OUR TEAM

OUR STAFF TEAM

Miriam Ashon

Project Manager

Who is your favourite artist?

It changes but Billie Zangewa currently for the beautiful textures and colours of her work.

Describe yourself in three words.

Sociable, caring, sentimental.

Dream dinner guest?

Iris Apfel – 102 years of stories to share and an incredible wardrobe for me to nose through!

Email Miriam

Karen Bendell

Head of Development (Corporate)

Who is your favourite artist?

I’ve two, Richard Diebenkorn and Joaquin Sorolla, both are masters of light, once seen, their paintings are hard to forget.

Describe yourself in three words.

Optimistic, inquisitive, sociable.

Dream dinner guest?

Grayson Perry, I imagine he’s be fascinating, inspiring and definitely opinionated. What fun!

Email Karen

Thisbe Casellini

Head of Development (Grants)

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

Lead Senior Project Manager

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

Sherry Delorino

EA to the Chief Executive / Office Manager

Who is your favourite artist?

Lee K. A greyscale portrait artist and my favourite watercolor artist is Kelogsloops.

Describe yourself in three words.

Creative, empathetic, authentic.

Dream dinner guest?

BTS + Stray Kids – My favourite K-pop groups. There are 15 people in total but they come in a package.

Email Sherry

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

Jo Gray

Programmes Manager

Who is your favourite artist?

There’s too many to choose from but Chris Orr, Euan Uglow and Akram Khan are up there!

Describe yourself in three words.

Intentional, creative, friendly.

Dream dinner guest?

Angela Hartnett – so she can teach me how to cook!

Email Jo

Wendy Haines

Project Manager

Who is your favourite artist?

Joni Mitchell. When I was 4 I used to ask my parents to play her records (or so they claim).

Describe yourself in three words.

Excitable, empathetic, daydreamer.

Dream dinner guest?

Bjork. Likely fascinating conversation and she would probably come dressed as the food or one of my childhood pets.

Email Wendy

Dorothy Hoskins

Senior Project Manager

Who is your favourite artist?

Kae Tempest – I love their music and poetry, and think On Connection is a book to live by.

Describe yourself in three words.

Sociable socialist sunseeker.

Dream dinner guest?

Leah Williamson – I think she’d have good stories, be a laugh, and could give me some tips!

Email Dorothy

Grace Hutchison

Senior Project Manager

Who is your favourite artist?

My right-now favourite is Yhonnie Scarce because her art is graceful and political.

Describe yourself in three words.

Interested, understanding and excitable.

Dream dinner guest?

Matt Groening because he knows the future.

Email Grace

Marima Kamara

Development Assistant (Grants)

Who is your favourite artist?

This depends on my mood! But my top 3 right now are, Àsìkò, Daniel Roseberry at Schiaparelli & Aminatta Forna.

Describe yourself in three words.

Inquisitive, versatile, meticulous.

Dream dinner guest?

Beyoncé. She seems fun & her work-ethic, talent & passion for her craft is unparalleled, it would be a great conversation.

Email Marima

Lucia Ferguson

Project Manager

Who is your favourite artist?

One of my favourites is Rana Begum. I love that her abstract sculptures are so colourful and tactile.

Describe yourself in three words.

Positive, hungry, friendly.

Dream dinner guest?

The genie from Aladdin – he’d be so entertaining and hopefully we’d end up doing a musical number together!

Email Lucia

Georgina Nash

Development Manager (Grants)

Who is your favourite artist?

Gustav Klimt, I love his intricate patterns and use of gold.

Describe yourself in three words.

Musical, caring, outdoorsy.

Dream dinner guest?

Gilbert & Sullivan- I love their work and couldn’t just ask one of them!

Email Georgina

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

Director of Programmes

Who is your favourite artist?

Donald Glover. Amazing writer, musician, actor – a truly multifaceted artist.

Describe yourself in three words.

Efficient.

Dream dinner guest?

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

Email Kristian

Zekia Salmon-Hall

Communications Executive

Who is your favourite artist?

Kehinde Wiley is simply magnificent. His work is vibrant, current and powerful.

Describe yourself in three words.

Optimistic, creative, thoughtful.

Dream dinner guest?

Ego Ella May – her voice is so calming and I know she would have some great book recommendations.

Email Zekia

Georgia Schindler

Impact Executive

Who is your favourite artist?

Daphne Du Maurier – her books are literary masterpieces.

Describe yourself in three words.

Friendly, optimistic, driven.

Dream dinner guest?

Mel and Sue – the dream comedy duo.

Email Georgia

Sadie Smith

Project Manager

Who is your favourite artist?

Peter Brook – he was a pioneer for sight specific theatre, ensembles and active audiences – the kind of work I love.

Describe yourself in three words.

Funny, friendly, messy.

Dream dinner guest?

Vivienne Westwood – she’s an icon and would have some amazing stories.

Email Sadie

Alba Solera

Project Manager

Who is your favourite artist?

Yayoi Kusama. Her determination drives endless creativity across all art forms. Nothing could stop her from shining like an unwavering star.

Describe yourself in three words.

Mentos & CocaCola

Dream dinner guest?

Marina Abramovic, a performative dinner on top of the Great Wall, with a staring contest as dessert.

Email Alba

Jazzy Usiskin

Project Administrator

Who is your favourite artist?

Rirkrit Tiravanija – I like how his participatory work unites people, centring on communal traditions like cooking to bring people together 

Describe yourself in three words.

Creative, Calm, Empathetic

Dream dinner guest?

Fela Kuti – He’d bring the party and would have some unforgettable stories

Email Jazzy

Philip Ybring

Director of Communications

Who is your favourite artist?

Eiichiro Oda, for creating a wondrous world of vibrant stories for almost three decades.

Describe yourself in three words.

Honest, creative, hopeful.

Dream dinner guest?

Swedish singer Håkan Hellström. I love his music and he seems like a friendly guy.

Email Philip

Our ambassadors

Eddie Donaldson OBE
Alistair DK Johnston CMG

Our Youth Ambassador

Abi (18) – Read her story

Our trustees

John Broadis, Retired Head Teacher
Tony Cates, (Chair), Non-Executive Director
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, Deputy Head Teacher, 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
Holly Marland, Kora Player, Singer, Composer
Mike Poyser, Musician
Joe Rizzo Naudi, Writer

our communications council

Jonny Breeze, Founder and Director, Yellow Cat Recruitment
Rishi Dastidar, Senior Writer, venturethree
Hayley Granston, Commercial and Partnerships Director, formerly Beano, Hearst and BBC
Lisa Jedan, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Culture3
Jessica Kelly, Digital Marketing Manager, Orlebar Brown
Paul Kemp-Robertson, Co-founder, Contagious
Marit Meyer-Bell (Chair), Head of Communications, Travis Perkins plc
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, Britten Pears Arts

Our Finance & General Purposes Council

Vanessa Sharp, Solicitor, Non-Executive Director, Jeweller
Paul Thimont, CFO, White Cube