Speakers

Liz Choonara is the Executive Director of Commerce and Enterprise at Crisis, the national charity for people facing homelessness. Liz is responsible for innovation at Crisis, as well as all commercial activities including its retail, e-commerce, and investment strategy.  These services develop new streams of income for the charity, reach new audiences and create opportunities for members within its communities. In 2020, Liz founded the award-winning Venture Studio from Crisis with colleagues to accelerate an end to homelessness through entrepreneurship.  The Venture Studio invests in and grows start-ups that can support its mission.

Liz previously worked with start-ups at Imperial College London. Whilst there, she founded its women's entrepreneurship programme WE Innovate and has spoken internationally on increasing diversity and inclusion in tech. She is also Chair of the Pret Foundation, the charitable arm of Pret A Manger, established in 1995 by Pret's founders with the purpose of breaking the cycle of homelessness.