Founder & CEO
Ellisha Soanes
Founder of Shine by ES Consultancy
Author | Educational Columnist | Inclusive Leadership Specialist | EDI Strategist | Public Speaker
About the founder
Ellisha is a multi-award-winning Leader in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Specialist and sits on several boards, charities and founder of several award winning businesses.
She has worked as Director of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion for several colleges and adult education providers across East Anglia, and as a lecturer teaching EDI, health and social care and early years. Ellisha has over 10 years of experience in the education sector and more than 15 years in the health, social care, and public health sectors.
Growing up in Suffolk as a mixed-heritage, neurodiverse Black woman has deeply shaped her purpose and understanding of identity. Being classed as a minority laid the foundation for her mission to drive change and create inclusive spaces.
Ellisha is a passionate advocate for social mobility and was one of the first Further Education lecturers in the UK to embed Black History throughout the year. Her achievements include co-authoring Elimu – The Little Book of Knowledge, which is now used in schools across the UK. She also partnered with the award-winning Marvel Black Panther exhibition, bringing the film’s iconic costumes to the UK.
“I believe change is possible when people feel safe to speak, confident to act, and supported to lead. My work creates inclusive gamechangers — leaders who turn intent into impact. — Ellisha Soanes
Today, Ellisha and her team work internationally, collaborating with businesses, community projects, and the education sector—including Further Education colleges, which remain central to her work. Her leadership empowers others and opens new opportunities, grounded in her core belief: “You have to be it, to believe it.” She leads others on pathways of empowerment—from classrooms to Parliament—not just to be in the room, but to shape it and create lasting change.
Ellisha has worked closely with the Department for Education and continues to sit on parliamentary boards to influence policy. She has been featured in global news outlets as a columnist and commentator, and has appeared on BBC, ITV, HuffPost, Education Times News, and more. Recently, she was honored in Glamour magazine as one of the Top 15 Trailblazing Black Women in the UK, and she serves as a delegate for UN Women. Ellisha loves to research and collaborates with others including mentoring others, and is also qualified Cultural Intelligence specialist, and is excited to be developing upcoming book as author on mixed experiences growing up in Suffolk and collaborating with young people to create another interactive Black History interactive book, on heroes on your doorstep.
Achievements & Impact
- First UK FE lecturer to teach Black History year-round, winning the AoC President’s Award
- Named one of Glamour’s Top 15 Most Influential Black Women in the UK
- Author of Elimu – an interactive Black history book used in schools year-round across the UK
- Nominated by multicultural awards for Diversity
- Educational podcast host in further eduction
- Creator of Culture Day/Club
- Regular educational columnist
- Speaker at the Houses of Parliament, sharing insight on inclusion in education and community development
- Co-founder of Aspire Black Suffolk & Board Director at Primmadonna Festival
- Curator of the Power of Stories / Black Panther exhibition
- Recognised by FE Week as an EDI “guru”
- Honoured by the BBC Community Awards for contributions CiC social impact
- United Nations women delegate
- Diversity ITV news board advisor
Ellisha Soanes is known for black history in education using student led approaches and heros on your doorstep ethos to help sectors to join the dance to equity, creating cultural changes through student led approaches, engagement work commingles and building EDI leads globally in education has transferred to global impact.
Women in leadership
Global Reach & Culture Ellisha designs and leads inclusive programmes and cultural events — from Black in Business Dinners to international leadership trips in Tanzania and beyond, with world leaders such as commonwealth: Her work amplifies underrepresented voices in arts, heritage, and enterprise, and she consults with organisations to build inclusive leaders and to create steps/ Shine and associates offer, to amplify underrepresented voices in education, arts, heritage, and enterprise.
Areas of Expertise:
- Inclusive leadership development
- Strategic cultural audits
- Anti-racism & neurodiversity frameworks
- Wellbeing & healthy relationships training
- Curriculum co-creation & staff training
- Culture change facilitation
- Mentoring & coaching
“We don’t just aim for inclusion. We build communities where everyone belongs.” — Ellisha Soanes
