Meet the team.

Education has long been an interest for Oppidan’s founders Henry and Walter, friends since the early days of their shared secondary school experience. With family in education, Henry worked as an educational consultant in Spain and London, whilst Walter worked in schools in China and as a professional tutor in London before setting up Oppidan together in the Spring of 2016. 

Our founders have spent a decade working in partnership with senior leaders and teachers around the UK.

They’ve developed a practical, innovative and research-driven approach to mentoring and personal development for young people. Though not teachers themselves, Oppidan success to date is rooted in partnership with respected teachers and educationalists.

Being close to the action is vital. Having worked individually with hundreds of families themselves, Henry and Walter continue to oversee each element of the recruitment, training and delivery of mentors’ work across 100+ schools and 5000+ families. Henry and Walter are active trustees of the charity they founded, Oppidan Foundation, enabling access to mentorship programmes in state secondary schools.

  • Henry Faber

    Co-Founder

    I love working with people, unwinding on the golf course or talking about my year in the Bob Marley Musical.

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  • Walter Kerr

    Co-Founder

    I love racquet sports, running and the behavioural psychology behind working with children.

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  • Ben Stevens

    Head of Marketing & Brand

    I’ve led Oppidan’s creative direction since day one and enjoy giving pro bono sports lessons to Walter in my free time.

  • Charlotte Harmer

    Head of Education

    I lead our work in schools, having taught for ten years after Teach First. I love travel, theatre and paddle boarding.

  • Henry Grace

    Mentor Team Lead

    I manage our team of 200 mentors. I’m also a musician and full-time tractor fan.

  • Ben Barber

    Product & Impact Lead

    I'm a qualified teacher and lead on our product and impact work. I love running, historical fiction and time on the golf course.

  • Molly Griffiths

    Schools Manager

    I manage our relationships with schools. Outside of work you can find me cycling all over London and flipping furniture.

  • Nicole Zietkiewicz

    Client Team Lead

    I handle the 1:1 mentoring with our families. Originally from South Africa, I love exercise, reading and have a BA in Social Dynamics.

  • Catherine Stockall

    Senior Client Manager

    I'm an ex-teacher and Head of Year and work on sourcing best-fit mentors for mentees. I'm happiest when in the mountains or in/on the sea.

  • Adam Goodbody

    Senior Founders’ Associate

    I help the founders with the big questions and strategic direction. I am also an actor, mentor and in training for my first Ironman.

  • Jess Bibby

    Creative Executive

    I work alongside the Creative Lead in designing our creative output. I love carpentry and making paddleboards when I have time.

  • Harry Fancy

    Product & Sales Manager

    I work on mentor pairing and improving our products. I love scuba diving, playing pool and trying to not kill my plants.

  • David Hickson

    Product Manager

    Product Manager with 15 years experience in state secondary schools. Passionate about tech, education, music and enhancing young people’s lives.

  • Felix Lahiff

    General Manager, Seoul

    I head up Oppidan’s work in South Korea. Away from that, I’m a keen photographer and all round Koreaphile!

  • Cat Sutherland-Hawes

    Head of Schools Advisory

    I’m a former Director of Admissions, mother of two grown up girls and am passionate about finding the right school for the child.

  • Annabel Coaker

    Education Consultant

    I advise parents on their educational journeys. A former Admissions Director, I love the great outdoors and am a proud Latin grammar enthusiast.

  • Jack Dolbey

    Pro Mentor

    As well as working full time with families, I am a qualified yoga and mindfulness instructor, musician and keen footballer.

  • Conall McHugh

    Pro Mentor

    Outside of education, I am lover of all kinds of music who aspires to one day live off home-grown vegetables.

  • Anya Davies

    Pro Mentor

    A First Class Oxford grad with six years of mentoring experience across a huge range of subjects, who loves people, languages, sport and the French horn!

  • Alessandra McAllister

    Pro Mentor

    As well as my work as a Pro Mentor in schools, I'm a massage therapist and writer with a high kung fu kick.

  • Livvi Jonsson

    Pro Mentor

    I am a Professional Oppidan Mentor and trained teacher with a love for all things art and music related.

Advisory Board

We rely on the trusted advice of big-hitting school leaders, educationalists and business mentors to challenge us collectively to be better and to aim higher.

  • Ed Smallwood

    Chair

    Business strategist and founder of A-List Education, Ed is our ‘go to’ man on a monthly basis to keep our growth plans on track.

  • Laura Ellener

    Headteacher at Chiswick School

  • Alastair Chirnside

    Warden at St. Edward’s Oxford

  • Sahar Hashemi OBE

    Entrepreneur, founder of Coffee Republic & speaker

  • Jonathan Perry

    Headmaster of Lambrook School

  • Sharmadean Reid MBE

    Entrepreneur & founder of Beauty Stack

  • Sharath Jeevan OBE

    Founder of Stir Education, motivational speaker & author