Progress Together is a not-for-profit membership body that launched in May 2022 to create equity of progression for individuals in the financial services sector. We seek to level the playing field and ensure equal access to senior level roles for all, including those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
Meet the team working to achieve our goals below.
Vincent Keaveny – Chairman
Vincent is the late Lord Mayor of London, where his Mayoral Theme was People & Purpose, championing a purpose-led and people-focused UK Financial and Professional Services sector. During his time in post, he co-chaired the government-commissioned City of London Taskforce, which led to the creation of Progress Together.
He is a partner in the international business law firm DLA Piper and is currently a member of the Policy & Resources Committee and the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Sub-committee. He is also a Governor of the City of London School. Vincent is also Co-Chair of the HM Treasury & BEIS Socio-Economic Diversity Taskforce.
Vincent lives in London with his wife, Amanda, an Intensive Care Nurse. His interests include theatre and the arts, and he is a trustee of the Sir John Soane’s Museum, where he is the Independent Director on the Board. In what spare time he has, he enjoys tennis and walking his Labrador.
Sophie Hulm – Chief Executive
As Head of Skills Policy at the City of London, Sophie was the founder and architect of a Government-commissioned Socio-Economic Diversity Taskforce. Sophie sees a clear link between the skills and labour challenges which exist in UK financial services and the need for greater socio-economic diversity at senior levels. Sophie joined Progress Together as Chief Executive in September 2022.
Sophie currently sits on the SteerCo for the 30% Club and has led a number of high-profile initiatives, including the Lord Mayor’s Dragon Awards. Throughout her working life, Sophie has focused on the power of business to bring about change, including working for a welfare-to-work organisation, a Corporate Responsibility membership body, and as a trustee for Governors for Schools.
Her dad is a working-class East Londoner, and her mum is a retired academic with immigrant parents. She lives with her partner and two mixed-race children who are big fans of Pokemon and Octonauts.
Sophie Hulm – Chief Executive
As Head of Skills Policy at the City of London, Sophie was the founder and architect of a Government-commissioned Socio-Economic Diversity Taskforce. Sophie sees a clear link between the skills and labour challenges which exist in UK financial services and the need for greater socio-economic diversity at senior levels. Sophie joined Progress Together as Chief Executive in September 2022.
Sophie currently sits on the SteerCo for the 30% Club and has led a number of high-profile initiatives, including the Lord Mayor’s Dragon Awards. Throughout her working life, Sophie has focused on the power of business to bring about change, including working for a welfare-to-work organisation, a Corporate Responsibility membership body, and as a trustee for Governors for Schools.
Her dad is a working-class East Londoner, and her mum is a retired academic with immigrant parents. She lives with her partner and two mixed-race children who are big fans of Pokemon and Octonauts.
Saiful Islam – Head of Operations
Saiful joined Progress Together in February 2023 and is committed to creating a level playing field for everyone in the financial services sector. Saiful was born to first-generation migrant parents and raised in a council estate in East London. Saiful’s dedication to his education allowed him to excel academically, earning a degree in computer science and building a successful career within the employability, recruitment and skills sector.
Saiful is driven to help others overcome the challenges he faced in his own career. He strongly believes that talent and skills should be the only factors considered when it comes to promotion. As a proud father of twins, Saiful is committed to creating a better future for his children and for future generations.
He enjoys watching lectures and listening to podcasts by influential figures within business, technology, and motoring.
Shraddha Kaul – Director of Growth and External Affairs
Shraddha Kaul is a communications strategist and tenacious leader known for shaping political, media, and public agendas with precision and purpose. With deep cross-sector experience, she has advised Chairs, Boards, and CEOs on reputation, strategy, and stakeholder engagement, earning a reputation for creative leadership and transformative impact.
As Director of Growth and External Affairs at Progress Together, Shraddha leads policy, partnerships, and communications to ensure socio-economic background is no barrier to success in financial services.
Her drive is personal. A daughter of resilient parents who rebuilt their lives after being displaced by the 1989 Kashmiri exodus, Shraddha arrived in the UK to study journalism at Cardiff University, self-funding her degree through part-time jobs. Her lived experience underpins her mission to not only open doors but build equitable pathways to leadership.
Shraddha brings bold, emotionally intelligent leadership to everything she does. A recipient of the Freedom of the City of London, she is a proud champion of the livery movement and social giving.
Saiful Islam – Head of Operations
Saiful joined Progress Together in February 2023 and is committed to creating a level playing field for everyone in the financial services sector. Saiful was born to first-generation migrant parents and raised in a council estate in East London. Saiful’s dedication to his education allowed him to excel academically, earning a degree in computer science and building a successful career within the employability, recruitment and skills sector.
Saiful is driven to help others overcome the challenges he faced in his own career. He strongly believes that talent and skills should be the only factors considered when it comes to promotion. As a proud father of twins, Saiful is committed to creating a better future for his children and for future generations.
He enjoys watching lectures and listening to podcasts by influential figures within business, technology, and motoring.
Joanna Lindley – Head of Memberships
Jo joined Progress Together in July 2024. She has led a diverse value driven career, with a focus on inclusion, social mobility and progression in the Arts, Health and Social Care, Children and Young People and most recently as UK Director of The British-American Project, a transatlantic social progression Fellowship for notable leaders across all sectors of society.
Jo has a passion for developing communities and peer networks, driving change through evidence, advocacy and a strong commitment to realising equality and levelling out opportunities.
Jo is a Non-Executive Board Member at Ride For Freedom, a young modern slavery organisation working to provide rehabilitation to survivors and advocate for systemic change in a growing global challenge. Jo is also a Family Ambassador for London’s Air Ambulance, who saved her son’s life.
Jo went to state school in Gospel Oak in North London, later studying an Art History BA and then Cultural Policy MA at university. It look Jo 23 years to pay off her student loans.
Her Dad was from a working-class Army family, receiving a bursary to study at Cambridge University, later becoming a well known television reporter. Her Mum went to University in later life, and subsequently worked as a counsellor at a GP surgery in a deprived area of Great Yarmouth.
Abubakar Mehdi – Partnerships Manager
Abubakar Mehdi joined Progress Together as Partnerships Manager in July 2024, bringing extensive experience in research and client engagement within the legal, financial, and procurement sectors. Recognised for his ability to forge transformative relationships, Abubakar is dedicated to driving positive social impact by helping businesses develop robust strategies to achieve their ESG and D&I goals.
Abubakar holds an LLM in International Commercial and Trade Law from the University of Sussex. Originally from a small town in Punjab, Pakistan, he is deeply passionate about social mobility and wants to see people thrive and grow in their chosen careers irrespective of their background.
Outside of work, Abubakar enjoys reading and has a deep interest in politics, literature, philosophy, and science. He values spending time outdoors with friends and family, maintaining a balance between his professional commitments and personal passions.
Elaine Boyes – Programmes Manager
Elaine has a background in professional association management and professional publishing. Elaine has held leadership positions in professional associations representing a variety of occupations and industry sectors. She has been a Trustee of the Science Council and Director of the Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers (ALPSP). Elaine is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and Manufacturing (RSA).
Elaine was the first member of her family to go to university, having been raised by working-class parents in a small northern town. She has a personal interest in social mobility. In a previous role, she worked closely with volunteer working parties to address social mobility and regional inequality for HE students and graduates.
Elaine enjoys walking and having tackled the Yorkshire Wolds Way in 2023 plans to take on the other national trails. In her spare time, she volunteers in her local community and takes her dog to the beach.
Abubakar Mehdi – Partnerships Manager
Abubakar Mehdi joined Progress Together as Partnerships Manager in July 2024, bringing extensive experience in research and client engagement within the legal, financial, and procurement sectors. Recognised for his ability to forge transformative relationships, Abubakar is dedicated to driving positive social impact by helping businesses develop robust strategies to achieve their ESG and D&I goals.
Abubakar holds an LLM in International Commercial and Trade Law from the University of Sussex. Originally from a small town in Punjab, Pakistan, he is deeply passionate about social mobility and wants to see people thrive and grow in their chosen careers irrespective of their background.
Outside of work, Abubakar enjoys reading and has a deep interest in politics, literature, philosophy, and science. He values spending time outdoors with friends and family, maintaining a balance between his professional commitments and personal passions.
Sean Hamill – Operations & Projects Officer
Sean joined Progress together in October 2025 bringing onboard his experience in operations and process mapping, including workflow automation, process optimisation, and data reporting.
Sean holds an MA in Philosophy from the University of York and is fluent in German.
He values simplicity, clarity and efficiency and is grateful to Progress Together for the opportunity to use these values and skills in pursuit of fairness and mobility in the finance sector.
Outside of work, Sean enjoys philosophy, history, tech and walking in the countryside.
Sean Hamil – Operations & Projects Officer
Sean joined Progress together in October 2025 bringing onboard his experience in operations and process mapping, including workflow automation, process optimisation, and data reporting.
Sean holds an MA in Philosophy from the University of York and is fluent in German.
He values simplicity, clarity and efficiency and is grateful to Progress Together for the opportunity to use these values and skills in pursuit of fairness and mobility in the finance sector.
Outside of work, Sean enjoys philosophy, history, tech and walking in the countryside.
Orla McMenamin- Communications Officer
She brings a foundation in strategic communications, having worked at Portland Communications across Health and Public Affairs. Her time at the Centre for Social Justice deepened her understanding of the challenges facing people from lower socio-economic backgrounds and strengthened her focus on ensuring that background is never a barrier to progression in the financial services industry.
During her undergraduate degree, Orla served as Head of Marketing for Europe’s largest student-led fundraising event while completing her finals. She also worked part-time throughout university to support herself financially.
In her personal time, Orla enjoys reading, running (having just completed her first marathon) and is currently learning French.
