Trustees

UK (Global) Board of Trustees

RICHARD MANTLE OBE DL

Chair of the Board of Trustees

Richard Mantle was the General Director of Opera North. His first appointment in the opera field was as Deputy Managing Director at English National Opera, and he has worked atScottish Opera and Edmonton Opera (Canada). He is currently a Director of the National Opera Studio, a member of the General Synod of the Church of England and was awarded an OBE in 2013 for his services to music.

PROF. VIKAS SHAH MBEChair / Entrepreneur Award winning entrepreneur, strategist and educator who has built businesses in diverse sectors around the world.

PROF. VIKAS SHAH MBE

Entrepreneur & CEO, Swiscot Group

Award winning entrepreneur, strategist and educator who has built businesses in diverse sectors around the world.

PROF. JAMES THOMPSONFounder / Academic Renowned author and Professor of Applied and Social Theatre and Vice President for Social Responsibility at the University of Manchester.

PROF. JAMES THOMPSON

Founder / Academic

Renowned author and Professor of Applied and Social Theatre and Vice President for Social Responsibility at the University of Manchester.

TOM SHOREInternational Development & Programmes Specialist Specialist in programme delivery, advocacy, operations and strategic leadership in the fields of International Development & Culture.

TOM SHORE

International Development & Programmes Specialist

Specialist in programme delivery, advocacy, operations and strategic leadership in the fields of International Development & Culture.

NADIA KHAN

Founder, Women in CTRL

Nadia brings over 20 years of experience in the music industry developing artist careers, talent management and running independent label businesses with a passion for developing talent from the grassroots. An advocate for sharing knowledge and education. As the Founder of Women in CTRL, Nadia is a passionate champion for diversity, equity and inclusion, and her work in promoting gender parity and representation of women in music has been widely recognised, being awarded Outstanding Contribution at the Music Week ‘Women in Music Awards’ in 2021.

DAVE BIANCHI

Artist Manager & Entrepreneur

David is an entrepreneur & music manager who is founder & CEO of Various Artists Management. He has managed Charli XCX, Ashnikko, The Libertines, Killing Joke, Mark Morrison, Supergrass, Echo & The Bunnymen and Seasick Steve.

ANNA BERENFELD

Financial Philanthropist

Anna’s career sprung from finance into philanthropy across Europe, UK, Russia and the USA. Currently Anna works for Ambassador Ronald S. Lauder on projects around the globe.

DARREN CORMACK

CEO, Mines Advisory Group (MAG)

Darren is CEO of MAG, a global humanitarian charity. Darren holds a first class Master’s in International Management and is an experienced Non-Executive Director. His previous roles include managing a wide range of global environment, conservation & humanitarian projects.

Paul staceyFounding Director, Reading Rep Theatre Paul is the Founding Artistic Director of Reading Rep Theatre: www.readingrep.com Paul built Reading Rep from his £500 overdraft to multi-award-winning producing theatre and cultural hub.

Paul stacey

Founding Director, Reading Rep Theatre

Paul is the Founding Artistic Director of Reading Rep Theatre. Paul built Reading Rep from his £500 overdraft to multi-award-winning producing theatre and cultural hub.

MIKE SMITH

Mentoring & Business Development Manager

Mike Smith is one of the most respected A&R minds in the British music industry. His prestigious roles include Managing Director at Warner / Chappell UK and Global President of Downtown Music Publishing

IRINA MARTIN (board advisor)Financial Advisor Irina Martin is a Senior Partner advising international, corporate and private clients on the best investment opportunities in her native Ukraine. She has a solid track record in cross-border operation…

IRINA MARTIN (board advisor)

Financial Advisor

Irina Martin is a Senior Partner advising international, corporate and private clients on the best investment opportunities in her native Ukraine. She has a solid track record in cross-border operations in the UK working with international corporations and governments.

ROBERT MUNUKU (board advisor)Artist & Creative Entrepreneur Robert is the founder and Creative Director of Mau Mau Arts, a Pan-African film, music & visual arts production company in Nairobi, Kenya.

ROBERT MUNUKU (board advisor)

Artist & Creative Entrepreneur (Kenya)

Robert is the founder and Creative Director of Mau Mau Arts, a Pan-African film, music & visual arts production company in Nairobi, Kenya.

FARAH WARDANI (board advisor)

Director, Laban Theatre (Lebanon)

Farah Wardani is an award-winning professional actress, who has pioneered the use of theatre for social change and activism in Lebanon, via her theatre company Laban. Since 2006, she has worked with over 50,000 men, women and children throughout the country to provide safe spaces for people to express their emotions and reduce their tension, providing a welcome distraction from daily hardships.

Republic of Ireland Board of Trustees

Olga Stuzhinskaya

International Relations and Development Specialist

A specialist in Eastern Europe, South Caucasus & Central Asia, Olga delivers expertise to the EU, international organisations, governments & NGOs. Areas include good governance, empowerment of civil society, participatory policy making, youth sector development and promotion of gender equality & equal rights.

BERENICE LEVENEZ

Strategy, Digital and Transformation Director

Berenice Levenez is Strategy, Digital and Transformation Director with Girlguiding, the leading UK Charity for girls and young women. She is an experienced strategist and change specialist. She has held various consulting and management positions in education, and healthcare sectors. Her areas of interest include empowerment of civil society, youth participation and promotion of gender equality.

Zoë Seaton

Founder & Artistic Director, Big Telly Theatre Company

Big Telly Theatre are at the forefront of digital & hybrid work, with a focus on live, accessible, interactive experiences, and have received wide international acclaim. Zoë has also just launched INCOGNITO - a fragmented reality experience on a mobile app played in towns/cities, which is a cross between live theatre & a multiplayer game. She was awarded an honorary Doctorate from Ulster University for her contribution & commitment to the dramatic arts in Northern Ireland.

Dirk Dobiéy

Co-founder & Chief Curiosity Conductor, Age of Artists

Age of Artists is an international network & consulting firm that facilitates learning from creative disciplines for better outcomes in business and society. Between 1998 and 2014 Dirk held various consulting and international management positions at companies such as SAP, Hewlett-Packard and T-Systems. Dirk has a background in business and social science.

US Board of Trustees

DAVID SMITHDavid Smith spent his career working applying statistical methods in cancer research before changing focus to use these same techniques to solve problems in humanitarian efforts.

DAVID SMITH

David Smith spent his career working applying statistical methods in cancer research before changing focus to use these same techniques to solve problems in humanitarian efforts.

DIEDERIK ADVOCAATPhilanthropist & Entrepreneur Diederik’s career is in emerging markets in corporate finance, currently as Senior Advisor and Chief Facilitator in negotiations to the World Bank.

DIEDERIK ADVOCAAT

Philanthropist & Entrepreneur

Diederik’s career is in emerging markets in corporate finance, currently as Senior Advisor and Chief Facilitator in negotiations to the World Bank.

EDDIE BERG

Creative Consultant and Coach

Based in New York, Eddie has worked at the intersection of film, technology and media arts for more than 25 years. He led the development of BFI Southbank in London and is the Founder and former CEO of the Foundation for Art and Creative Technology (FACT) in Liverpool.