The HUB Westminster | Meet the Team

Founding team

Alice Fung

Co-founder | Executive Director

Alice is trained as an architect and co-founder of 00:/, a strategic development and design practice, and Hub Westminster. She has experience in the strategic design and development of place design projects that focus on delivering social institutions and places.

Alice's previous experiences include institutional development strategy for Somerset House, affordable housing schemes, innovative workspace environments and urban regeneration projects.

Alice was project architect of Hub Kings Cross and the lead designer on the 'Compendium for the Civic Economy', a collection of 25 civic enterprises showcasing more sustainable routes to a different economy in our cities, towns and neighbourhoods, commissioned by CABE and NESTA. She is a Future 100 winner for entrepreneurial flair and innovation in progressing a responsible business venture. Alice is a fellow of the RSA, has tutored at the University of Bath and served as a member of the RIBA Validation Panel visiting architecture schools in the UK.

Alice leads on partnerships, strategy, accelerator programmes and social impact at Hub Westminster and is the go-to-person if you want to collaborate with the Hub, learn from our experiences or hear more about how we plan to change the world.

Follow @alicefung

Indy Johar

Co-founder | Executive Director & Strategic Counsel

Indy is a qualified architect and serial co-founder of social ventures. His core skills lie in the synthesis of strategic design, policy making and social venturing/innovation. He has increasing experience in building start up teams, designing core development strategies, raising impact investment and building the network of assets critical for success. He is used to collaborating with and influencing a range of people and organisations in the public and private sectors, including government departments.

Indy has taught at various institutions from the University of Bath, Columbian University New York,TU-Berlin, Architectural Association to the University College London. He has given lectures & led discussions on the various issues, including how strategic design needs to meets policy and a new economics in various forums from Demos, Centre of Social Justice, Helsinki Design Lab, European Parliament, LSE, Royal Academy, Royal Society of the Arts and Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

Indy is a commissioner on the NLGN Commission for Local Government and the co-author of the 'Compendium for the Civic Economy'. He has written for many national and international journals on the future of design, social venturing and practice.

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Alex Soskin

Managing Director

Alex holds a BSc in Mathematics with Management Studies from the University of Sussex, and is a Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA). His core skills and background lie in consulting for SME’s in a range of topics including accounting, forecasting, and investment management.He spent two years working as a Research & Development Tax Consultant and Finance Manager for a niche tax recovery practice. He was instrumental in the growth of the business from three to fifteen employees. He then spent six years working in Investment Management predominantly for a family office, managing a range of Infrastructure and Private Equity funds.

Alex first got involved with Hub Westminster before it launched, early in 2011. He developed the financial model and advised on a range of matters in the run up to launch in October 2011. Alex always intended to push his career into social and sustainable business, having attained various skills in ‘the city’. He enjoys the challenge of juggling financial and social return, and is keen to play an integral role in the curation of a collaborative and educational environment for start-ups with social and/or environmental missions.

Alex was given the role of Managing Director in November 2012, and so is now overseeing operations, managing the finances, and is developing and implementing the strategy alongside the Board of Directors.

Follow @AlexSoskin

Hosting Team

What's a host? Well, we’re part curator, part friendly ear, part networking guru, part office manager and part coffee expert. We are passionate about social enterprises and want to make a positive change in the world. We run the building, support the members and make this space a thriving community. We do everything from creating exciting and inspiring events to ordering (recycled) paper for the printer. This is our current hosting team:

Jess Southall

Head Host

Jess is Head Host at HUB Westminster and will serve as a primary point of contact for members providing information and support on all things 'Hub'. This may be general enquiries, technical support and services and/or grabbing a 'coffee'. In essence, Jess will be ensuring that you have the opportunity to function in a comfortable, relaxing and inspiring environment with innovative, creative support from the Hub staff team.

Both Jess and Flic also form HUB Westminster's Communications team and manage HUB Westminster’s social media platforms. Talk to them if you would like to shout about a project you are working on, an event you are organising or have any opportunities that would be of interest to our members.

Follow @JessSouthall

Felicity Cremin

Host

Felicity joined HUB Westminster in October 2012 after spending the summer with Balloon Kenya, a social enterprise that supports youth entrepreneurship as the most sustainable way to tackle poverty and create change. Alongside Jess she serves as a primary point of contact for members, providing information and support on all things ‘HUB’. Together they also form the Communications team and manage HUB Westminster’s social media platforms. Talk to them if you would like to shout about a project you are working on, an event you are organising or have any opportunities that would be of interest to our members.

Felicity also leads on our educational outreach programme. Talk to her if you are interested in finding out more about how we are introducing students and young people to the social economy and the cutting edge work being done at HUB Westminster..

Follow @fliccremin

Lucy Baker

Community Manager

Long-time Hubber Lucy has gone from Hub cleaner to Member to Member-host to Host to Freelance Event Manager and now Community Manager at Hub Westminster! In this time she has experienced and learnt how communities evolve within a Hub. She would like to hear from you if you have any ideas on ways to build our community and will happily assist you in making things happen. For more information on community lunches, Trade School Westminster, breakfast talks or Hub Circles, get in touch. She has made it her personal mission to find out what every members favourite hot drink is.

Liene Perkone

Finance & Membership Manager

Liene joined the HUB community in spring of 2011 as a Finance Administrator at the HUB Kings Cross, later also joining HUB Westminster and HUB Islington (because one HUB is just never enough for her!). At the moment Liene is doing Memberships and Finance Management at HUB Westminster and still supporting HUB Islington with finance related tasks. She is also one of the initiators of the monthly networking event - London HUB Club. It's purpose is to create a closer network between members of all London HUBs and HUB friends by sharing projects, ideas, hobbies or interests. Liene is the best person to go to if you are interested how all three London HUBs differ between each other.

Follow @LienePerkone

Events Team

The Events Team at Hub Westminster are an experienced group of organisers and facilitators, here to make every event at our venue the very best that it can be. Whether its a Royal visit, conference, hackathon or board meeting, they will make sure that expectations are exceeded and lasting impressions are made. If you have any questions about events you can contact the team on Events@hubwestminster.net or if you want to book one of our inspiring event spaces you can do so here .

Quentin Johns

Head of Business Development

Quentin is the Head of Business Development at Hub Westminster, London’s Super Studio for the new economy - Quentin has a degree in Social Anthropology from Sussex University and previously worked with rural communities for an NGO in India. Before working for Hub Westminster, Quentin was the international sales manager for the world’s largest magic company Marvin Magic, running stores on both sides of the Atlantic. Quentin is particulary interested in the design and implementation of innovations events, like "hackathons" and "service Jams", but is also passionate about smart cities, sustainable food, creative currencies and further education. If you are interested working with the Hub Westminster, on events, partnerships or projects then get in touch with him, and have a coffee..

Follow @QuentinJohns1

Matthew Denham

Event Space Manager

Matthew's mission is to enrich the lives of everyone in his world by being positive and passionate in everything he does. As the Event Space Manager Matthew is passionate about working with external clients and the HUB community to curate and co-create engaging and impact-full events. He gained his unique energy and accent while growing up in Canada and having studied industrial design, business, travel tourism and working within leadership for Canada's most successful airline.

Matthew then applied his skills during several international development initiatives then jumped on plane and landed in London. Matthew spent 2 years working with marginalised young people helping them to overcome their barriers to success by helping them set their own small businesses; using the HUB as the base for the workshops and catalyst for change. The impact HUB Westminster had on the young people and Matthew was life changing. Matthew knew that HUB Westminster was the super studio where he would continue to provide people with unique experiences and empower them to have a positive impact on the lives of others. Follow @denhamdenham

Nkechi Ebite

Events Coordinator

Nkechi Ebite is responsible for the production of events from conception through to completion. From Royal visits, Hackathon's to weekly team meetings Nkechi will guide you through the logistics and practicalities of your event and ensure that you and your guests have a seamless experience at Hub Westminster. Outside of the HUB Nkechi curates innovative events for leading public institutions, such as The Victoria and Albert Museum.