Team
Trustee, chair and co-founder of Literacy100
Julia Olisa
Julia is a dyslexia specialist who has taught in primary, secondary and higher education. At London University’s Institute of Education, Julia worked in the Literacy Assessment Centre and was a volunteer literacy tutor at the homelessness charity Thames Reach between 2006-2024.
Trustee and communications lead
Alessy Beaver
Alessy has worked in the charity sector for almost a decade, with roles at the publishing arm of a major disability charity, and more recently in homelessness. Her current work is concerned with the role that sustainable employment and basic skills can play in preventing homelessness.
Trustee and finance officer
Hilary Stevens
Hilary began his career as a trained accountant before moving into the UK software industry, where he has built over two decades of experience. He has led engineering and development teams across a range of sectors and now heads a global team of over 200 professionals focused on advancing digital border security.
A lifelong advocate for community engagement, Hilary has been committed to volunteering since his youth—supporting young people and adults navigating life’s challenges.
Research Advisor
Kat Goodacre
Kat is an adult literacy and dyslexia specialist teacher, with seven years experience teaching in homelessness services across London. She currently works as a doctoral researcher and freelance consultant in the field of adult literacy, dyslexia and homelessness. Kat’s published research explores the motivations of adult literacy learners experiencing homelessness to engage in literacy learning, and their perceptions of what helps them learn effectively (Goodacre & Sumner, 2020). Her doctoral research explores the use of Psychologically Informed Environments (PIEs) for adult literacy learners with experience of homelessness or compound trauma. Connect with Kat on Twitter @Literacy_Kat
Technology consultant
Tasa Onakpoma is the Co-founder at The Random Stuff and Computer science graduate. He has experience in non-profits and start-ups and has developed client-tailored mentorship programs for FTSE100 companies.