At Upturn, our greatest asset is our people. Every member of our team brings a unique combination of professional expertise and personal commitment — many with lived experience of the very challenges our programmes are designed to address.
Anwar Ali is a social entrepreneur based in Greater Manchester who has dedicated over two decades to driving change through Upturn Enterprise Limited. Transitioning from the private sector, he was an early adopter of the social enterprise model, believing that business should be about more than just profit — it should create meaningful impact.
Awarded an OBE in 2021 for services to social enterprise, Anwar serves as Oldham Social Enterprise Ambassador and leads the SEWF Social Investment Working Group. He played a pivotal role in securing Oldham's designation as a SEUK Social Enterprise Place and is a passionate advocate for the power of enterprise to drive social mobility.
Anwar's approach is underpinned by a simple but powerful belief: 'Our ambition was to help just one or two people — now we've helped over 15,000.'
Maria Williams is Co-Founder and Director of Upturn, bringing deep expertise in employment support, community development and inclusive practice built over two decades at the heart of social enterprise delivery in Greater Manchester.
Maria's background in working with diverse communities and her commitment to genuinely inclusive approaches have shaped every programme Upturn has delivered. Her emphasis on listening first, building trust and taking a whole-person approach is embedded in everything Upturn does.
