Power2 recently recruited four new trustees to join the Board. We’re delighted to announce them here; the quality and breadth of their experience and skills will help us to change the lives of even more young people.

Our new trustees are:

Mohamed Abdallah

Mohamed is the Head of the Inclusive Leadership Course at The Difference, a charity that exists to improve outcomes for the most vulnerable children by raising the status and expertise of senior leaders in mainstream education.

Mohamed’s career began in youth work and pupil referral units before spending over a decade leading pioneering inclusive practice at the ‘Outstanding’ Dunraven School. Mohamed’s Asset-Based Community Development approach improved students’ engagement and wellbeing , in addition to driving down both fixed term and permanent exclusions at the school. Mohamed specialises in multi-disciplinary, safeguarding, and trauma-informed practices.

“I am proud to be a part of Power2 and its commitment to recognising the knowledge, skills and qualities that children and young people possess. I am excited to work alongside the Power2 team and trustees to continue and build on this valuable work.”

 

Alex Reppold

Alex is the Head of Education Transformation and Commissioning for Health Education England in the North West. Prior to this role, he had 12 years’ experience working in primary education across deprived areas of Hull, North Yorkshire, and the East Riding. This culminated in being a headteacher for 5 years at a newly formed academy, and working to support partners in teacher training and leadership development.

Alex has two young daughters, and is conscious that they will have access to opportunities their peers will lack. This has underscored his drive to make a difference for those young people who will not have the same privileges.  

“Too often the circumstances of the environment around a young person can be the difference between the door of future opportunity being wide open or nearly closed. The work of Power2 opens those doors again. I'm thrilled to be joining Power2 as a trustee and hope that my service and can support the outstanding impact that Power2 is making on young people's lives across London and the North West, and beyond.”

 

Kim Rihal

Kim is the co-founder of Equal Education, an ambitious and growing social enterprise targeting inequality in education around the globe.

Her experience is rooted in school senior leadership teams, and she has been the Head of two inner City London Schools. She led a virtual school team to an Outstanding OFSTED rating, dramatically improving GCSE results while saving money, which she redirected to support children most in need.

Kim has been recognised by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, as a prominent educator and rising to tackle some of London’s most difficult education problems. Following that she was invited to the Mayor’s International Programme where she has spoken about her work in 3 different continents.

She is passionate about social mobility and social justice.

“I have experienced first-hand the impact of the Teens and Toddlers Programme, watching the teenagers take responsibility for their toddlers whilst developing their ability to self-regulate their own emotions, develop crucial life skills, and confidence. I am honoured to be joining the organisation and look forward to working closely with my fellow trustees, the team at Power2, and all the young people its programmes support.”

 

Nicci Russell

Nicci is an experienced not-for-profit/sustainability leader and campaigner. She is Managing Director of UK water efficiency campaigners Waterwise and has 20 years' experience in the water sector. She chairs an independent group for the UK government and sits on Defra’s statutory Experts Group. She also has significant experience as a school governor.

Nicci is passionate about social justice. Equally passionate about diversity, inclusion and wellbeing, she is an active mentor and committed feminist and anti-racist ally.

Nicci lives in North Shropshire - close to Chester and an hour from Manchester - with her husband, three children, and dog.

“I’ve seen many children and young people who could really benefit from the kind of investment in them Power2 makes and am so honoured to have been chosen as a trustee to support it to deliver its mission even more widely across the UK. Coming from a working-class background, and as an active anti-racist ally, Power2’s incredible mission of ‘empowering young people and children to release their potential, to improve their own life chances and others’ is close to my heart.”

We look forward to working with Mohamed, Alex, Kim and Nicci, as well as our two new young trustees when they are confirmed in the near future!