Our team
Meet the people who work at Population Matters and make it all happen!
Senior leadership team
Amy Jankiewicz, Chief Executive
Amy became Population Matters’ first female CEO in March 2024 bringing over twelve years’ experience from the charity sector, as a Trustee and Senior Leader. Previous roles include Director of Operations at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Senior Civil Servant and Programme Director with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Change Management Business Lead at Guide Dogs and before this, she headed up Business Development for military charity The Royal British Legion Poppy Factory. A former British Army Officer, including an operational tour to Afghanistan with the Royal Marines, Amy has also worked in investment banking, sport, education and training. Amy graduated from the University of Exeter in December 2023 with a Masters in Anthrozoology which has transformed the way she views the world we share with nature. In her spare time, she enjoys running, Canicross, skiing, photography and walking her rehomed guide dog.
Josh HIll, Chief Research and Operations Officer
Josh has 12 years of experience working in Finance, including Audit, Transaction Services and External Reporting across both large multi-national corporates and within the charity sector. Josh has a PhD in Behavioural Economics within the context of international development and he has a long-term interest in the big issues facing humanity. The importance of leaving a world fit for future generations, and the impossibility of doing so without addressing human numbers, made Population Matters an obvious choice.
Jameen Kaur, Director of Advocacy and Influence
Jameen believes in the philosophy of ‘Ubuntu – I am because we are,’ which roots her commitment, her values and practice to achieving a more equal, just and sustainable society for all beings, nature and the planet. She has worked with a diverse range of stakeholders which includes global human rights organisations, international clinical federation, public interest lawyers and grassroot social justice activists in northern and southern hemispheres. Her work to strengthen accountability for preventable maternal deaths in India, resulted in the MacArthur Award. The award recognised the Reproductive Rights unit, she led, for generating provocative ideas, reframing debates, and providing new ways of looking at persistent problems.
Sho Nair, Director of Fundraising and Engagement
Sho has worked in the charity sector since 2005, in a variety of fundraising roles – primarily in health, social welfare, human rights and education. He believes in empowerment and enjoyment at work. He believes that we need to safeguard the natural world more urgently every day, and continuously find ways to improve the experiences of people, in a fair and equitable way. Sho is dedicated to his family and has a passion for cricket. He enjoys being outdoors, walking and travelling.
The rest of the team
Emma Bowles, Individual Giving and Legacies Manager
Having started her career in project and event management in the arts and culture sector, Emma made the move into charity fundraising with the ambition to make the world a better and fairer place for everyone. With over 8 years fundraising experience in health, housing, poverty alleviation and equality she was delighted to join the Population Matters team, to continue to make meaningful change for all. In her spare time, she enjoys running and hiking, reading and is a self-proclaimed cinephile.
Francesca Harrison, Content Specialist
Having worked for over a decade in the private sector, Francesca was keen to turn her passion for volunteering into a full-time career in the not-for-profit sector. With a strong interest in mental health and humanitarian projects, she has dedicated much of her work to initiatives that create meaningful impact, so was very excited to join Population Matters. She lives in Berlin with her tuxedo cat, and spends her free time hiking, reading and attempting to learn languages.
Madeleine Hewitt, Campaigns and Media Officer
Madeleine has three years of experience working in the digital media space, working in Music PR and later scriptwriting for content on YouTube. Her interests remained environmentally focused, with the video content she scripted for YouTube focused on the impacts of climate change as well as conservation success stories. She wanted to transfer her skills in digital media to Population Matters, as she is passionate about the cause. In her free time, she enjoys café hopping with friends and going to the cinema.
Anthony Howarth, FUNDRAISING OFFICER
Anthony has a background in fundraising and communications in the charity and museums sectors. He is also a qualified teacher, spending 10 years teaching in primary schools where he specialised in UK early years provision, outdoor education, and forest schools. A keen interest in environmental causes and sustainability led Anthony to Population Matters, where he hopes to be part of creating a sustainable future for the planet. In his spare time, Anthony is an avid walker. He is also a football fan and he enjoys drawing, gardening, and supporting local wildlife.
Marianne Kucera, Executive Assistant
Marianne has worked as a PA/EA in both the corporate and charity sectors supporting at Board and senior management level. She spent 13 years working for an international risk consultancy before moving into the not-for-profit sector and undertaking interim contracts with the Queen Elizabeth Foundation for the Disabled, the Royal British Legion and the UK Council for Psychotherapy. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis, walking and generally being in the great outdoors.
Shweta Shirodkar, Partnerships and Public Affairs Manager
Shweta has over four years experience in the development sector, working across programme management and research in India. Her appreciation for the dynamic nature of the global development sector, and an interest in working at the intersection of socio-economic and sustainability-related themes to protect our planet and help people thrive, made joining Population Matters a no-brainer. In her free time, she enjoys watching culinary shows and cooking, and loves to run.
Ben Stallworthy, Digital and Communications Manager
Having previously worked in various fundraising roles, including at the Environmental Investigation Agency, Ben moved into marketing after a move to Barcelona in 2015. Combining these two skillsets at an organisation working to protect the planet was a long-held goal, so he was delighted to find the opportunity to work with Population Matters. Away from work, he likes to run, read and maintain his long-suffering relationship with Ipswich Town FC.
Lisa Vella, Accountant
After nearly 2 decades of working in accounting roles in the private sector, Lisa decided to take her learned skills into the worthwhile world of the not-for-profit. A love for the environment and her status as a childfree feminist led her to be a supporter of Population Matters before she joined as a member of the team. A self-proclaimed introverted nerd, Lisa loves nothing more than spending time in nature, gaming with her husband or reading a good book. And attending rock and metal shows to keep things interesting.
Rob Wadsworth, CRM and Engagement officer
Rob has worked in the charity sector for six years now having worked previously for the Council of Christians and Jews, a national interfaith charity. He comes from a background of charity support and working with databases. Rob is passionate about the natural world and sustainability and wanted to work in a field that reflected this. In his spare time he enjoys exploring the countryside through walks, reading, writing, and playing/watching sports.
Our volunteers
In addition to our head office team, we are supported by a network of amazing volunteers and activists. Those include members and coordinators of our campaigning Local Groups, and dedicated volunteers helping us with outreach and distributing merchandise and campaign materials.
If you would like to get involved in a local group or volunteer in any capacity, please get in touch.
