With the Social Enterprise World Forum 2025 (SEWF25) just around the corner, we’re very pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s Scottish Government-funded bursary. For those unfamiliar, SEWF is the world’s largest gathering of social enterprise leaders, taking place this year in Taipei, Taiwan. Our bursary programme supports emerging and established changemakers who might not otherwise be able to attend this transformative global event.
All these individuals are passionate and committed change makers, representing an incredibly diverse range of expertise from policy and health to food justice and rural development. We couldn’t be more excited to see this cohort make the trip to Taipei and we just know they’ll be excellent ambassadors for Scotland in Taiwan.
Let’s meet the eleven who will be winging their way across the world this October!
SEWF 2025 Bursary Recipients
Nkechi Deborah Adeboye is co-founder and Director of Exhale CIC, a Scotland-based organisation supporting LGBTQ+ people of colour through healing, organising, and systemic change. Inspired by over a decade of activism across movements for racial justice, gender equity, and inclusive education, she is passionate about the transformative potential of community-led enterprise. She believes lived experience should be at the heart of decision-making, innovation, and investment. Holding a Master’s degree in Development Studies from the London School of Economics, Nkechi is a trustee for Women Working Worldwide and ActionAid UK, advocating for inclusive economies, equitable finance, and reimagining systems through the lens of care, liberation, and solidarity.
Yusuf Ahmad is an emerging global health leader with expertise in health policy, planning and financing, plus growing interest in community wealth building and social inclusion. Currently pursuing an MSc in Global Health and Management at the University of Aberdeen whilst working as Impact and Wellbeing Evaluation Intern at InspirAlba, Yusuf has over five years of volunteer and leadership experience. As Founder and Executive Director of the Community Health Development Initiative (CHeDI), he has led medical outreach programs and sanitation campaigns in remote Nigerian communities. Recognised as a Malaria Youth Army Champion and United Nations Foundation Next Generation Fellow, Yusuf leverages technology, data science, and artificial intelligence to drive systemic change.
Jawahir Al-Mauly is a Scotland-based social entrepreneur and researcher with a unique intersectional perspective shaped by professional experience across East Africa, Canada, and Scotland. With expertise in Anthropology, Law and International Development, she founded Ujamaa Spice, a purpose-led business working in direct partnership with smallholder spice farmers in Zanzibar. The enterprise challenges exploitative value chains by centring producer knowledge, cultural authorship, and ethical trade practices. Drawing from decolonial and feminist approaches, Jawahir focuses on how enterprise can be a tool for transformation, reclaiming economic agency, honouring cultural knowledge, and building solidarity across borders.
Dorcas Apoore is a remarkable global leader from Ghana who holds a Masters in Africa and International Development from the University of Edinburgh, where she served as scholars president for the MasterCard Foundation Scholars program. Winner of the 2023 Northern Women Award, Dorcas was selected as one of sixteen European Development Days Young Leaders globally in 2018, giving her the opportunity to build connections with UN Women and the European Commission. As founder and CEO of ASIGE, which she incorporated in Scotland in 2024, Dorcas is passionate about seeing every woman and young person have a dignified life. She recently became an Innovator Founder, working to make ASIGE a global brand whilst building partnerships to empower women and young people.
Alice Fogg is passionate about supporting people to live happier, healthier, and more resilient lives through community development, deeply valuing social, economic, and environmental justice. At just 28, she serves as Chief Officer of Voluntary Action in Badenoch and Strathspey (VABS), a social enterprise working across the Scottish Highlands valley that’s home to around 14,000 people. Living in Kincraig within the Cairngorms National Park, Alice leads VABS’ mission to empower rural communities to create and shape their own futures, supporting over 300 community organisations through training, governance support, community action planning, and business development. Since joining the team in September 2024, she’s been inspired daily by the resilience, imagination, and determination of Highland communities. Alice is also co-founder and co-director of Cairngorms Pride CIC, aiming to support the LGBTQ+ community in rural areas whilst running the UK’s first Eco-Pride, and serves as Vice-Chair of Anagach Woods Trust, managing 384 hectares of community-owned Caledonian pinewood. She believes social enterprise is key to a resilient and just future for rural Scotland.
Kirsty Haigh brings a unique journey from grassroots activism to food entrepreneurship. With a background in campaigning and policy development, she worked as an organiser and director with national organisations including Jubilee Scotland and Global Justice Now, plus roles in the student movement at the University of Edinburgh and National Union of Students Scotland. Frustrated with traditional third sector limitations, she retrained as a chef at Edinburgh New Town Cookery School. Now Chief Operating Officer of Edinburgh Food Social, Kirsty fuses her political acumen and culinary expertise to transform how communities interact with food, tackling food inequality through practical cookery education, community catering, and innovative outreach.
Samurath Jabir works as Digital Co-ordinator for the Rural Social Enterprise Hub and lives in Campbeltown on Scotland’s west coast. The RuralSEHub is an initiative of InspirAlba, connecting a network of over 600 members and acting as a focal point for research and development in rural social enterprise across Scotland, Europe, and beyond. Since joining InspirAlba a year ago, Sam has brought creative and intercultural skills to diverse projects, managing websites, designing digital content, producing short films, and supporting social media. He co-hosts network meetings, community learning exchanges, and strategic gatherings, creating spaces for connection and collaboration. Holding a Master’s degree in Intercultural Business Communication, Sam’s inclusive approach to communication particularly shines in diverse and rural contexts.
Ellie Koepplinger brings corporate strategy and sustainability expertise through her consultancy EK Consulting. A UC Berkeley Economics graduate and Bain & Co alumni, Ellie led the UK’s first returnable cup scheme with major brands including Costa, CaffĂ© Nero, and Burger King whilst Head of Growth at Reposit. She also spearheaded a returnable packaging coalition in Ottawa, Canada, working with five global CPGs and two Canadian retailers. Fluent in Mandarin Chinese, Ellie combines global strategic business acumen with her passion for environmental impact. She currently serves as a Trustee for Wellbeing Economy Alliance Scotland.
Andy Paterson brings a wealth of policy expertise to the cohort as a Policy Officer at Social Enterprise Scotland. Based in Glasgow, Andy leads on environmental sustainability, the Just Transition, community wealth building, and equality, diversity, and inclusion. A University of Stirling Politics graduate, he co-founded the “Help Not Harm” campaign advocating for harm reduction approaches to drug policy, which led to implementation of resources at his university and inspired similar campaigns across Scotland. Andy is actively involved in the Cross-Party Group on Social Enterprise at the Scottish Parliament, creating vital dialogue between MSPs and social enterprises to influence national policy.
Eddy Phillips is a graphic recorder, artist and social entrepreneur who founded Eddy Draws CIC, a social enterprise focused on making complex information more widely accessible through visual communication. With a background in health and social care, Eddy works through live graphic recording at workshops and events, as well as illustration, infographics and animation. Their work spans topics around queer justice, climate, community collaboration, youth participation and social justice, primarily with grassroots organisations, charities and social enterprises. Rooted in community organising, Eddy’s work helps organisations and communities collaborate and achieve greater impact.
Kiera Wilkins has centred her career on strengthening social and environmental impact through business, spanning both social enterprise and Fair Trade. Beginning at Social Enterprise Academy’s International Team in 2019, she was invited to join the SEWF Youth Advisory Group in 2021. Now Ethical Business Manager at Scottish Fair Trade, Kiera works to develop the Fair Trade market in Scotland, delivering consultancy services to help businesses build fairer supply chains. In April 2025, she and her team launched Fair Change Co, a social enterprise providing ethical supply chain and market access support. She has collaborated with both private and public sector organisations to strengthen their commitments to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Fair Trade principles.
We can’t wait to see how this incredible cohort will represent Scotland’s vibrant social enterprise sector on the global stage. Their diverse expertise, passionate commitment to change, and innovative approaches perfectly embody the spirit of social enterprise. Safe travels to all!
