We are a diverse group of women with lived experience. We speak 10 community languages between us. We have women in our 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s. We bring together a wealth of expertise and experiences.
Liz Sewell
Director
Liz Sewell has over twenty years’ experience in employability programmes. Her company Belina provides tailored support to women to developed their confidence, motivation and employability skills. Her GRoW programme, which has been Highly Commended at the National Employment awards is currently being delivered on the Troubled Families and Building Better Opportunities programmes. Liz is on the Employment Related Services Association Board, She is a former Chief Executive of the lone parent charity Gingerbread, and was Chair of Trustees at the Welfare Rights Charity LASA for a decade. She was made a Fellow of the IEP in 2016. Her programmes have twice been Highly Commended by ERSA for Innovation.
Kaneez Fatima
Head of Compliance
Kaneez joined Belina Grow as a participant after a 10-year career break and is now Head of Compliance and PA to the Director. A mother of three with a degree in Computer Science and lived experience of learning English, she ensures accuracy across key projects like the Mayor of London’s Parental Employment Programme. Her drive for excellence helped Belina Grow exceed targets and earned her the Rising Star of the Year award at the 2024 Quality Professional Awards.
Saeema Yusuf
Engagement Officer
Saeema joined Belina Grow after a career break and now leads our engagement work, using her experience as a frontline adviser to inspire clients and build partnerships. Named ERSA’s Frontline Adviser of the Year in 2022, she is passionate about improving outcomes for clients, partners, and funders by focusing on individual needs, building confidence, and supporting skill development.
Mercedes Grant
Head of Training
Mercedes has over 10 years’ experience supporting women into work, helping them build confidence and overcome barriers. She helped develop programs like Grow Your Own Business, which supports women exploring self-employment. Alongside her consultancy work, she runs a massage business serving private and corporate clients, and is passionate about inspiring others, both professionally and through homeschooling her son.
Sheeja Sethumadhavan MIEP
Employment Adviser
Sheeja is a former participant of the Grow Programme. With a strong background in IT she focuses on development of the GRoW App and working with participants in an advisory role. Fluent in six community languages, Sheeja excels in connecting with people from diverse backgrounds and specialises in helping participants recognise their skills and build their confidence.
Michelle Grenada-Bryan
Employment Adviser
Michelle specialises in working with participants who are neurodivergent to overcome workplace challenges through personalised coaching sessions. Michelle’s extensive background in coaching and her experience working with neurodivergent children enable her to provide tailored support and strategies, helping participants achieve their professional goals and improve their workplace performance.
Khatera Ahmad
Employment Adviser
Khatera is passionate about providing personalised support, addressing key barriers such as balancing childcare responsibilities, language proficiency, and sharing her insights and experience in managing additional responsibilities for children with special needs. Khatera’s proficiency in multiple languages enables her to communicate effectively with diverse clients. Her lived experience has endowed her with patience, empathy, and a deep understanding of unique challenges.
Zoiya Mahmood
Employment Adviser
Mother of three, Zoiya is an inspiration to many mothers in the community. After completing the Grow Programme, she is now dedicated to supporting other mothers, leveraging her extensive background as a Functional Skills English and Maths Teacher. Additionally, she works part-time at Shama Women’s Centre, providing ESOL training and support.
Iryna Sydorova
Employment Adviser
Iryna leads our Ukrainian Women session in the Grow programme, creating a safe space where Ukrainian-speaking women can explore the UK job market together. She helps participants translate their skills and experience into opportunities that local employers will recognise, all in their native language. Many attend regularly—not just for expert advice, but also to build confidence, form connections, and share successes and struggles in a supportive group setting. This session often leaves women feeling empowered, clearer about their next steps, and more hopeful about their futures.
Nina Fidderman
Content and Community Support
Nina Fidderman has been part of the Grow programme since its early days and now plays a key role in curating content for the Grow app. She sources local job opportunities tailored to participants’ interests and needs, helping ensure the app stays relevant, supportive, and up to date. Nina’s long-standing involvement with Grow gives her a deep understanding of what works for the women we support.
Heather Ette
Communications
Heather is an employability communications specialist, who also works with the Institute of Employability Professionals. She writes our Newsletters and publishes our Jobs Bulletin.