THE TEAM
Mike Butcher
Founder & Chairman, Techfugees Foundation, UK 🇬🇧
Mike Butcher is Editor-at-large of TechCrunch. Mike has been named one of the most influential journalists in European technology by Wired UK, The Daily Telegraph and the Evening Standard. He also founded the annual Europas Awards, the co-working network TechHub and has advised the UK government on tech startup policy. He was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list of 2016 for services to the UK technology industry and journalism.
Raj Burman
Chief Executive, Techfugees Foundation, UK 🇬🇧
Raj joined Techfugees as CEO in November 2020. Fellows of the renowned Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, Raj brings with him a wealth of experiences in various business fields and experienced leadership. His career spans three decades of scaling high-growth ventures across international markets, with specific knowledge of digital innovation, entrepreneurship and philanthropy. In his previous role at Sustain Ventures, Raj applied his philanthropy experience across international impact ventures and corporates supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Prior to that, Raj worked for GS1 as well as led the SME scaleup business accelerator in the United Kingdom for an independent body of the European Commission.
Olesya Matveychuk
Head of Global Community, Techfugees Foundation, UK 🇬🇧
Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Olesya enjoyed building a tech community in Ukraine. With a career as a graphic designer to CEO of HUB 4.0 (one of the leading Ukrainian coworking centers), she led an investment team in the development of a national IT and innovation cluster; creating the very first Gallery of Innovations in Ukraine; built a community of more than 12 000 members; arranged local and international tech hackathons including organising digital business meetups with IT, stakeholders and more.
Olesya has a background as a journalist, political campaign manager, and marketing strategist to find solutions by thinking outside the box. During her life she was fortunate to visit 30+ countries; enabling her to understand cultural features, and develop communication skills across many different communities.
Alexandra Annable
Non-Executive Director; Marketing, Communications & Strategic Partnerships, Techfugees Foundation, UK 🇬🇧
Alexandra brings a distinguished career spanning over two decades international experience as a global PR and communications C-level professional elevating brand ideals for organisations seeking to enhance their reputations and visibility by communicating with the right audiences. She has worked with several of the world’s biggest tech firms that include Google, Microsoft, Samsung, Facebook, Oracle, EA Games and many more including renowned brands and tech start-ups; harnessing the power of digital and social media to engage customers and build a strong digital presence for businesses to scale across international markets.
A passionate entrepreneur with a creative neurodivergent growth mindset and strong work ethics who challenges the status quo to apply innovative communications approaches and engagement strategy to drive next generational growth.
Alexandra stands #WithRefugees around the world and is committed to contribute to Techfugees mission to empower refugees with responsible tech developed for and with them, whilst amplifying their human rights in the digital society.
