Our core team
We’re a diverse group of individuals with wide-ranging experience in the social and private sectors, brought together by our dedication to making quality education a reality for all children. We have been exclusively volunteer-run from 2017 until 2022 and are currently managed by a combination of paid staff, freelancers and core volunteers.
Project & Management Team
Sara Arsalane
Founder & Managing Director
Iva Parvanova
Fundraising
Executive Board
Jana is a writer, filmmaker and educational workshop facilitator. With a background in social sciences and creative writing, her artistic research focuses on the therapeutic effects of writing and reading on transgenerational trauma in the context of collective experiences of violence. At Lilipad, she coordinates the Berlin libraries with special focus on implementing workshops to support the emotional well-being of the children.
Seyed is a nonprofit professional with 5 years of experience in the field, mainly in Project Management, Fundraising and Social Impact Assessment. He also recently completed an MA in Public Management from the University of Potsdam. In his current role at Lilipad, he supports project conceptualisation and planning and is actively involved in the development and execution of the organisation’s fundraising strategy.
Emma is a serial entrepreneur. She has founded three companies and focuses on building scalable brands through technology. She sits on the board of CareerFoundry, the biggest digital school in Europe and works with a number of nonprofits focused on education in Palestine. Emma has a degree in literature. At Lilipad, Emma is the Vice Chairman of the board and advises on topics around nonprofit strategy, raising awareness and digitalisation.
Sara is Lilipad’s founder and a social change advocate. She has a versatile background including 8+ years in the private sector and 6+ years as a nonprofit leader. She transitioned to the role of Managing Director in May 2023 after years of running Lilipad as a volunteer. She hold a Master in Management from ESCP Europe and a Master in Social Innovation from the University of Cambridge. Her impact areas of focus involve education, refugee and migrants rights and intersectionality.
Paul is an Education Tech leader with 10+ year of experience. As the co-founder of Lilipad, he has played a pivotal role in steering the organisation's strategy and identity. In his role as Head of Marketing at Spiced Academy, he has overseen the company's growth from its inception to one of Europe's most prominent tech schools. Leveraging his deep understanding of the education sector and expertise in marketing and branding, Paul now guides and advises Lilipad's communications. He is the Chairman of Lilipad's board.
Marie Chauvois
Projects (Jinja)
Chloé Cartron
Projects (Paris)
Nuria Rocabert
Community
Ben Pemberton
Finance
Jana Gebhard
Project Lead & Workshop Facilitator (Berlin)
Eli Kostadinova
Design & Content
Sina Spitzlei
Partnerships
Heide Rogers
Fundraising
Jakub Gronowski
Grants & Advocacy
Manuel Paisana
Admin & Partnerships
Léa Ichikawa
Social Impact Lead
Emma Tracey
Vice-Chairman of the Board
Paul Fowler
Chairman of the Board
Léa is a Program Manager in the nonprofit sector. She has a background in Education Policy and has accumulated 3 years of experience running educational projects specifically for disadvantaged groups, including refugees and asylum seekers. She has created several impact frameworks and qualitative research methods for educational projects. At Lilipad, she leads Social Impact, ensuring that all activities are monitored efficiently.
Core Volunteers
Seyed Ajayebi
Projects & Fundraising