Team

Cassandra Hugill is Chief Executive of the Martingale Foundation, where she leads efforts to transform access to postgraduate study for talented individuals from low-socioeconomic backgrounds. With over a decade of experience spanning higher education, research engagement and social mobility, Cassandra was previously at UCL, where she co-founded the In2research programme with In2scienceUK. Her work has focused on dismantling structural barriers to research careers, particularly for those underrepresented in academia. Cassandra combines a lived understanding of the challenges facing students from non-traditional backgrounds with a track record of building impactful, inclusive initiatives. At Martingale, she is driving both direct support for Scholars and wider systems change to ensure that talent, not background, determines who gets to thrive in postgraduate research.

Mary is Director of Operations for Martingale Foundation, where her primary responsibilities are legal and financial oversight for the organisation. Working closely with the Chief Executive and the Advisory Board, she oversees grant agreements with funders and universities, and all finances relating to operations and onwards grants. She also works to strengthen the infrastructure and operations of the organisation through policies, partnerships and strategy implementation. 

Since her PhD in English Literature from King’s College London, she has worked for an award-winning education charity The Brilliant Club, which mobilises doctoral researchers into state schools, and a social enterprise that supports young women affected by organised crime. She is Chair of Richmond Foundation, an independent charitable foundation that helps people in the London Borough of Richmond to build healthy and fulfilling lives.

Checan is Head of Communications and External Engagement at Martingale Foundation, where he oversees the organisation’s work across communications, partnerships and policy and advocacy. He leads all aspects of Martingale’s external communications and engagements to engage prospective scholars, raise Martingale’s profile and advocate to remove barriers faced by talented students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds.  

He joined Martingale in 2026, having previously held roles in charities and foundations and delivering global projects in the UK Government’s Cabinet Office, where he worked across areas including global health and international affairs. He is passionate about ensuring those from low-socioeconomic backgrounds can meet their full potential and regularly mentors students wishing to seek a career in the public and non-profit sectors. Checan holds an MA in International Affairs from King’s College London and outside of work he aspires to improve his French alongside being a keen hiker, music maker and sometime-suffering follower of Sheffield United.  

As Programme Manager, I am responsible for all of Martingale’s Scholar-facing activities, overseeing the Scholar journey from our application and selection process through to our support programme for enrolled Scholars and Alumni. I run Martingale’s annual assessment centres for candidates, and work closely with partner universities to ensure all Martingale Scholars are able to thrive before, during and beyond their Scholarship. I am responsible for the delivery of the Martingale Development Programme, and also lead on the monitoring and evaluation of the Scholarship programme, working closely with our dedicated external evaluators.

I have been with Martingale since the very beginning in September 2022, shortly before our official launch, and have been privileged to support over 100 Scholars in the years since. Prior to joining Martingale, I worked in undergraduate access and outreach at the University of Oxford, and have also been a Trustee of both the Orwell Youth Prize and the Orwell Foundation.

I have seven years’ experience supporting students and delivering programmes in higher education. Before joining the Martingale Foundation in 2023, I previously worked at the University of Leeds and Lancaster University in student opportunity and recruitment roles.

Working with scholars is one of my favourite parts of my role as Programme Coordinator. I am passionate about supporting students to excel and get the most out of their university experience, both by directly supporting students, and by taking a systemic view of what structures best enable talented students to succeed, regardless of background.

As Partnerships Coordinator, I support the development and stewardship of relationships with universities, funders and other key stakeholders to expand opportunities for postgraduate scholars. My role involves coordinating partnerships and ensuring effective collaboration to sustain and grow our Scholarship programme. 

At university, I studied zoology before completing a Masters in global wildlife health and conservation at the University of Bristol, which gave me first-hand insight into the costs and challenges of undertaking postgraduate study. I’ve always been passionate about working in the charity sector and working to create a lasting, positive impact. Outside of work, I enjoy reading, hiking, and spending lots of time outdoors.

As Team Administrator, I support the team on various projects and help keep things running smoothly behind the scenes; it’s great working in such a fast-paced and impactful sphere. Prior to this, I graduated from Oxford, where I studied History and Politics and worked on access programmes, which built my passion for empowering underrepresented communities.

Outside of work, I’m passionate about advocacy, sitting on the Elevate Youth Board where I represent the community and work on local projects. I also love history lectures, plays and anything competitive – especially convincing my friends to join yet another board game night.

I joined the Martingale team in August 2025 as Events and Communications Officer, taking on a lot of the logistical elements of Martingale’s events and supporting across a range of communications functions.

My background before joining Martingale was in charity communications, working as Digital Communications Officer for the education charity Cumberland Lodge. That role energised my belief in direct support for students who need it and highlighted how fulfilling it is for that to be the goal of my professional life. In my personal life, I also arrange esports events, initially for my local community and then scaling up to having players attend from all over the world.

Beyond the office, I am a keen climber, runner and photographer and I have a cat called Gerb, the begrudging subject of most of the photos I take.