Our People

Andrew Hadley

CEO

I have always been interested in other languages and cultures, and have lived and worked in many different countries. As British Council director in Macedonia, I created the Blue Sky network and several other innovative international youth projects. That is how I discovered my passion for working with young people, which led to setting up Momentum World with Paul and Trevor. I firmly believe in the power of international exchange and intercultural learning to change lives, and I want to create more opportunities for this, especially for UK young people. I love music, film, architecture, astronomy, Cornwall and of course my family.

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Paul Oxborough

Creative Director

Since the age of 17 I have worked as a trained Youth & Community worker, I professionally qualified in 1992. Since then I have used innovation and technology to push the boundaries in my youth work in order to make projects educational, empowering and inclusive. I set up a successful film training company in 2000 and I am a founding Director of Momentum.  My work has allowed me to travel the world and meet some inspirational characters along the way. I am married with two teenage girls and I enjoy reading, motorbikes, running and new gadgets.

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Sarah Young

Office Manager

I am the Office Manager at Momentum. I look after all the day to day activities to ensure the smooth running of the office. I have a background in media including 10 years spent at the BBC. I am extremely interested in the work Momentum does to benefit young people. I have three children so am very aware of the importance of this work, I love spending time with my family and also enjoy reading and film if I have any spare time!

Gordon Blakely

Senior Adviser

Gordon began working life with the Greater Manchester Youth Association, a non-governmental support agency. After some initial international work, he took up post in London at the Central Bureau for Educational Visits, the government international body for the Ministry of Education. In1990, he formally joined British Council as Director of the Youth Exchange Centre.

Over the years, this work included managing the European Union Youth in Action Programme; formal bilateral co-operation with Japan, China, Israel, and programmes with South East Europe and Sub Saharan Africa.

Until recently, Gordon was Head of Youth Policy for the British Council. In 2010, he received an OBE for services to the British Council. Previously, he was awarded Chevalier des Palmes Academiques by the French Government, and a John Adams Study Scholarship by United States Embassy.

He is the author of European Youth Policy [Routledge1995]. His recent presentations include:
European Accreditation of Non-Formal Learning (Bruges)
EU / Japan Youth Co-operation (Osaka,)
Circles of Influence (UK Youth Parliament)
Formulating Youth Policy (European Union / Canada Forum – Ottawa)

Nicholas Mellor

Having had the opportunity to study at a number of universities, what I have learnt in the classroom has been eclipsed by what I have learnt on my travels. My travels began as a deckhand on a cargo boat and have never stopped. The journey is the destination and it is the conversations along the way that illuminate and inspire.

Some of the most memorable conversations have been with young people mapping out their own journeys, challenging the status quo and often envisaging a different kind – and better kind of future.

I have worked in the private sector on the development of new vaccines and as a management consultant, as well as having served in public institutions and with NGOs. One of the projects was the world’s first genetically engineered vaccine; another was setting up Merlin with a couple of friends. Merlin became one of the world’s leading agencies involved in emergency health programmes, before it joined up with Save the Children. There have been successes and failures along the way, but friendships and family have provided the springboard for new adventures and new initiatives.

Zachary Calvar Miot

Intern 2017

From a young age I’ve always wanted to explore the world and discover new places, but as I grew older I realized it was the people from these places that made them amazing and interesting. As a business student, I believe that the greatest investments or assets that any one enterprise can have is the people that make it up. At Momentum World I am now able to help connect individuals from around Europe, nurturing a strong network of peers and opportunities for people, universities, and businesses alike. With fresh perspectives and differing cultures companies can achieve greater innovation and progress in any industry, and hopefully I can indirectly affect these industries by providing opportunities to the people that can turn those ideas into actions.

Ashley Chiu

Intern 2017

My name is Ashley, and I’m a university student from the United States, studying Marketing and Economics at Washington University in St. Louis. I started my internship at Momentum World through my university’s study abroad internship program, in which I’ll be living, taking classes, and working in London for a semester.

Even though I’ve just started, I’m already incredibly excited for the work that I’ll be doing over the next several months. As someone who is still young, I think the opportunities that the organization provides in terms of experiencing other cultures and preparing for future careers are really important and valuable.

Anja Stock

2015

My name is Anja and I am from Germany. I am a trainee to become an industrial clerk.  Once a week I visit a vocational school to complete my studies. My teacher told me about the Erasmus+ programme in London. I wrote an application and in May 2015 I got the good news that I can go to London.

Momentum World has given me the chance to improve my English, to become more confident and in addition, to learn something about the culture of England, because it was my first trip to England.

In addition to that Momentum World gave me the possibility to take part in the “S-Factor into Eurovision” program in the north of England. I was very curious and excited to be a part of this great program. This time was probably the most rewarding of my internship.

I think the best thing about Momentum World is that they give young people with disabilities a chance to become integrated into everyday life. They take time to work with them and give them a goal to which they can work.

Patti Dejaeger

2013 - 2014

My name is Patti, I’m 24 years old, from Belgium. After one year abroad in Asia and New-Zealand I didn’t know what to do in my life, so I applied for an internship in London with the EU Leonardo programme and Momentum World accepted.

I was working in the Momentum World office and I participated in several projects with the team from December to March (Momentum gave me the opportunity to travel abroad to Finland for a project). This organisation gave the opportunity to improve many of my skills and bring my own Belgian style. I am always comparing Momentum World to a Lighthouse, because this internship changed my life and gave me direction for the future whilst at the same time kept me away from the rocks when things weren’t going right in my life.

I’ll never forget this experience and my British team. Thank you again for everything.

Nicolien Van Der Linden

2012

An internship at Momentum World is in a few words inspiring, life changing and rewarding.

I have been inspired by the work Momentum World does with young people. The way they engage youngsters is amazing and inspired me to work with youth in the future. That is why I am now going to start with a Teacher education programme.

Since my internship my life has changed in so many ways. I am much more confident than I was before. I have met amazing people around the projects I did during my internship. I am pleased that I have worked with Momentum, the things I have learned and my education will be the key for my future students.

Petr Karal

Intern 2017

Hello. I am from the Czech Republic, from the city of Zlín. My name is Petr Karal. I’m 25 years old. I started working for Momentum World in May as an intern. I was not sure what organization I was going to and what was waiting for me. The first meeting with the people in the organization was pleasant. I was very nervous and did not want to talk. Andrew and Sarah told me not to be afraid. Everyone spoke slowly and pleasantly to me and always explained everything and praised me. I really started talking and I was not ashamed. At work, I met Olga, who takes care of EuroPeers. Olga and Andrew asked me if I wanted to attend the July EuroPeers course at Brunel University. I agreed. I was very nervous on the first day of the course because I did not know if they would accept me and talk to me. The opposite was true. The managers were very pleasant and they understood that I was ashamed and my English was not the best. Other people in the class accepted me too. When I did not understand something, they explained everything to me. Every day they called me to sit down with them. I met a lot of interesting, friendly, listening, pleasant and talented people. I’ve heard a lot of interesting stories about them. I have recognized new accents that have been very difficult. Over time, I understood more. This week was the best week out of the whole 2 months. I gained a lot of experience and opinions. I got new friends and improved my English. I didn’t have any problems with people from London. They were very kind, nice and helpful. For this I have to thank all the people who helped me, especially Andrew, Sarah and Olga. Thank you very much.

Tony Zhu

2016

My name is Tony and I am from the US. I am a Finance and Economics student at Washington University in St. Louis. I began working with Momentum World through a study abroad program offered by my school, during which I worked and lived in London for one semester.

My time at Momentum World has been an extremely rewarding opportunity for me to learn more about the importance of youth mobility, and to make connections with people from all over Europe. I have gained skills in event planning and proposals that will prove invaluable in my future career, and have been inspired by the passion with which the team at Momentum World works every single day.

Though my internship has come to an end, I have come to greatly appreciate the time I spent working there, and am grateful to have been given the opportunity to do so.

Sarah Bogaert

2015

My name is Sarah Bogaert, I’m 23 years old and I’m from Belgium. I’ve always had a big love for London, so when I saw that 12 students would get the opportunity to work for 7 weeks in London, through the Leonardo programme, I immediately applied. It was a great opportunity to improve my English and my resume.

My application was sent out to over 100 organisations, and Momentum World was the first to show interest in me. You have to know that I didn’t have any relevant work experience, so even getting one positive response on my resume was massive for me. I couldn’t be more lucky with Momentum World as my workplace, as I really had no idea what I wanted to do in my life career wise. I thought Momentum World would teach me things about myself I didn’t know before and help me to get more confidence in myself.

After 7 weeks with Momentum, everything I thought that I would learn came true and even more. I’ve indeed learned a lot of things about myself, about things I like and don’t like and about how I want to become one day. One of the most important things I’ve learned is that I need to step out of my comfort zone, my bubble, I’m capable of a lot more things than I thought I was. Another important thing I’ve learned is that money isn’t everything, money isn’t the answer to every question. Passion and happiness is.

Chris Bradford

2013

Hi, I’m Chris and I worked as a Database Intern for Momentum World for 5 months in 2013.

I never expected an internship to be as rewarding as it was with Momentum. Before they took me on, I had just finished university and was finding it pretty tough getting a full time job due lack of experience. Afterwards, I was left with the technical experience that I thought I would get from working with databases but also so much more.

During my time with them, Momentum offered me so many amazing opportunities. I got to learn about events management, film making, meet some truly inspirational people from all over the world and learn about their culture, and I even got to go abroad myself.

Even though I have now moved on to working for an events organisation, I still tell everyone I meet about my time with Momentum World because I am proud to have been part of their amazing team and the work that they are doing.

Eddie Keough

2012

I first became involved with Momentum after I went on the leadership course after I finished Uni in 2011. I then was excited to be asked back to help out on projects for the next year. They took me all over Europe including Austria, Hungary, Romania and of course helping with projects back in the UK.

Around Easter in 2012 I was given the amazing opportunity to help with the media promotion of 2020 Education. My first office was the very impressive Northcliffe House, home of national newspapers like the Daily Mail, Independent and Evening Standard. I spent six months helping with 2020 Education and was inspired to start my own career in PR.

My experience with Momentum helped me get my job at one of London’s top PR agencies and I’ve been there since but obviously keep in touch with everything that’s going on back at Momentum.

Jennifer Awoniyi

2014

Hello! My name is Jennifer and I live in Ilford, Essex. As a Business Undergraduate, I knew I wanted an internship with an organisation whose sole interest lies in the development and progression of individuals within our society, and Momentum World matched this category perfectly. As an individual who is highly inspired by culture, the infusion of intercultural understanding placed within the programs is an aspect that I find rather admirable.

I am keen in pursuing a career in Advertising and Marketing in the near future, and being the Marketing, Projects and Communication intern I was able to use my skills to emphasise the importance of the life changing education and training which Momentum World is offering young people. As a young person myself I believe that the development of leadership, communication and enterprise skills is incredibly important and imperative to enhance career prospects and is something which many young people are not exposed to. I definitely admire the purpose, values and ethics of Momentum World and I was truly excited to embark on my journey there for three months.