Emma Thomas

Emma Thomas is chief executive of YouthNet, the UK’s first online charity set up in 1995 by broadcaster Martyn Lewis to provide accessible information, advice and support to 16 to 25 year-olds.

She joined YouthNet as communications and marketing director in February 2010.

After completing a history degree at York University, Emma worked in Nepal at a tented camp in the heart of the Chitwan National Park. Despite the temptation of a permanent role in Nepal, she returned to the UK, to pursue a more conventional career. 

Starting out as a management trainee at the WH Smiths Group, Emma held roles at Waterstone’s in the marketing and corporate strategy departments within the Group, which began her extensive career in marketing and strategy. 

She joined the BBC marketing, communications & audiences division in 2001, working on BBC Radio 4 and the digital services, with subsequent roles in television, the central brand strategy & planning team and latterly the future media & technology division.

This last role as head of marketing involved leading a team responsible for the strategy and integrated campaigns for BBC Online, BBC Mobile and BBC Learning, as well as leading innovative mobile and digital marketing activity across the BBC.

A passion for travel has continued since Nepal, travelling for a year in Latin America before joining the BBC, and taking a sabbatical in 2007 from the BBC to visit Central America and East Africa, combining backpacking with voluntary work for a range of small organisations. 

Emma’s involvement with the not-for-profit sector also includes freelance work at Shelter and Tate Britain, ahead of her travels in 2000, and pro bono work with YouthNet in the autumn of 2009.

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