Bridie Downing

Conor founded Spark UK with a group of friends in 2020, aged 14, after a conversation in a North Devon coffee shop about the lack of mental health education in schools. That conversation became a charity built around a simple aim: to spark conversations around mental health.

Today, Conor leads Spark’s strategy, partnerships and day-to-day work, helping turn young people’s ideas into resources, campaigns and opportunities. His own experiences of mental health challenges shape his commitment to making these conversations more honest, accessible and useful.

Alongside leading Spark, Conor studies Business at the University of Exeter and speaks about youth mental health, entrepreneurship and the importance of giving young people a meaningful say. He also sits on a number of boards including on the Boys Education Commission, FlippGen’s Digital Rebels and Young Enterprise.