The Shackleton Foundation is delighted to announce our latest Shackleton Leader - Cynthia Lai. Cynthia is the first Leader to receive our new grant amount of £15,000 to help develop Ella Support Loop - to make the SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) system kinder, clearer, and easier to navigate for families, schools, and local authorities alike.

With over 25 years’ experience leading data, AI strategy, governance, and digital transformation projects, Cynthia combines deep technical expertise with lived experience to build technology people can trust. By giving families clearer pathways and professionals better insights, Ella helps prevent crises, reduces escalation, and keeps more children safe and supported within their communities. It helps parents access reliable, relevant SEND information tailored to their situation, using only trusted and verified sources

Thanks to The Shackleton Foundation grant, Cynthia will be able to develop the tool with the aim of helping over 300 families in the first year and eventually expanding regionally and nationally.