Meet Roy

Before anything else, Roy O’Shaughnessy is Bella’s dad.

Like any parent, he wants to see his daughter achieve her dreams. What makes Bella’s dream so special is that it extends far beyond herself. Bella believes that disabled artisans everywhere should have the opportunity to share their talents with the world, earn a fair income for their work, and be recognised for their creativity and skill. Helping turn that vision into reality has become one of Roy’s greatest passions.

Throughout his career, Roy has dedicated himself to helping organisations grow, overcome challenges, and create opportunities for people to thrive. He brings decades of leadership experience from across the business, charity, government, education, and social enterprise sectors. He served as Group Chief Executive of Capital City College Group, London’s largest further education college group, and before that as Group Chief Executive of Shaw Trust, one of the UK’s leading employment and skills charities.

Roy helped establish pioneering initiatives, including Shaw Education Trust, and led major organisational transformations, mergers, and growth programmes. He is known for bringing people together around a shared vision, building strong teams, and creating sustainable opportunities for growth and impact.

Today, Roy continues to support organisations that make a difference through his roles as Chair of the Board of Trustees of Family Fund, National Chair of YMCA England and Wales, and Chair of Bellanno Ltd.

As Bella’s dad, he has witnessed her determination, creativity and belief that disabled people should have the same opportunities as everyone else to pursue their ambitions and share their talents with the world.

Roy combines his professional experience with a deeply personal commitment to Bella’s vision. He helps the company build strong partnerships, grow sustainably, and create opportunities for disabled artisans to reach new customers and markets. He believes that when talent is recognised and barriers are removed, extraordinary things can happen.

“Bella’s Community Dream is about turning possibility into opportunity and ensuring that disabled artisans everywhere can be valued, supported and rewarded for the remarkable work they create.”

Meet Nesh

Neshree O’Shaughnessy is the founder of Bellanno and a passionate supporter of Bella’s Community Dream.

Originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, Neshree began her career with Telkom SA, where she worked for three years before moving to the United Kingdom. She then joined Careers Development Group (CDG), an organisation dedicated to providing training, skills development and opportunities for people facing significant barriers to employment.

During her time at CDG, Neshree’s responsibilities grew to include performance management, job coaching, employee coaching and leading the Quality and Performance Team. She worked within the organisation during a period of major change for the welfare-to-work sector, as the Government’s Work Programme transformed the way services were delivered across the UK.

In 2013, Neshree stepped away from her career to start a family and establish Bellanno. Since then, she has combined her professional experience with a strong commitment to quality, accountability and continuous improvement.

Today, Neshree reviews every new engagement personally, ensuring that agreed deliverables are achieved and that outcomes are measured against planned timescales. She believes that meaningful work is built on trust, attention to detail and a genuine commitment to delivering what has been promised.

As a mother, Neshree is especially proud to support Bella’s vision for Bella’s Community Dream. Together, they share a belief in the power of kindness, community and creating opportunities for others. While Bella brings the inspiration, curiosity and energy of youth, Neshree provides encouragement, experience and a steady focus on turning ideas into meaningful action.

Their shared journey reflects a simple belief: that when people work together with purpose and compassion, even the smallest dream can grow into something that makes a lasting difference.

Meet Nick

Nicholas Carey has been a trusted friend, colleague, and supporter of the O’Shaughnessy family for many years. Long before Bella was born, Nick worked alongside Roy and Neshree in several roles, building a shared commitment to social impact, inclusion, and creating opportunities for people to thrive. Over the years, he has become a valued part of Bella’s life and has witnessed first-hand the determination, resilience, and joy that inspired the creation of Bella’s Dream.

Nick is currently the Managing Director of Bellanno, a role he has held for several years, leading the organisation’s growth and helping purpose-driven organisations achieve meaningful and lasting impact. Before joining Bellanno, he served as Chief Commercial Officer at Capital City College Group, London’s largest Further Education provider, where he developed innovative ventures and new income streams to support the organisation’s mission.

Before that, Nick spent six years with Shaw Trust, one of the UK’s leading charities, where he held several senior leadership positions, including Chief Strategy Officer. During this time, he played a significant role in shaping the organisation’s strategic direction, growth, and social impact activities.

Nick has also contributed extensively to the disability and inclusion sector through several non-executive roles, including serving as European Deputy Vice President of Rehabilitation International, a global alliance working to create a more inclusive world for people with disabilities.

Throughout his career, Nick has been passionate about creating opportunities that enable people and communities to flourish. His commitment to inclusion and empowerment aligns closely with Bella’s Dream’s mission to help disabled artisans in some of the world’s poorest communities earn a fair income and share their talents with a global audience.

As a member of Bella’s Community Dream, Nick brings strategic leadership, commercial expertise, and a deep personal commitment to Bella’s vision of a world where disability is never a barrier to opportunity, dignity, or independence.

Meet Dr. Vakai

Dr. Vakai Matutu (PhD) is the Board President of the
Zimbabwe YMCA, He also serves as board member for the Africa Alliance of YMCAs at continental level. He has been a volunteer with the Zimbabwe YMCA for more than two decades and has served the YMCA in various capacities which include Branch Chairman for the Kadoma YMCA. Vakai carries a deep personal conviction and commitment to make a difference in the lives of poor vulnerable people in Africa and beyond. Outside the YMCA Dr. Matutu has more than 15 years of experience in development, public health, HIV/AIDS and
social policy. He has worked for the National AIDS Council, Population Services International,
Population Solutions for Health. Currently he is a lecturer at Midlands State University, Department
of Community Studies where teaches disability studies, social policy and conflict management.

Dr. Matutu is a holder of a PhD in Development Studies from North-West University, South Africa, an MSc in Development Studies from the National University of Science and Technology, a BSc Hons in Sociology from the University of Zimbabwe. He is a certified change leadership facilitator with a
Postgrad Certificate with Distinction in Change Leadership from the University of the West of
England, Bristol, Britain.

Meet Maria

Maria Sofia Meirelles has been part of Bella’s Community Dream from the very beginning. From the moment the idea first took shape, she has been a constant source of creativity, clarity and purpose. Quite simply, without Maria, Bella’s Community Dream could not have become a reality.

Originally from Portugal, Maria moved to Cambridge in 2019 to pursue her MA in Graphic Design and Typography at Anglia Ruskin University. Her career has been built on a deep belief in the power of visual storytelling — the ability of thoughtful, human‑centred design to connect people, communicate ideas and bring an organisation’s story to life.

Roy first encountered Maria’s work during her time at Bell Educational, where her blend of imagination, discipline and empathy made an immediate impression. When Bella’s Community Dream moved from concept to development, Roy knew exactly who to involve. He introduced Maria to Nesh and Bella, confident that her talent and integrity would elevate the project. From that moment, she became an essential part of the journey.

Maria’s creative practice spans graphic design, photography, videography and illustration, enriched by experience with organisations such as CLIC Sargent, NSPCC, CamSight, U‑Now and the United Nations. These collaborations have shaped her understanding of diverse communities and the importance of visual communication that reflects real people and real stories.

Her years at Bell Educational gave her a strong grounding in the education sector and a clear appreciation of how purposeful design can engage audiences and articulate an organisation’s mission. Today, working independently with schools, businesses and community organisations, Maria continues to bring ideas, vision and identity to life through thoughtful, human‑centred creative work.

Maria’s passion is simple and powerful: creativity should make a meaningful difference. Her work is never just about aesthetics — it is about purpose, people and connection. That ethos has guided her contribution to Bella’s Community Dream from its inception, and we are profoundly grateful for the dedication, imagination and heart she has brought to every step of the project.