Recorded on 08/04/2026

Liza Kellett is the founding Chief Executive of social enterprise Trust Leeds and was awarded the Yorkshire & Humberside ‘Social Entrepreneur of the Year’ in 2025.

Liza has set up, led, managed, funded, and advised charities and social enterprises in the capacities of:

• Chief Executive of social enterprise Emmaus Leeds for which she raised over £3 million in investment to enable it to sustainably generate half of its income
• Chief Executive of the Community Foundation Wales (where she created Wales’ first micro-venture philanthropy Fund, the world’s first national community endowment fund, and an annual philanthropy week);
• panellist on multiple grant funds and social enterprise loan funds
• trustee of several trading charities

In addition to strategic, governance, leadership and business management, Liza has lived experience of walking alongside people facing poverty, isolation and financial exclusion. She nurtures energy, ambition, and a sense of purpose and belonging by bringing a unique combination of global models of Self-Reliant Groups and micro-finance to Leeds.

Liza cheers when she sees that a potential borrower has a poor credit record. Having listened to their business ideas, successes & failures, their lack of a formal business plan (when they absolutely know their market, competitors, USP, risks, SWOT and finances), their experience of being turned down for funding by banks & credit unions, and their mental and physical health issues, Liza knows that Trust Leeds can trust them with a small loan to get their business going or growing.

Liza Kellett has guest lectured on social enterprise leadership at Leeds University Business School, where she regularly gives talks and presentations as a ‘Leader in Residence’. She also sits on the Leeds City Council Financial Inclusion Steering Group. Her ambition is to exponentially increase the impact of Trust Leeds’ micro-finance enterprise through a social franchising/free-share model.

www.trustleeds.org.uk

https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2006/yunus/biographical/

https://www.wevolution.org.uk/

https://purpleshoots.org/

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