An interview with William- our new Programme and Community Development Lead

William, would you like to introduce yourself?

I’m excited to join The Social Change Nest as the Programme and Community Development Lead. My work will focus on the development of the Help Desk, which aims to serve as a vital mesh, weaving together grassroots groups and supporting them to access the tools, connections, and expertise they need to flourish.

I’ll also be overseeing groups hosted on our fiscal hosting platform Open Collective, supporting nearly 600 groups to manage their funds transparently. The service enables them to channel resources effectively in a values aligned way, releasing their attention and energy back into making social impact.

Can you tell us a bit about your background? 

I’ve spent the past 15 years working at the intersection of community organising, systems thinking, learning and creative and cultural industries. Along the way, I co-founded a communications cooperative and led social enterprises, each amplifying underrepresented voices and supporting community-led change—values that drive me.

My MBA was in Creative Industries and I’m a Fellow of the School for Social Entrepreneurs. My work has always been about story and systems — making the complex accessible and actionable. Co-creating with grassroots groups, designing community capacity-building programs, or crafting strategies for sustainable impact, my passion is reflecting to communities the opportunities to transform and unlock their potential.

What are you most looking forward to whilst working at The Social Change Nest?

Immersing myself in the stories and experiences of the grassroots groups we support. Listening to their challenges, collaborating on creative solutions, and amplifying their strengths. Finding ways to help them realise the power they have as a collective to effect change.

The Help Desk exists to support momentum in social action and spot the synergy to increase it. Shaping it with the team and in conversation with the communities we serve is a privilege. The Social Change Nest’s energy is rooted in equity, justice, and collective impact— I arrive deeply aligned. It’ll be great to connect with changemakers and nurture their efforts.

Now for the non-work questions… 

As a fan of an outdoor swim, where is your favourite place to take a dip?

I’m fortunate enough to live on the coast and have a stunning chalky cliff backdrop wherever I go. I’ve only earned one winter’s worth of stripes though, so I’ll hold my tongue and see if I’m brave enough to continue this year!

What kind of books do you like to read? 

I tend to read more non-fiction these days but I enjoy graphic memoir a lot. A lot of pop-psychology or musings on the big societal shifts necessary to redress a lot of human suffering and damage to living systems. I do my best to bring in some speculative fiction but I’m ashamed to say that itch is scratched more by watching high concept trash sci-fi!

If you were a character in a book, who would you be? 

Aspirationally? Winnie the Pooh. He’s got it figured out