Sarah Nelson

CEO

Bio

Sarah first began with Foundation for Future London in 2020 as Director of Programmes and Communications. In that time, she Led on the design, management and implementation of both fund giving, placemaking and comms strategy, with particular focus on the Foundation’s largest £10million investment programme with Westfield Stratford City. She worked on building strong lasting relationships with both stakeholder’s, partners, and grantees.

Sarah first began her career in the public service with Derbyshire Probation service after gaining her MA in Social Policy and Criminology. Her career has taken a varied path from that of a drugs rehabilitation practitioner, designing out crime with Derbyshire Police Force through to the Chief Executive of a Business Improvement District in the Midlands, and Director of Programmes at a London based regeneration consultancy firm.

Her roles have always focused on helping people, communities and businesses to develop equitable, sustainable and thriving economies, with her passion being on both social and situational criminal justice practices.

Although Sarah did much of her training at the National Police Improvement Agency in Harrogate, she likes to think she has a creative side, also completing a ‘professional interior design’ course with the British College of Interior Design.

Role

Sarah was appointed CEO in 2024. She joined the Future for London Foundation team in May 2020 as Programme and Communication Director, leading primarily on the exciting Westfield Stratford City five-year programme. She is thrilled about joining the team and the potential to make a true difference to lives in East London.

Ask her about

Sarah’s professional expertise are place management, particularly with a strong social policy context, stakeholder engagement and leadership development.

We love East London

Sarah loves working in East London because there is never a dull moment. The sheer mix of culture and diversity makes it such a welcoming and fun inclusive place to live, work, play and visit.

Did you know…

In her spare time, when not entertaining her four-year-old daughter or two giant Old English Sheepdogs, she loves to read and swim, though not at the same time.