Business Fights Poverty

We are an award-winning business-led collaboration network focused on creating social impact.

our team

  • Zahid Torres-Rahman

    Zahid Torres-Rahman

    Co-Founder & CEO
    Spain

    Zahid has over 20 years’ experience in business and international development, including at PwC and HM Treasury, and is a Founder of Business Fights Poverty.

  • Yvette Torres-Rahman

    Yvette Torres-Rahman

    Co-Founder & CFO
    Spain

    Yvette has over 20 years’ experience in marketing and brand management, including at GSK, and is a Founder of Business Fights Poverty.

  • Katie Hyson

    Katie Hyson

    Director, Thought Leadership
    UK

    Katie has over 10 years' experience within multi-national businesses developing sustainability and shared value, including Barclays and O2

  • Natasha McEwen

    Natasha McEwen

    Director, Member Engagement
    UK

    Natasha has over 15 years’ experience in inclusive business and cross-sector partnerships, including at the International Business Leaders Forum.

  • Amy Fairbairn

    Amy Fairbairn

    External Engagement Adviser
    UK

    Amy is a senior communications professional who has spent over a decade working in international development, including for Mercy Corps, Tostan, the World Bank Institute and others, with a special focus on Africa.

  • Richard Gilbert

    Richard Gilbert

    Challenge Director
    UK

    Richard has over 20 years’ experience in communications and stakeholder engagement, including at Weber Shandwick and Burson Marsteller.

  • David Norman

    David Norman

    Challenge Director
    UK

    David has over 20 years’ experience in sustainable development and partnership building for companies and NGOs, including at SABMiller and WWF.

  • Alice Allan

    Alice Allan

    Challenge Director
    UK

    Alice has 20 years' experience facilitating engagement between the private sector, civil society and government, including leading CARE’s global Women’s Economic Empowerment advocacy.

  • Sofia Ribas

    Sofia Ribas

    Challenge Researcher
    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.

  • Gib Bulloch

    Gib Bulloch

    Intrapreneur in Residence
    Switzerland

    30 years' experience in cross-sector partnerships and intrapreneurship, including as Executive Director of Accenture Development Partnerships. Author of The Intrapreneur.

  • Graham Baxter

    Graham Baxter

    Senior Adviser & Challenge Expert
    UK

    Graham Baxter has over 35 years’ experience working on sustainability and responsible business, including at the International Business Leaders Forum.

  • Annabel Beales

    Annabel Beales

    Writer
    UK

    Annabel has 10+ years experience in research and writing in the field of business and social impact, including previously for MLM Group.

  • Michael Salmon

    Michael Salmon

    Creative Director
    UK

    Michael has over 20 years of graphic design and branding experience across a wide variety of disciplines.

  • Daniel Alves

    Daniel Alves

    Researcher
    UK

    Daniel is a PhD Candidate at the Department of Political Economy at King's College London and previously worked for Ambev in Brazil.

circle of advisers

  • Jane Nelson

    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.

  • Andy Wales

    Andy Wales

    Chief Digital Impact & Sustainability Officer, BT
    UK

    Andy has over 15 years in senior management leading government affairs, policy, sustainability, strategy and communications for FTSE 100 and Fortune 1000 multinationals.

  • David Grayson CBE

    David Grayson CBE

    Emeritus Professor of Corporate Responsibility
    UK

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

  • Lisa Nichols

    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

    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.

  • Diana Pallais

    Diana Pallais

    Office 365 Enterprise Partner Marketing Director, Microsoft Corporation
    USA

    Diana’s track record of work in international business includes leading business units and market expansion initiatives for technology and development organisations.

  • Maria Sipka

    Maria Sipka

    Co-Founder and President, Linqia
    USA

    Maria is a serial entrepreneur. Prior to Linqia, Maria was COO at XING, Europe’s leading business social network, focused on monetization and member acquisition.

  • Simon Maxwell CBE

    Simon Maxwell CBE

    Development Economist
    UK

    Simon worked for 15 years at the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex. In 1997, Simon became Director of the Overseas Development Institute, where he is now a Senior Research Associate.