Catriona has worked as an architect, project manager, builder and educator across Africa, Asia, The Americas and Europe. She primarily works with communities; teaching design and construction skills through practice, to enable people to build more sustainably. Her approach is to use natural materials and to build on traditional skills to create buildings and places that are appropriate for the 21st century.

Catriona trained as an architect at Cambridge University and The Bartlett (UCL).

Catriona first came across the Sun Screen IT Foundation when she worked with them to design and build the Nehemiah Computer Lab, Kuntoloh, Sierra Leone.

Alia is the CEO of Asha Neighbourhood Centre, an outstanding grassroots charity that has been serving the community in Leeds for 40 years. Since its founding in 1985, Asha has played a crucial role in providing essential services to meet the needs of diverse women and their families. Alia takes great pride in being a recognised and trusted advocate for racially diverse communities, particularly in raising aspirations for girls and women.

Alia is deeply passionate about the charity sector and has dedicated 25 years to working in this field, acquiring extensive experience in advocacy and collaboration with diverse communities. She brings 20 years of management and leadership experience, which has equipped her to lead teams and projects that generate meaningful change. Through her work, Alia has developed strong skills in community engagement, programme development, and resource management, enabling her to effectively lead initiatives that promote social change and improve the lives of those she serves.

Alia is dedicated to building a resilient civil society that values diversity and prioritises sustainability. She focuses on creating local solutions tailored to the needs of vulnerable communities. As a finalist in the equity and diversity category at the Yorkshire Business Women's Award 2024, Alia's commitment to fostering diversity and inclusivity is evident. With over two decades of experience, she has worked tirelessly to achieve gender equality and empower girls and women through initiatives in youth work, community development, public health, and the elimination of violence against women and girls. Her goal is to advocate for marginalised voices, ensuring they have access to improved healthcare, quality education, and job opportunities by addressing the digital gender divide.

Over the years, Alia has served as a Trustee, Director, and Board Member for several charities. Through this involvement, she has made a significant impact in empowering women and communities through various initiatives. Her work has focused on economic empowerment, building resilience, and improving overall well-being, which has provided her with incredibly fulfilling experiences.

Alia is also an integrative psychotherapist and counsellor who is dedicated to making therapy more inclusive and equitable for everyone. She focuses particularly on addressing eco-anxiety in the context of the current environmental crisis, which affects mental health, well-being, and livelihoods both in the UK and around the world. Her primary goal is to ensure that therapy is accessible to marginalised communities that may face barriers to seeking help.

In addition to her volunteer work as a UN Women UK advocate and trustee, Alia founded her private practice, "Nessa Counselling & Psychotherapy," where she offers affordable counselling services specifically tailored for marginalised communities.

Alia is passionate about promoting environmental and social justice. She believes that for sustainable development to have a lasting impact, improvements in people's lives must be accessible to everyone, not just a privileged few. Sustainable development should focus on creating equitable opportunities that uplift all members of society, ensuring that resources, education, healthcare, and economic growth are distributed fairly. By prioritising inclusivity and addressing the needs of marginalised communities, we can create a more just world where everyone has the chance to thrive and contribute to a sustainable future.

Alia has two wonderful daughters who are dedicated to making a difference for girls and young women. Alia enjoys nature, visiting green spaces, and loves to travel to learn about history and culture.

One of her favourite quotes:

‘I raise my voice not so I can shout but so that those without a voice can be heard’.

Malala Yousafzai (Pakistani activist for female education & youngest Nobel Prize laureate

Steven is a Solutions Architect at Cutter Group, a leading supplier of virtualised desktop and server infrastructure computing solutions. In his 13 years at Cutter, he has also held roles as Senior Systems Engineer and EUC Specialist.


Steven is a champion of End User Computing technologies and uses his wealth of experience in delivering sustainable and effective IT solutions globally – in helping to deliver Sun Screen IT’s projects in Ghana, Sierra Leone, & beyond.


With Sustainable Technology at the heart of Sun Screen IT’s mission – Steven’s knowledge and experience are invaluable to our social impact and Education outcomes.