The Impact Equation

This is our second live podcast at EdCity, with our friends at Ark. Stephen Cowan, Leader of the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, has been a force in local public service since 1998, when he was first elected as councillor for Grove Ward. Since becoming Leader in 2014, he’s driven some of the most ambitious, people-centred policies anywhere in the UK - from free adult social care, to free breakfasts for every primary school child, to an industrial strategy that’s brought billions in investment into the borough. And where better to have this conversation than at EdCity - the £150 million regeneration project jointly shaped by Ark and H&F Council. EdCity blends new schools, affordable homes, community spaces and innovation hubs, standing as a living example of what bold public-third sector partnership can achieve. This is a fascinating, live, and candid conversation with a leader determined to change the world - starting with a small bit of West London.

The first of two podcasts recorded live at EdCity. We kicked it off with an amazing guest, Lucy Heller, CEO of Ark and the architect behind one of the most influential education transformations in the UK. Ark began in 2002 with a bold ambition: change life chances for children who need it most. Under Lucy’s leadership, that ambition has become a movement — growing from a single turnaround school to 39 schools, 30,000+ pupils, and a network of 20+ ventures reshaping the wider education system.In this live conversation, we go into: Lucy’s unexpected path into education, the original spark behind Ark, what really drives school improvement, how Ark scaled impact across communities without losing its soul, and what the future of education looks like.

In this episode we speak to Nick Wise, Founder & CEO of OceanMind, an organisation using AI and satellite analytics to protect our oceans. Nick is a pioneer in applying advanced technology to build more sustainable food systems, tackle illegal fishing, and bring transparency to some of the world’s most complex supply chains.Before founding OceanMind, Nick spent his career at the intersection of internet security, satellites, and data, and it was during his time at the UK’s Satellite Applications Catapult that a partnership with leading NGOs opened his eyes to the scale of illegal fishing - and the potential of AI to fight it. OceanMind now works with governments, industry, and NGOs globally, bringing visibility to an often hidden world. In this episode, we dive into: How AI and satellite data can protect vulnerable marine ecosystems; The hidden risks inside global seafood supply chains; What it takes to deliver measurable impact where sustainability, technology and international policy collide. Listen in for a fascinating, urgent conversation about the future of our oceans.

In this conversation, Rafi sits down with Charlotte O’Leary, CEO of Pensions for Purpose; the collaborative network helping pension funds become a real force for good.Charlotte’s vision is bold: a world where pensions drive a fairer, more sustainable economy. In this episode, she unpacks how psychology, governance and finance intersect - from fiduciary duty and systemic incentives to the need for new narratives around value, care and human motivation. Their conversation explores how we can shift from being consumers to citizens, and why aligning money with meaning might just be the key to fixing capitalism.

In this wash up episode, Rafi and Adam reflect on our seven most recent conversations, featuring pioneers Andrew Voysey, Michelle Brown, Alex Stephany, Phil Burton, Dame Ann Limb, Stephen Muers, and Anna Swaithes. We explore how change is driven by people and the push for local solutions and why social services must leverage AI to be human-centered. We cover an array of topics from Common Lit's edtech bringing reading access to millions and OttoCar decarbonising transport, to using data for regenerative farming to build more resilient food systems. Finally, we look at new ways to fund solutions, exploring how strategic giving from philanthropists is essential to tackling social inequality , and the critical need to connect private, public, and charity funds (what Stephen Muers calls 'trilingual' finance) to scale solutions for impact at scale.

This week, we talk to Anna Swaithes, Chief Sustainability Officer at The Crown Estate, a true champion of change and collaboration. Her journey into sustainability began with a powerful realisation in her early career that profits couldn't come at the expense of people and the planet. This core belief led her to pioneering roles at Cadbury and SAB Miller. Now, Anna uses the unique position and statutory basis of the new Crown Estate Act 2025 to ensure the Estate's management of its vast assets—from rural land to the seabed—delivers vital environmental and social value, especially by focusing on deep, meaningful nature recovery.

This week we are joined by Stephen Muers, CEO of Better Society Capital, a leading UK impact investment institution. Stephen takes us on a journey from his early life in Rugby and his Quaker roots to his distinguished career as a civil servant and his pivotal role at Better Society Capital where he is revolutionising the UK's social impact investment landscape. Together we explore the intricate dance between impact investing and government policy, the vital importance of long-term vision, and the immense potential of place-based investing.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Join our live Impact Equation podcast with Ark, exploring their journey, impact on education and social innovation and the vision behind the exciting EdCity project in West London. Thurs Nov 13th 2025, sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/tiearkThis episode features Dame Ann Limb, a powerhouse in education, philanthropy, and regional growth. From becoming the UK's youngest college principal at 34 to chairing prestigious organizations like the Lloyd's Bank Foundation and City & Guilds, Dame Ann shares insights on purpose-led living, leadership, and inclusion. Discover what drives her extraordinary capacity for service and her vision for the future of philanthropy and technology.