Our Founders
Founder and CEO
Dr Sam Frankel
Sam has over 20 years experience of leading research, development and knowledge transfer projects with children and adults in schools, homes and in the wider community. Sam has delivered local and national education programmes with children in England, reaching over 75,000 children. Sam combines theory and practice in his explorations of learner engagement and is widely published.
Past and present positions:
Associate Professor - King’s University College, Canada
Adjunct Professor - Faculty of Education, Western University Canada
Visiting fellow at Manchester Metropolitan University, Sheffield University and University of Central Lancashire, UK
Research Fellow at the Elliot Foundation
Series Editor for Emerald Studies in Child Centred Practice
Co-Founder
Dr Caroline Whalley CBE
Caroline is nationally recognised for the work she has done to enable learners and learning communities - “success has many faces and only variation and innovation will provide tomorrow’s answers”.
This work includes:
Founder, CEO and Chair; The Elliot Foundation; The Elliot Foundation Academy Trust [2011-2023]
The Department for Education: Innovation Unit [2007-2010]
Director, Education & Training, Babcock International Group FTSE100 [2004-2007]
Executive Director, Children’s Services, London Borough of Ealing (3rd largest London Borough)
Leading 200 schools, 11 libraries, 18 community spaces. Budget £ 210 Million, 800 staff [2001-2004]
Our Partner
LEARN 2050 Partner & Strategic Advisor
Dr Fredrik Lindencrona
Past and present positions include:
Head of Research Co-Creation, Inner Development Goals Foundation
Strategic Advisor to Ideas for Life Foundation and Skandia
Advisory and collaboration roles with World Health Organization and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
International board member and facilitator of cross-sector collaborations for wellbeing and systems innovation
Researcher and advisor working with schools, universities, municipalities, regions and global, national and local NGOs across Europe and internationally
Licensed Psychologist and PhD researcher with academic roots in psychology, economics and public administration
Fredrik’s work combines evidence-based research with practical implementation, supporting leaders and organisations to integrate wellbeing, systems thinking and human development into strategy, learning and long-term transformation.
Fredrik is a licensed psychologist, researcher and strategic advisor with more than 20 years of experience leading transformation across education, public policy, business and civil society. He works at the intersection of human development, wellbeing, leadership and systems change — helping organisations and communities build the capabilities needed to navigate complexity and create sustainable futures.
Fredrik is co-initiator of the Inner Development Goals (IDG), a global movement and framework supporting the inner skills needed for societal transformation. As Head of Research Co-Creation, he leads international collaborations connecting research, policy and practice across countries, sectors and disciplines.
Our Core Team
Operations
Fiona Cheong
Fiona comes with a decade long experience in operations and project management in regional government and academic sectors. She holds a Master of Intercultural and International Communication from Royal Roads University, British Columbia, Canada. Fiona is focused on applying her extensive training and experiences to bolster Learning Allowed’s goal towards an innovative and compassionate people-first approach to ignite, transform and sustain lifelong joy of learning within communities.
Global Engagement Lead
Dr Taunya Wideman-Johnston
Taunya has been reimagining education for over 15 years as an educator, social scientist, speaker, and disability advocate. Her research expertise promotes reframing disability with a strength-based perspective, supporting child learning and growth, and developing a lifestyle that creates wellness. Taunya thrives when sharing evidence-based experiences through innovative and interactive presentations, workshops, leadership series, and writing. Taunya's colourful journey as a person with a disability leads her to advocate for people with chronic health conditions and disabilities.
Communications / International Research & Development
Alex Whalley
Alex’s work combines design with arts based interventions. Whether that is music production, art therapy or graphic design, Alex brings a creative perspective to communication and sharing a message. Alex is currently based in Thailand, exploring new learning opportunities!
Honorary Research Fellow
Mackenzie Robinford
Mackenzie Robinford is a trauma therapist who supports adolescent survivors of abuse along their healing journeys. Mackenzie is passionate about disrupting sexual violence at a systemic level through education and advocacy.
Learning Allowed Connect CIO
A charity registered in England and Wales: 1211143
Learning Allowed Connect CIO is the global delivery arm and social heart of the LEARN 2050 movement.
The CIOs Mandate: to make sure that there are no barriers for those who might benefit the most from LEARN 2050®, with a particular focus on learners and educators in schools or training settings, homes and community spaces.
With global reach Learning Allowed Connect CIO is committed to supporting individuals around the world to develop the capabilities, competencies and skills to equip them today and tomorrow.
Chair of Trustees
Clare Clatxon
Clare started her professional life as an education officer in the RAF before moving to become one of the founding members of a leading national charity, the Youth Sport Trust where she remained for almost a decade. She then joined the teaching profession, eventually assuming headship of both secondary and primary schools. Later she was appointed as executive headteacher of 2 primary schools in Bedford Borough before assuming a role as a school improvement partner.
In addition to headship, she has worked for the central team of Brooke Weston Trust in Northamptonshire as its Recruitment Director. In 2021 she completed the National Professional Qualification for Executive Leadership with a focus on system leadership and has since been privileged to work as a facilitator for the National Professional Qualification for Headteachers.
Trustee
Dr Katie Westwood
Katie brings expertise in children’s participation, particularly for children and young people managing disabilities. Katie is Lecturer in Education Studies, University of Dundee, her work on inclusion and children’s voice, combines both supporting children’s collaboration in charitable projects in Scotland, as well as teaching courses on children’s advocacy in Canada.
Trustee
Dr Louis Spring
Louis is a commercial academic working in higher education and charity sectors. He started his working life in software houses, pre and post university developing electronic fund transfer software and holds a professional doctorate in education.
In 1996, Louis founded TrainingWare, a foundation that has a vision for learning - our current vision is 'to provide every child in developing countries with 30 minutes a day controlled access to learning materials on the internet.'
Louis is an Anglican Reader and a churchwarden serving Christ Church Little Heath. He also leads Hertfordshire Constabulary Chaplaincy and is married with two grown up daughters.
Trustee
Peter Hay
Pete leads the Community Church Tadley. For more than 30 years he helped organisations successfully lead change and transformation programmes that accelerate growth, reduce costs and deliver better customer experiences. By equipping people to lead and navigate change, and leverage Digital Transformation opportunities, they were able to implement smarter ways of working and deliver better results with less effort.
For the past 8 years he has brought these skills to his work with organisations and schools to help children and young people have the best possible start in life, supported by the whole community to succeed.
Collaborators & Advisors
ReGen4futures & the Global Alliance for Regeneration
Collaborators
Inspiring and compelling ReGen4futures offers a bridge between sustainability education and regenerative action.
Watch this space as there is a lot more exciting work to come!
Collaborators
Inner Development Goals
We are ambassadors for the Inner Development Goals and their vision of inner growth for outer change. We are working closely with their Research Co-Creation Team to explore how LEARN 2050® can support making the Inner Development Guide visible and accessible.
Advisor
Dr Daniella Bendo
Associate Professor in Childhood and Youth Studies, King’s University College, Ontario, Canada. Her research focuses on advocacy, children’s rights, participation, youth justice, climate activism, child-centred research methodologies and community engagement with young people.
Advisor
Dr Kate Bacon
Reader in Teaching and Learning Manchester Metropolitan University - is programme leader for Educational Studies. Her research and teaching explores themes from within Childhood Studies including the social construction of childhood, structure and agency, childhood identities, and children and citizenship.
A special mention to all the learners and educators who have those who have been part of our journey. In particular thanks to John Fowler whose work with Sam was critical in laying the foundations and to Polly Sell, Ed Kemp, and Jon Hewines.
We are supported by Innovate UK Business Growth and Design for Growth.