2025 Shortlisted nominee
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR AWARD
Yvonne Field OBE is a distinguished community leader, activist, and social entrepreneur with over 40 years’ experience championing racial and social justice. Born in South London to Jamaican parents of the Windrush generation, her early experiences of racism inspired a lifelong commitment to equity and empowerment. For two decades, Yvonne led her own consultancy supporting leadership, social impact, and community transformation, and later taught at Goldsmiths, University of London, mentoring future changemakers. In 2014, she founded The Ubele Initiative, a Black-led social enterprise driving systemic change across the UK. Under her leadership, Ubele has empowered thousands, distributed £13.5 million in pandemic relief, and launched The Phoenix Way, a £63.7 million participatory grant-making programme. Yvonne’s impact on leadership, enterprise, and racial equity has earned her an OBE, a RIBA Honorary Fellowship, and induction into the Charity Hall of Fame.
