Louisa Mundachali Searle

Louisa is a highly experienced education charity sector leader. She began her career as a participant on the Teach First Leadership Development programme: a ground-breaking initiative which sees top graduates given just six weeks’ training before being placed as classroom teachers in the UK’s most challenging schools. Louisa taught in a large secondary school in North London, eventually leading the English Department to secure the school’s best GCSE results in English Language and A-Level results in English Literature.

Before joining the ESU as Director of Education, she co-founded the educational charity First Give which impacts 35,000 young people across England and Wales every year through programmes focused on engaging learners in social action, community engagement and philanthropy. Louisa designed the first iteration of First Give’s flagship programme and led the charity for seven years as Chief Executive. Throughout her career she has witnessed first-hand the transformative power of communication skills and oracy education on young people.

Louisa’s experiences in schools and in educational charities have honed her expertise in programme and curriculum design for impact on young people, supporting them to achieve their potential. Louisa is also Chair of the Rank Foundation Fellowship, an alumni network of beneficiaries of The Rank Foundation.