OUR TEAM

OUR STAFF TEAM

Rosie Billington

EA to the Chief Executive/Office Manager

Who is your favourite artist?

The Weeknd. He is such a talented and creative singer, his voice gives me goose bumps.

Describe yourself in three words.

Approachable, loyal, clumsy?

Dream dinner guest?

Louis Theroux, I love his documentaries and would be interested to hear stories of all the weird and wonderful people he has met.

Email Rosie

Izzy Branch

Project Manager

Who is your favourite artist?

Frida Kahlo. I love the way she used her self-portraits to tell stories.

Describe yourself in three words.

Curious, caring, creative.

Dream dinner guest?

David Bowie, because he’s such an icon and would bring some great conversation.

Email Izzy

Thisbe Casellini

Deputy Director of Development

Who is your favourite artist?

Jeremy Deller, because his work is participatory and breaks down barriers.

Describe yourself in three words.

Creative, tidy, overthinker.

Dream dinner guest?

Andy Oliver, chef. Because she would cook a wonderful meal and she’s hilarious.

Email Thisbe

Hannah Clayden

Senior Project Manager, North West

Who is your favourite artist?

Barbara Hepworth because she was a brilliant sculptor who knew how to hold her own.

Describe yourself in three words.

‘More coffee please.’

Dream dinner guest?

Toni Morrison because she was a phenomenal writer and I would love to just listen to her talk.

Email Hannah

Hannah Conway

Senior Project Manager

Who is your favourite artist?

Kevin Parker aka Tame Impala. Arguably one of the most talented musicians of all time and my absolute favourite.

Describe yourself in three words.

Creative, passionate, positive.

Dream dinner guest?

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – an incredible writer who would have some very inspiring conversation topics over dinner!

Email Hannah

Oli Cox

Project Manager

Who is your favourite artist?

Theaster Gates, for putting his community into his art and his art into his community.

Describe yourself in three words.

Curious about stuff!

Dream dinner guest?

CAConrad, so we can speak about their old poems and hear some of their new ones.

Email Oli

Emma Davidson

Development Consultant

Who is your favourite artist?

I don’t really have a favourite – the joy of the arts is discovering my new favourite!

Describe yourself in three words.

Committed, conscientious, happy

Dream dinner guest?

Anyone who can make me laugh or think.

Email Emma

Caroline Dawson

Senior Project Manager

Who is your favourite artist?

Steve McQueen – His exhibition ‘Pursuit‘ at the Baltic in 2008 showed me how incredible art can be.

Describe yourself in three words.

I am Caroline.

Dream dinner guest?

My family.

Email Caroline

Wendy Dempsey

Director of Finance & Operations

Who is your favourite artist?

Matisse. His work is vivid and approachable and he was a theatre designer too!

Describe yourself in three words.

Finance. And. Operations

Dream dinner guest?

Nelson Mandela. To experience his wit, patience and wisdom.

Email Wendy

Nicky Goulder

Founding CEO

Who is your favourite artist?

David Hockney. His work is creative, colourful, ground-breaking and thought-provoking.

Describe yourself in three words.

Passionate, compassionate, driven.

Dream dinner guest?

David Attenborough. As a new Climate Reality Leader, I have so many questions!

Email Nicky

Eliza Greenslade

Development Administrator

Who is your favourite artist?

Jackson Pollock, because HIS paintings are the first ever paintings I remember seeing as a child and every time I look at one of, I see something new- which I find beautiful.

Describe yourself in three words.

A chocolate lover.

Dream dinner guest?

Kevin Hart, because I’d learn some jokes.

Email Eliza

Mike Haydock

Director of Communications

Who is your favourite artist?

Kazuo Ishiguro. He conjures magic with such clean prose.

Describe yourself in three words.

A bit hairy.

Dream dinner guest?

Bob Mortimer. An absolute legend.

Email Mike

Steph Hicks

Development Assistant

Who is your favourite artist?

Very difficult to choose, but I find something new and wonderful in Toni Morrison’s prose with every read.

Describe yourself in three words.

Loves to eat.

Dream dinner guest?

Stevie Nicks!

Email Steph

Ed Jackson

Director of Development

Who is your favourite artist?

My father. He inspired and nurtured my love of creativity.

Describe yourself in three words.

Energetic. Assiduous. Cheerful.

Dream dinner guest?

My friends, with big appetites and a penchant for revelry.

Email Ed

Nikita Kalhan

Communications Assistant

Who is your favourite artist?

Wes Anderson and my friend Stephanie.

Describe yourself in three words.

Thoughtful, intuitive, clumsy.

Dream dinner guest?

Lizzo, because she’s Lizzo.

Email Nikita

Jacqueline Kent

Development Executive

Who is your favourite artist?

Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I could read his books every day.

Describe yourself in three words.

I am indescribable.

Dream dinner guest?

Yotam Ottolenghi, if he was cooking.

Email Jacqueline

Flora Lewis-Jones

Project Manager

Who is your favourite artist?

My sister! She inspires me every day.

Describe yourself in three words.

Optimistic, caring and honest.

Dream dinner guest?

JME – post-dinner entertainment sorted, and he’d definitely enjoy some vegan grub!

Email Flora

Sonia Peart

Bookkeeper

Who is your favourite artist?

Vincent Van Gogh. He cut off his left ear when tempers flared with another artist. He was a beautiful colourful artist.

Describe yourself in three words.

Happy, kind, caring.

Dream dinner guest?

Michael Jackson. He was a great artist who transformed the art of music videos in the 1990s.

Email Sonia

Kristian Sakulku

Lead Senior Project Manager

Who is your favourite artist?

Wumzum. Always opening my eyes to new things in the city.

Describe yourself in three words.

Efficient.

Dream dinner guest?

Jackie Chan. I’d be in for good stories, jokes and food.

Email Kristian

Megan Shephard

Project Coordinator

Who is your favourite artist?

Henri Cartier-Bresson: I admire his range of work and in particular his ability to capture little moments of everyday life.

Describe yourself in three words.

Passionate, curious, friendly.

Dream dinner guest?

My grandmother, who taught me how to cook and helped develop my love for food.

Email Megan

Matt Weir

Project Manager, North West

Who is your favourite artist?

William Eggleston for his ordinary subject matter in beautiful technicolour.

Describe yourself in three words.

Friendly, Fidgety & Sarcastic.

Dream dinner guest?

George Harrison because he was a really good gardener.

Email Matt

Our ambassador

Alistair DK Johnston CMG

Our Youth Ambassador

Abi (16) – Read her story

Our trustees

John Broadis, Retired Head Teacher
Tony Cates, Vice-Chair and Partner, KPMG UK (retired)
Eddie Donaldson OBE (Chair), Business Adviser
Holly Khan, Composer/Facilitator
Marit Meyer-Bell, Head of Communications, Travis Perkins plc
Vanessa Sharp (Company Secretary), Solicitor, Non-Executive Director, Jeweller
Paul Thimont (Treasurer), CFO, White Cube
Carol Topolski, Writer
Simone Wright, Assistant Headteacher, Alexandra School

Our creative council

James Baldwin, Actor and Playwright
John Broadis (Chair), Retired Head Teacher
Alicia Clarke, Photographer
Chloe Cooper, Visual Artist
Holly Khan, Composer/Facilitator
Amy Leung, Visual Artist
Mike Poyser, Musician

Our development council

Libby Bassett, Business Development Consultant, former KPMG partner
Jonny Breeze, Founder and Director, Yellow Cat Recruitment
Tony Cates (Chair), Vice Chair and Partner, KPMG UK (retired)
Harry Charlton, Chief Executive at Seven Bedford Row
Natalie Graeme, Founder of Uncommon Creative Studio
Hayley Granston, Commercial and Partnerships Director, formerly Beano, Hearst and BBC
Sara Putt, MD/Agent, Sara Putt Associates
Chris Turpin, former Managing Director EMEA, First Sentier Investors

our communications council

Rishi Dastidar, Senior Writer, venturethree
Lisa Jedan, Vice President, Global Brand Communications, Bacardi
Paul Kemp-Robertson, Co-founder, Contagious
Marit Meyer-Bell (Chair), Head of Communications, Travis Perkins plc
Martin Shippen, PR Consultant
John Waterfield, Director Strategic Relationships, KPMG

our honorary advisory council

Sir Peter Estlin, 691st Lord Mayor of the City of London, City of London Alderman, Senior Advisor at Barclays Bank UK plc
Tim Robertson, Chief Executive, The Anne Frank Trust UK
Colin Sheaf, Consultant, Bonhams
Emily Stubbs, Director of Development, The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment