About us

We curate purposeful collaboration to help companies and their partners access the insights and relationships they need to unlock new opportunities for business and social impact.

Our story

Where we have come from

Welcome to the Business Fights Poverty Community. We started our journey in 2005, with a mission to help you on your social impact journey. We recognised an opportunity to connect those who share our passion for business and social impact across organisations, sectors and countries. We continue to be amazed and inspired by the members of this community.

Inspired by our community

We take pride in the fact that 97% of surveyed members say that being a part of the Business Fights Poverty community makes them feel more connected. Community sits at the heart of everything we do. We believe that sharing insights, co-creating solutions and deepening relationships are central to building a more equitable and resilient future.

Join us on this journey

Business Fights Poverty has grown into a vibrant global community of people, companies and organisations committed to making a positive impact. As an award-winning, founding UK B Corp, Business Fights Poverty is dedicated to promoting an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy. Join us today and be part of this transformative journey.

WHy and how we do what we do

THE CHALLENGES WE FACE

A confluence of challenges is driving a poverty tsunami that is crashing into the lives of vulnerable people and communities around the world. We are leading efforts to understand these trends from a business perspective and enable companies to take action.

A FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION

We focus on how businesses can harness their core business, as well as their voice and philanthropy, to support the lives, livelihoods and access to learning of the most vulnerable people - working in partnership with other businesses, civil society and government.

OUR FOCUS FOR IMPACT

We do this by coordinating rapid collaborations that drive action, curating meaningful convenings to deepen relationships, and harnessing the collective learning of our community of companies and 30,000+ individuals from business, civil society and government.

Our Team

Zahid Torres-Rahman OBE

Co-Founder & CEO

Spain

Zahid has over 30 years’ experience in business and international development, including at PwC and HM Treasury, and is a Founder of Business Fights Poverty.

Yvette Torres-Rahman

Co-Founder & CFO

Spain

Yvette has over 25 years’ experience in marketing and brand management, including at GSK, and is a Founder of Business Fights Poverty.

Katie Hyson

Director, Thought Leadership & COO

UK

Katie has over 15 years’ experience within multi-national businesses developing sustainability and shared value, including Barclays and O2

Alice Allan

Director, Collaboration

UK

Alice has over 25 years’ experience facilitating engagement between the private sector, civil society and government, including leading CARE’s global Women’s Economic Empowerment advocacy.

Natasha McEwen

Community Engagement Manager

UK

Natasha has over 20 years’ experience in inclusive business and cross-sector partnerships, including at the International Business Leaders Forum.

Annabel Beales

Collaboration Lead

UK

Annabel has 15+ years experience in research and writing in the field of business and social impact, including previously for MLM Group.

Michael Salmon

Creative Director

UK

Michael has over 25 years of graphic design and branding experience across a wide variety of disciplines.

Sofia Ribas

Research Manager

Spain

Sofia is passionate about promoting social entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship, and has a background as a social entrepreneur, as well as with GIZ in Morocco.

Anna Spenner Hernandez

Community Learning Manager

Spain

Anna is a University of Bristol graduate, passionate about social and environmental justice, and has previously worked for environmental charities and on tackling inequality.

Folake Sowonoye

Community Researcher

Nigeria

Folake has a passion for supporting people with data analytics and web development. Folake has a degree in dietetics and nutrition.

Megan Bosman

Social Media Manager

South Africa

Megan has over 10 years’ experience in the digital space, specialising in social media, with a special interest in health, environmental issues, and social impact.

Amaleehah Aslam-Forrester

Researcher

UK

Amaleehah is a gender equality activist with a passion for ending gender-based violence. She is doing a masters in Global Development and International Affairs at SOAS and John Hopkins.

Bill Omondi

Community Engagement Lead, Kenya

Kenya

Bill is passionate about youth advocacy and sustainable development. He is Co-Founder and CEO of The Debate Circle which works to empower young people.

Our Circle of Advisors

Jane Nelson

Director, Corporate Responsibility Initiative, Harvard Kennedy School

USA

Jane has co-authored five books and over 80 publications on corporate responsibility and the role of the private sector in development.

David Grayson CBE

Emeritus Professor of Corporate Responsibility, Cranfield University

UK

David speaks, writes and advises regularly on business, society, entrepreneurialism, and future trends for businesses and media.

Anna Barford

Senior Research Associate, Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge

UK

Anna is Prince of Wales Fellow in Pathways to a Circular Economy, supported by Unilever, and focuses on the intersection of livelihoods and the environment.

Lisa Nichols

Founder and CEO, Motivating the Masses

USA

Lisa is a world class coach and motivational speaker, as well as media personality and corporate CEO whose global platform has reached and served nearly 30 million people.

Marcus Druen

Executive Coach

UK

Marcus is part strategic advisor, part executive coach, with experience supporting senior execs at the likes of Telefonica O2, Lidl, KPMG and Microsoft.
BFP institute logo

Senior Fellows

At the heart of the Business Fights Poverty Institute is a Faculty of Senior Fellows, leaders from academia and business. 

Learn more about the Business Fights Poverty Institute here.

Alice Allan

Director, Collaboration

Director, Collaboration

Business Fights Poverty

Anna Barford

Director, Business Fights Poverty Institute and Principal Research Associate, Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics

Director, Business Fights Poverty Institute and Principal Research Associate, Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics

University of Cambridge

Annabel Beales

Collaboration Lead

Collaboration Lead

Business Fights Poverty

Lindsey Block

Head of Social Impact

Head of Social Impact

Primark

Isabella Bunn

Research Fellow in Governance and Global Ethics, Regent's Park College

Research Fellow in Governance and Global Ethics, Regent's Park College

University of Oxford

Payal Dalal

EVP, Executive Vice President, Global Programs, Center for Inclusive Growth

EVP, Executive Vice President, Global Programs, Center for Inclusive Growth

Mastercard

Olayinka David-West

Associate Dean and Professor of Information Systems

Associate Dean and Professor of Information Systems

Lagos Business School

Catalina Garcia

Global Director, Corporate Affairs

Global Director, Corporate Affairs

AB InBev

Amanda Gardiner

Head of ESG

Head of ESG

Meta

David Grayson CBE

Professor Emeritus of Corporate Responsibility

Professor Emeritus of Corporate Responsibility

Cranfield University School of Management

Katie Hyson

Director, Thought Leaderships and COO

Director, Thought Leaderships and COO

Business Fights Poverty

Mary Johnstone-Louis

Senior Fellow in Management Practice, Saïd Business School

Senior Fellow in Management Practice, Saïd Business School

University of Oxford

Drew Keller

Director, Institute for the Study of Business in Global Society

Director, Institute for the Study of Business in Global Society

Harvard Business School

Natasha Kwakwa

Global Head, Community Impact

Global Head, Community Impact

Standard Chartered Bank

Jane Nelson CMG

Director, Corporate Responsibility Initiative

Director, Corporate Responsibility Initiative

Harvard Kennedy School

Jane Pillinger

Visiting Senior Research Fellow, Department of Social Policy and Criminology

Visiting Senior Research Fellow, Department of Social Policy and Criminology

Open University

Ravi Shankar Chaturvedi

Managing Director, Digital Planet, The Fletcher School

Managing Director, Digital Planet, The Fletcher School

Tufts University

Myriam Sidibe

Founder and Chief Mission Officer

Founder and Chief Mission Officer

Brands on a Mission

Edward Tay

Associate Professor (Practice) in Sustainability and Sustainable Development Goals, United Nations Institute for Training and Research & Adjunct Associate Professor, Asian Institute of Digital Finance

Associate Professor (Practice) in Sustainability and Sustainable Development Goals, United Nations Institute for Training and Research & Adjunct Associate Professor, Asian Institute of Digital Finance

National University of Singapore

Zahid Torres-Rahman OBE

Co-Founder and CEO

Co-Founder and CEO

Business Fights Poverty