Katie Williams

Katie is inspired by the power of connection, trust and equitable decision-making to build towards powerful, collective leadership and interconnected movements. She brings a deep interest in forward-thinking organisational and leadership development as a mechanism towards transformational field dynamics. 

Prior to joining Ignite, Katie worked in philanthropic consultancy, supporting philanthropists to centre systems-thinking in their funding strategies. She is also proud to have led Stars Foundation’s grantmaking and capacity strengthening in the Asia-Pacific region; an early philanthropic advocate for the power of unrestricted funding and investing in local leadership. Her first role was at Oxfam Cymru (Wales), advocating for climate-friendly policies at a national level, and uplifting asylum seekers’ voices in research and policy on their rights to education. 

She studied BSc Economics and MA International Development & Planning at the University of Sheffield, and more recently completed an MSc in Philanthropy, Grantmaking and Social Investment at Bayes Business School (City University, London). She is proud to serve on the board of Dignity Alliance International. 

“I find joy with my family (my husband, our daughter, and whippet) - spending our days exploring the parks and coffee shops of South East London - and when time allows, swimming in the sea with childhood friends in North Wales.” 

Preferred gender pronouns: she/her/hers