks to La Fosse’s philanthropic initiative, ConnEx, I have the privilege of volunteering some of my time and technology expertise to Action for Children, an incredible charity supporting children and families, working tirelessly to ensure young people have access to safety, food, and the chance to grow up in a loving environment. As a parent, this work resonates deeply. My own child’s instinct to share, even giving away their pocket money so others could enjoy something as simple as a cake, reminds me how powerful kindness can be when nurtured early. I’m honoured to support Action for Children as it explores how to responsibly and safely harness the potential of AI, helping it overcome challenges, amplify its impact, and create environments where every child has the opportunity to thrive.”
Oliver Joyce, COO, WPP
Oliver joins as Operations Advisor, bringing a perspective shaped by a media and communications landscape
that is changing how charities reach their supporters and raise funds.
“Vital charities like Action for Children are facing unprecedented funding challenges at a time when the media landscape is disrupting effective communication and fundraising. So it’s fantastic for La Fosse to put together the organisations that need to navigate this change with the people and skillsets that are willing and able to help.”
Slawek Streich, CTO, Rightmove
Slawek joins as Technology Advisor, applying his experience leading technology at scale to the problems and challenges
Action for Children is working through.
“Pleased to be appointed and to be able to dive into collaborating on problems and challenges that make a difference to such an incredible cause. We quickly found a common frame of reference with the Action for Children team and were able to exchange experience and ideas. I really enjoyed being able to apply my previous experience to a new problem whilst learning along the way.”
Mark Kiernan, CFO, McDonalds UK
Mark joins as Finance Advisor, bringing board-level experience across finance, strategy and transformation to support the charity as it delivers its strategy.
“I am extremely proud to be supporting Action for Children having recently joined their Advisory Group. The work that Action for Children does alongside children, young people and families is critical in supporting those facing some of life’s toughest challenges. The work they do is close to my heart and I feel I can bring my leadership and experience at Board level across Finance, Strategy and Transformation to help support and advise on the challenges they face and to implement the strong strategy they have in place to drive the charity forwards, in order to support even more children and families. I think this is a fantastic initiative set up by La Fosse to attract and enable business leaders to help support such amazing charities, and I am excited about being given this opportunity to work with Action for Children and look forward to working with the team and the rest of the Advisory Group.”
Mark Lennon, COO & Transformation Director, Whitbread Group PLC
Mark joins as Operations Advisor, drawing on a career leading large-scale transformation to help the team navigate the choices around prioritisation, governance and capacity that an ambitious strategy brings.
“I’m delighted to have joined Action for Children as an Advisor and to have the opportunity to support an organisation making such an important difference to children and families across the UK. Throughout my career, I’ve led large-scale transformation and helped organisations turn ambitious strategies into clear priorities, practical delivery plans and measurable outcomes. I’m looking forward to bringing that experience to Action for Children, providing an external perspective, constructively challenging thinking and helping the team navigate the difficult choices around prioritisation, governance and capacity that come with delivering an ambitious strategy. Most importantly, I’m excited to learn from the team and my fellow Advisors and to play a small part in helping Action for Children create even greater impact for the children and families it supports.”
Fiona Wolstenholme, Head of Corporate Partnership, Action for Children
For Action for Children, the Advisory Group arrives at an important moment.
“We’re incredibly excited to welcome this new group of advisors to Action for Children. At a time when demand for our services continues to grow, having access to the experience, insight and networks of such accomplished leaders will help us move faster and ultimately increase our impact for children and families across the UK.
I’m hopeful that this group will bring both challenge and opportunity, helping us unlock new ideas, new connections and new ways of tackling some of the biggest issues facing the charity. To our advisors, thank you for choosing to share your time and expertise with us. Together, I believe we can achieve far more than we could alone.”
What comes next
Action for Children follows MHA as the latest ConnEx charity partner to appoint its advisors, and further matches are progressing across the programme. As each partnership reaches this stage, we will share the same introduction: the advisors involved, the expertise they bring and the difference we expect it to make.
Contact us to find out more about ConnEx, or to register interest in advising a charity partner.