Stephen was CEO at the Big Issue Foundation from July 2007 and Group Chief Executive of the Big Issue from February 2009 to 2021. For 13 years before this, he was Director of Commercial Operations at Shelter, with responsibility for a chain of 100 charity stores, mail-order business and a training business primarily focusing on housing professionals. The combined profits from the three activities were £1m in 2007. All profits helped to fund the work of the parent Charity. He was a member of the Senior Management Team with cross- organisational responsibility for the strategic management of the Charity. He also helped found and ultimately chaired the professional body that represents the majority of Charity Retailers in the UK, ‘The Association of Charity Shops’.
Stephen is also an established Trustee of Shoreditch Town Hall – an independent arts, events and community space housed in one of the grandest former civic buildings in the capital.
Stephen is a brain injury survivor and is newly disabled. He keeps busy with a number of voluntary roles whilst working upon his recovery. He is a shadow board member of Reflect the Agency – a brand-new type of talent management agency in the diversity and inclusion space, born out of their inherent curiosity to challenge, innovate and reshape the current media landscape.