Who we are

Our People

Our experienced, multi-disciplinary team are deeply committed to bringing about positive social change in the UK and internationally. We also run a successful student placement partnership with the University of Bath.

Our Founders

CEO & Founder Sarah Forster Sarah is CEO and Co-Founder of The Good Economy Partnership. Sarah has worked at the forefront of finance for positive impact for more than 25 years, working in the fields of sustainable economic development, development finance and impact measurement and management both internationally and in the UK.
Founding Director, Research and Policy Mark Hepworth Mark is a multidisciplinary economist and entrepreneur whose international career spans academia, public policy and business consulting. Mark’s work over 30 years has focused on innovation and new paradigms for economic development. He directs The Good Economy's research and policy work on inclusive and sustainable development.

The Good Economy team

Head of Impact Services Matt Ripley Matt is a specialist advisor in impact management strategies and systems. He has an impressive track record in supporting investors and enterprises to improve their social outcomes, while simultaneously driving core business value. Matt is the technical lead for TGE’s impact measurement and management services. He also leads our work in emerging and frontier markets.
Head of Housing Impact Services Andy Smith Andy is experienced in impact measurement and management, specialising in social housing, impact investing, technology and social purpose organisations. He leads our work on developing impact measurement, management and reporting systems for clients investing in social and affordable housing.
Head of Data Analytics Sam Waples Sam is a multidisciplinary geographer and highly experienced specialist in data and spatial analysis. Sam has worked in university and business schools and commercial companies. His innovative work on data analytics is integral to TGE’s impact services, economic strategy consultancy and the Good Jobs Rating tool for investors.
Principal Associate Paul Stanworth Paul co-leads The Good Economy’s Place Based Impact Investing (PBII) collaboration, which is designed to mobilise greater flows of institutional investment to more inclusive and sustainable development across the UK. Paul has acted as CIO on several major UK funds, including setting up Legal & General Capital as a unit to provide early stage investment to UK businesses and infrastructure.
Senior Associate Lindsay Smart Lindsay has long experience of ESG analysis within the mainstream financial sector and working with investors and companies to identify where sustainable business value lies and how to maximise it. For TGE, she provides advice on business strategy and marketing and is a member of our Impact Services team.
Communications & Publishing Henry Palmer Henry is an experienced journalist, editor and communications specialist, with a longstanding interest in the role of business and finance as both barriers and catalysts to systemic change.
Project Manager, Housing Impact Specialist Mike Foxcroft Mike is an impact measurement and management specialist with a track record in helping organisations to embed social objectives within their core business and increase their positive impact. Mike has experience across the social, environmental and commercial sectors and at The Good Economy primarily works with our clients in social and affordable housing.
Project Officer Ben Rosoman Ben joined us in 2019 on a work placement as part of his first class degree in International Development with Economics at the University of Bath. We were so impressed we offered him a full-time job. Ben is now a core team member across our client work.
Finance and Operations Manager Kathryn Jackson Kathryn manages our operational processes, finance and digital communications. She has experience of managing operations for both small and large companies and brings knowledge of technology and new product development.
Research and Project Management Assistant Isobel Tan Isobel joined the Good Economy on a one year placement from her degree in International Development with Economics at the University of Bath. She works primarily with our housing clients, providing research and project management support.
Research and Project Management Assistant Toby Black Toby joined the Good Economy as a research and project management assistant, with a primary focus on impact investing in communities afflicted by long term under-investment. He is here on a one year work placement as part of his degree in Economics and Politics at the University of Bath.
Research Assistant Catrin Owen Catrin joined The Good Economy as a research assistant after working on a research project with the Institute for Policy Research (University of Bath) and The Good Economy. Her primary focus at The Good Economy is working on the place-based impact investing collaboration and evaluating social value in the European housing industry.

Senior Advisors

Senior advisor Susan Hickey Susan advises on strategies to influence flows of capital to social and affordable housing, including our work to enhance ESG and impact measurement and reporting for investors and housing associations. She has over 25 years of leadership in senior finance roles, including 10 years as CFO at Peabody Trust and in her current role as Group Finance & Investment Director at Igloo Regeneration.
Senior Lead Michelle Weston Michelle is highly experienced in banking and capital markets, including being Managing Director for Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (S&P). She is supporting TGE develop our impact assessment methodologies for the mainstream investment community.