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About Us

pay it forward
idiom
to do something kind or useful for someone because someone else has done something kind or useful for you

City Pay it Forward seeks to make a granular impact in the community through the following:

Proven Curriculum

Collaborate with leading educators to produce, present and distribute engaging, age-appropriate materials to schools

Bespoke Programmes

Organise and deliver bespoke programmes ranging from investment competitions, enterprise challenges, insight days and workplace experiences in partnership with corporate partners, with the aim of inspiring disadvantaged students, raising aspirations and driving genuine social mobility.

Everything we do at City Pay it Forward is provided free of charge

What We Do

We are a grassroots organisation made up of volunteers who want to make a meaningful difference in our community. We are business professionals and educators who work with schools to teach the basics of financial literacy including saving, budgeting, borrowing, and investing. Many of us are also parents.

Our primary school programmes centre on a Year 6 financial literacy curriculum which has been delivered to schools across the UK. In the US, we are working with elementary school maths teachers to roll out our six-hour programme to fifth graders in some of the largest public school districts in the country.

In secondary schools, we take a broader and more practical approach. Entrepreneurship is fostered through our Enterprise Challenges, where students work in teams to develop and pitch business ideas. Careers and employability are brought to life through our Career Day events, which connect students directly with professional mentors from across the City of London. Work experience and pathways into apprenticeships are opened up through our Insight Days. Our Investment Competitions give students the chance to learn about markets, test ideas, and, for winning teams, step onto live trading floors.

We take an expansive view of financial literacy, seeing it not only as the ability to manage money but also as the confidence to explore careers, build skills, and understand how finance shapes opportunities in the real world. By tying these strands together — from enterprise to careers, from work experience to investing — we help students connect learning to life in ways that raise aspirations and open doors.
We are grateful for your interest in our work and value your support.

By the Numbers

Established In
2016
Sponsorship
Self-sponsored
# Core Volunteers
~20
# City Volunteers
Supporting event
100+
# Students Attending
Career Days
1,000+
# Students Engaged in
Presentations
30,000+
# Students Participating in
Insight Days
300+
# Students Participating in
Investment Competition
3,000+
# Schools Receiving
Year 6 Textbook
21,000+
# Teachers Participating in
CPIF Training
800+
# Students Participating
in US Curriculum
~100,000
# City Partner Firms
~12-15

Educational Advisers

Steve Adcock

Ben Antell

Dr. Mary Avalos

Wendy Challen

Avis Hawkins

Dr. Laura Kohn-Wood

Georgina Webb

Special Advisers

Michael Dryden

Marianna Hunt

Zahida Laljee

Chris Marlin

Kathy McClintock

Brigid Rentoul

Trustees

Quentin Nason

Founder and Trustee

Vincent De Lorenzo

Trustee

Scott Eaton

Trustee

Marileen Koppenberg

Trustee

Valerie Laing

Trustee

Paul Mehta

Trustee

Kelechi Onukogu

Trustee

Melanie Saluja

Trustee

We are a grassroots organisation made up of volunteers seeking to make a positive impact on our community.

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Copyright © 2025 City Pay It Forward.

Steve Adcock

Educational Adviser

Steve Adcock is a Regional Director at United Learning, England’s largest group of schools. He provides strategic leadership across a portfolio of academies, focusing on school improvement, mentoring senior leaders and ensuring pupils in all communities have access to high-quality education.

He holds a degree in History and a Master’s in Educational Management, and is also a qualified school inspector. Steve is co-author of Headstrong: 11 Lessons of School Leadership, a widely read reflection on the practice of leading schools.

Committed to equity and opportunity, he works towards a future where every young person benefits fully from their local school. Outside of work, Steve enjoys running, reading and writing.

 

Ben Antell

Educational Adviser

Ben Antell is Director of Secondary Academies at United Learning, one of the largest school groups in the United Kingdom. In this role he provides strategic leadership across a wide portfolio of secondary schools, with responsibility for academic standards, school improvement and the professional development of senior leaders.

He has extensive experience as both Principal and Executive Principal, having previously led Glenmoor and Winton Academies through significant transformation and into “Good” Ofsted ratings. He subsequently served as a Regional Director within United Learning, supporting the performance and governance of multiple schools.

A graduate of the University of Exeter, Ben is recognised for his expertise in driving sustainable school improvement, building strong leadership teams and raising outcomes for pupils in diverse settings.

Dr. Mary Avalos

Educational Adviser

Mary A. Avalos, Ph.D., is Research Professor, Emeritus, in the Department of Teaching & Learning at the University of Miami. She directs Teacher Preparation Programs and co-leads the School of Education & Human Development’s Community and Educational Well-Being Research Center.

Her work focuses on equity, multilingual learners, culturally relevant pedagogy, and teacher development. She designs classroom-based interventions, supports public school and community settings, and aims to broaden opportunities for diverse students.

She is noted as a mentor and advocate for educational justice, well-being, and systemic change in teaching practice. Her publications span practitioner and scholarly journals on topics like reading, language arts, bilingual education and inclusion.

Wendy challen

Educational Adviser

Wendy Challen is a long-standing figure in London’s independent prep school world, having been Headmistress at Garden House School, Chelsea, for 25 years.

Early in her career she spent some time in the special needs department of a senior school before moving to Garden House, where among other things she founded Garden House Boys’ School.

Since retiring from the headmistress role she has remained active in education: she mentors new heads in the Independent Association of Prep Schools, works as an educational consultant helping families and children to find suitable schools, and is governor or trustee in several schools and education charities including ones in Sussex, Cambridge, and her old school Roedean.

Avis Hawkins

Educational Adviser

Avis Hawkins is the Executive Headteacher of Christ Church & Holy Trinity CofE Primary Schools in Kensington & Chelsea, London, with more than thirty years of experience in education. Under her leadership, Christ Church was named by the Sunday Times as the best primary school in England and, most recently, received an “Outstanding” Ofsted rating across all areas in 2024.

She has led both Christ Church and Holy Trinity with a clear and consistent vision: combining academic excellence with a nurturing, inclusive environment. Her leadership is recognised for its high standards, strong pastoral care and ambitious curriculum, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to flourish.

Avis is also deeply committed to sustaining the schools’ Church of England ethos, embedding values of kindness, belonging and community into daily school life. She is widely respected across the educational community as a leader who demonstrates how strong vision and dedicated staff can transform outcomes for children.

Dr. Laura Kohn-Wood

Educational Adviser


Dr. Laura P. Kohn-Wood is Dean of the School of Education and Human Development and Professor in the Department of Educational and Psychological Studies at the University of Miami. She was appointed Dean in 2018, having joined the University in 2009 following a decade on the faculty at the University of Michigan.

She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Community Psychology from the University of Virginia, completed her clinical internship at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, and undertook a post-doctoral fellowship at Georgetown University.

Dr. Kohn-Wood’s research program, Race, Ethnicity, Culture and Promotion of Strengths (RECAPS), examines cultural and race-based protective factors that promote psychological well-being, with a particular focus on African American communities. She has contributed extensively to scholarship on cultural influences, resilience and community-based interventions, while also serving as a mentor and advisor to graduate students and early-career scholars.

In her leadership role, Dr. Kohn-Wood has advanced innovative graduate programmes, expanded community engagement initiatives and strengthened the School’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. She is widely recognised as a national voice in community psychology and higher education leadership.

Georgina Webb

Educational Adviser

Georgina Webb is Inclusion Coordinator for ages 5–11 at the Stephen Perse Foundation in Cambridge. She has almost 30 years of experience in education, spanning classroom teaching, senior leadership and specialist inclusion work.

Before joining Stephen Perse, Georgina was Deputy Head at Christ Church & Holy Trinity Primary in London, where she helped lead on school improvement, curriculum development and pupil welfare. Her leadership combined clear expectations with a deep commitment to pastoral care, ensuring both pupils and staff could flourish.

In her current role, Georgina focuses on creating inclusive learning environments that allow every child to thrive. She works closely with teachers, parents and support staff to adapt teaching, safeguard pupil wellbeing and celebrate individual differences as strengths.

Across her career, Georgina has remained grounded in the belief that schools should nurture not only knowledge but also resilience, curiosity and kindness, preparing young people for life well beyond the classroom.

Michael Dryden

Special Adviser

Michael is a financial professional and banker with thirty years of experience covering the broking and wider banking landscape following a period running a family business.

He has spent his banking career at ING the Dutch based SIFI bank in a variety of broking roles across emerging/ developed markets as well as a period running UK and Middle East Financial Market Sales & global hedge fund sales. He then transferred to the FIG team covering Non-Bank Financial Institutions, most recently as Global Lead for Asset Management Coverage.

Michael is a Special Adviser to City Pay it Forward supporting the work on social mobility and financial literacy.

Michael Holds an MBA from Insead in Fontainebleau and Batchelor of Commerce from Edinburgh University. He is also chair for the Insead UK Alumni Association’s Financial Services Group.

Marianna Hunt

Special Adviser

Marianna is a former financial journalist, passionate about ensuring more people get access to financial education.

She spent most of her journalism career at The Daily Telegraph where she had her own column, documenting her journey teaching herself to invest as she saved for a first home. She has also written for The Times, Spectator, FT and others.

Since leaving financial journalism, Marianna has worked in communications with listed companies including Investec Bank plc and Aberdeen plc.

Her focus in recent years has been on campaigning for better financial education and around how we can foster a culture of long-term saving and investing in the UK. Her award-winning campaigning work has been cited by numerous MPs and policymakers.

She is now an Associate Director at Fidelity where she leads on content and campaigns to support more people to become confident investors.

Alongside her financial work, she does freelance wine and travel journalism, writing for publications including The Telegraph and Decanter Magazine.

Zahida Laljee

Special Adviser

Zahida (Zee) has a degree in Economics and Computer Sciences and a Masters in Finance. She has spent the bulk of her career focusing on commodities, trading for multinational banks for many years in London, Brussels, Hong Kong and New York, and is now a partner in a commodity brokerage firm in London.


During her childhood, Zee developed a love of financial literacy from her mother’s work in economically developing nations, and in adulthood translated this passion into voluntary work within the Ismaili community.


As a mother of two young children Zee, like many of us, is crucially aware of the importance of educating her children in the understanding of, and confidence with, finance and money in a cashless society. Given her strong belief in educating future generations with the financial literacy skills they need to flourish and prosper in life she has collaborated with City Pay it Forward to educate hundreds of young children within the Ismaili Community.

She has trained a large number of volunteer teachers and continues to develop the programme to reach more children with the aim of having a positive impact on their lives, and hopefully for generations to come.

Chris Marlin

Special Adviser

Chris Marlin is a global business leader with experience in media, real estate, and strategy. He served as Global Head of Strategy and Business Operations at CNN, overseeing international commercial operations and CNN en Español.

Previously, he was the founding president of Lennar International, guiding global sales, marketing, and capital advisory for Lennar Corporation. Marlin sits on V2 Global’s Board of Advisors, chairs AI geospatial firm AlphaGeo, and advises Clarity on deep-fake detection. He is also a director at the Atlantic Council.

 A lawyer by training, he holds degrees from the University of Central Florida and Emory Law School.

Kathy McClintock

Special Adviser

Kathy is a highly accomplished Chartered Wealth Manager with over twenty years of experience in the financial services sector, specialising in private client management.  Her approach is centred around understanding the unique motivations and aspirations of her diverse clientele. By fostering strong, trusting relationships, she ensures that each client receives tailored financial strategies that align with their individual goals. Her commitment to providing high-quality service has made her a trusted advisor to many.

A graduate of Sheffield University, Kathy earned her BSc in Geography. Shortly after, she was accepted into the HSBC graduate scheme, where she gained invaluable experience across various banking roles in a short time. It was during this period that she discovered her passion for the private client sector, ultimately deciding to specialise in this field. During her career, Kathy has taken many industry specific qualifications such as the Applied Diploma in Retailing Financial Services, the Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning, the Private Client Investment Advice & Management qualification and most recently the Chartered Wealth Manager qualification which, at Level 7, is the highest available for private client investment advisers.

Outside of work, Kathy is an enthusiastic amateur runner with an active involvement in her local club and Parkrun.

Brigid Rentoul

Special Adviser

Brigid is an English and US qualified lawyer with nearly four decades of experience practising law.

Brigid is a Director of Winton Group, a quantitative investment manager, where she was General Counsel from 2012 to 2025. Brigid joined Winton from Linklaters, where she was a leading international securities lawyer and Partner in the Corporate Department for 15 years.

Brigid is a Trustee of CW+, the official charity of Chelsea & Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and a member of its Finance & Investment Committee. She was previously a Governor of Channing School and a Trustee and Chair of the Audit Committee of the UK Crafts Council.

Brigid read Law at Cambridge University and was a Mellon Fellow at Yale University.

Quentin Nason

Founder and Trustee

Quentin is a finance professional and social entrepreneur with more than thirty years of expertise in the industry.

Currently a Senior Advisor at KingsRock Advisors, he has held lead roles at Tetragon Financial Group, a $40 billion alternative asset manager listed on the London Stock Exchange, and at UBS and Deutsche Bank in New York, Singapore, Hong Kong and London.

Quentin is the founder of City Pay It Forward, the author of an award-winning Year 6 primary school textbook, and lead contributor to financial literacy programmes that are used by some of the largest school groups in America.

Quentin holds an MBA from The Wharton School and an MA in International Studies from the Lauder Institute, both at the University of Pennsylvania. His is an active member of the City of London Drapers’ Company.

Vincent De Lorenzo

Trustee

Vincent is a finance and real estate professional who has managed global businesses for three financial institutions.

Among other roles, he ran foreign exchange trading for Bank of America in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and managed the global short term derivatives business for Societe Generale.  He’s worked in New York and London.

Vincent’s passion for personal financial literacy began with teaching his children about the importance of understanding the concepts of saving, investing and budgeting and then he started giving presentation’s in his kids’ schools.  This passion has never ceased and encouraged him to join with his wife on an educational consultancy in London.  He is an active investor in real estate in Oregon and Washington state.

He is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and is a member of the Economic Club of New York, the American Economic Society and the Royal Institute for International Affairs.  He splits his time between London and the Pacific Northwest.

As a mother herself, she strongly believes that early money education is essential in developing confidence and  independence, and is a true lifelong skill.

Marileen holds a Masters from EDHEC Business School in Lille, France and an MBA from the University of Notre Dame, USA.

Scott Eaton

Trustee

Scott is currently the CEO of Carbonplace, having joined the company in February 2023. Carbonplace is a trading and settlement platform for the voluntary carbon market with the backing of nine global banks.

He has held a number of senior leadership roles in financial technology and capital marketsover a career spanning almost forty years.  

Scott was previously CEO at capital markets fintech firm Nivaura, and prior to Nivaura he was CEO of Algomi from 2018 until its sale to BGC in 2020.  From 2015 – 2018, Scott was COO at fixed income trading platform provider MarketAxess. 

He spent the bulk of his career prior to tech as a structured credit trader at a variety of banks in the US, Asia and London.   

Scott holds a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University and a BA (Econ) from Colorado College. 

Marileen Koppenberg

Trustee

Marileen has a strong financial background with a lengthy career at JPMorgan, mainly in their asset management division in London. She is a strong advocate for financial education in primary and secondary schools and has been actively involved with City Pay it Forward since 2017.

As a mother herself, she strongly believes that early money education is essential in developing confidence and  independence, and is a true lifelong skill.

Marileen holds a Masters from EDHEC Business School in Lille, France and an MBA from the University of Notre Dame, USA.

Valerie Laing

Trustee

Valerie spent ten years as an investment banker in London and Paris before a move to the not-for-profit sector. As a development professional she has worked and volunteered in a range of areas including health, youth and geopolitics and at City Pay it Forward she combines her background in finance with governance.

She has a degree in Economics, a master’s in Grantmaking, Philanthropy and Social Investment and is a member of the Chartered Governance Institute.

She has two teenage boys and has been a primary school governor for six years.

Paul Mehta

Trustee

Paul is a finance professional with more than twenty five years’ experience. He is interested and focused on financial education in children and young adults and the social mobility it can facilitate.

He joined the City Pay It Forward with a specific aim to develop new partnerships and amplify the word and reach of the charity

Currently a Leverage Finance Fund manager at Aberdeen Group plc, a wealth and investments asset manager which has over £500 billion in assets under management. He also has had leading roles in sales, trading and credit analysis at BNP Paribas, Bank of America and Santander.

Paul holds a BA Hons From Kingston University, London and is a Governor at Finton House School, London.

Kelechi Onukogu

Trustee

Kelechi is a senior business leader in finance with 23 years of experience in the industry. Currently a senior strategic advisor of Risk and Controls at NatWest, he has been a member of several Legal Entity Board and Board Risk Committees covering the risk and control framework for large investment banks including Wells Fargo, Barclays, JP Morgan and Deutsche Bank.

He has also been the executive sponsor for the UK Race at Work Charter at two major UK and US banks.  He has worked with City Pay it Forward since its inception and has witnessed the organisation grow from strength to strength.

Kelechi holds professional qualifications from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment and holds a bachelor’s degree in management science from the University of Kent. He is a Freeman of the City of London and an active member of the City of London Drapers Company.

Melanie Saluja

Trustee

Melanie is a finance professional with over 25 years’ experience at financial institutions including Deutsche Bank and UBS.She is passionate about education and helping to bring key lifeskills to the younger generations, and has a particularly strong interest in financial literacy given her background and the fast-changing monetary world around us. She was one of the founding members of City Pay it Forward and has continued to be a Trustee for many years – particularly enjoying the interactive classroom sessions which we organise in schools to talk about the topic face to face.Melanie also serves as a School Governor to two schools in central London, and is a parent herself.