The team

Adiva Kestenbaum

Adiva is a project developer for UpRising, and is responsible for developing the programme's external relations, co-ordinating the mentoring element of the programme and supporting participants' social actions projects.

Before joining the Young Foundation, Adiva completed a number of placements in various politically orientated environments including grassroots politics, the Houses of Parliament, public affairs and the charitable sector. In 2008, Adiva completed her BA in French Studies and Hispanic Studies at the University of Birmingham.

Contact:  adiva.kestenbaum@youngfoundation.org or call 020 8709 4826

Alveena Malik

Alveena is Director of UpRising with extensive experience of working on social justice issues, including equalities, human rights and citizenship, and on delivering social action projects.

Previously Alveena was Principal Associate at the Institute of Community Cohesion (iCoCo) with lead responsibility on education and cohesion policy and intercultural dialogue. Formerly she was also Head of Communities and Integration Policy at the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) where she led the development of CRE policy on issues of migration, interfaith dialogue, and conflict resolution and mediation.

Alveena is Chair of Maslaha (a Muslim web-based social enterprise) and is an advisor to the Law Society's Equality and Diversity committee.

Contact: alveena.malik@youngfoundation.org or call 020 8980 6263

Ginny Lee

Ginny is in charge of the Alumni side of the programme, and helps ensure that UpRising graduates continue to receive access to opportunities and support.

Ginny has studied in Korea, built schools in India, taught English in China, as well as participated in a conference to build better cross-Atlantic relations at the University of Bonn.

Ginny completed her Master's in Public Administration at the University of Ottawa. Ginny received her Honours BA at the University of Toronto where she majored in International Relations, and minored in Film and Sociology.

Contact:  ginny.lee@youngfoundation.org or call 020 8709 9020

Lucy Inkster

Lucy is a project developer for UpRising, and is in charge of data management, tracking and other technical aspects of the programme. She also leads on organising the London learning sessions and visits.

Lucy has a BA in Law from the University of Cambridge and a Masters in Law from University College London.  Before joining the Young Foundation Lucy worked on The Youth of Today project, and also has experience in the research and legal sectors. 

Contact:  lucy.inkster@youngfoundation.org or call 020 8980 6263

 Zehra Zaidi

Zehra is the Project Leader for UpRising Birmingham and brings more than twenty years of experience of supporting and working on projects in the charitable and voluntary sector, particularly in youth affairs, female empowerment and social cohesion.

She brings a range of experience to the role.  She has worked as a lawyer for an international law firm in London and Brussels, acted as Deputy Director of an overseas financial regulator, worked on international development projects and in various political roles.

Contact: zehra.zaidi@youngfoundation.org or call 07415 860083 

Philippa Calver

Philippa is the Project Developer of the Bedford UpRising Programme. With a Masters from Forum for the Future in ‘Leadership for Sustainable Development', Philippa brings both Leadership training and community based understanding to the post. Philippa also has experience working in organisations ranging from NGO's to the Financial Industry.

Prior to her MA Philippa graduated with a BSc in Environmental Management from the University of Birmingham. Here she focused on the social and political causes of Environmental degradation and strategies to overcome these.

Philippa grew up in Bedford and is now living back there in the town she loves.

Contact: philippa.calver@youngfoundation.org or call 07899 931477