CHAIR OF THE BOARD

A photography curator, mentor and advisor based in London. She has worked within the field of photography for the past 20 years, focusing on contemporary and twentieth century artists. Katy has undertaken a myriad of roles within the field – from Senior Director at Michael Hoppen Gallery to Chair of the Board of Photo Oxford. She currently works for the Maud Sulter Estate in Glasgow and is helping other women artists with issues around their archives, estates and legacies. Katy has a BA from the Courtauld Institute of Art and an M. Litt in the History of Art from Oxford University. She has curated numerous photographic exhibitions in the UK and abroad, most recently at Four Corners in Bethnal Green, St John’s College, Oxford as a part of the Photo Oxford festival and at Messum’s Wiltshire.

Works as a Curator, Producer, Project Manager, Mentor and Consultant specialising in photography.  She is the co-founder and Director of GRAIN Projects, an arts organisation that develops photography opportunities for all and delivers a programme of new commissions, professional development opportunities, exhibitions, publications and socially engaged photography projects.  GRAIN work nationally and internationally on a diverse range of projects to support artists and engage with communities.

Nicola trained as an art historian, has an MA in History of Art, and a background in the visual arts, including in commissioning, exhibitions, collections, public art, artists education and professional development. Recent projects include collaborations with Format International Photography Festival, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Photoworks, Brighton Photo Fringe, Library of Birmingham, The Hive Arts Centre, Birmingham 2022 – The Commonwealth Games, Coventry UK City of Culture, Birmingham City University,  Guangzhou Library and British Council China, Tasweerghar and British Council Pakistan, Ffotogalleriet, Oslo, Appetite – Creative People and Places, MAC and Historic England.

Nicola is an experienced Mentor and Reviewer and has also been a jury member for the Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize, Source Graduate Prize and Portrait of Britain.

An experienced entrepreneur, having founded and grown successful companies in the technology sector, including Concentra which won multiple awards including the Technology Innovation Award as part of the Sunday Times Tech Track 100, Overall Winner of the Government Computing Awards and was listed in the Deloitte Fast 50 as one of the fastest-growing UK technology companies.

Paul is also a photographic artist and commercial photographer, specialising in staged tableaux and studio work. His work has been exhibited at the Copeland and Staffordshire Street galleries in London, as well at Photofusion as part of the Select exhibition in 2023. Paul has been shortlisted for inclusion in the Taylor Wessing Portrait exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in 2024. Paul has recently completed a BA Photography degree at UAL where he attained First Class Honours.

British Jamaican director, photographer and set designer based in London, whose work explores the unseen beauty in the everyday experiences of women and people of colour. Using photography, film and set design, her imagery has a trademark use of rich colours and elaborate staging that playfully blends inspirations from cinema and fashion to redefine the picture of black culture and femininity.

During a highly successful 2020, her photography work was featured in Vogue, Grazia and the Evening Standard. In February 2022, she curated her debut exhibition ‘Black Bxy Joy’ at Photographic centre, Photofusion. Destinie’s fashion film ‘A Kind of Woman’, an ode to plus-sized Black women in fashion, empowering a new vision of femininity that caters to all sizes was recently screened at the V&A in August 2022. Destinie is a recent graduate from Ravensbourne University London.

Has twenty years’ experience of leadership in the creative industries. From 2016 to 2021, she was Managing Director at PRELOADED, a studio creating award-winning (BAFTA, Google Play, D&AD) immersive experiences to drive engagement for clients such as V&A, Google, Magic Leap, R/GA, HTC and BBC. Prior to joining PRELOADED, she was VP, Experience Design at Antenna International, leading an international team of 40, delivering innovative visitor experiences for cultural institutions, such as the Met, MoMA, National Gallery, Tate, Royal Collection and Sagrada Familia. Jessica also spent ten years as a Documentary Producer / Director, making films about the arts, science and history for international broadcasters, such as BBC, Channel 4, PBS, Discovery, History Channel, including The Many Faces of Samuel Fosso for BBC FOUR. 

Now an accredited and experienced coach, mentor and start up advisor, Jessica uses her extensive experience to develop and support leaders in a wide variety of sectors.

An academic and artist. Her research focuses on decolonising approaches to the study of international relations, with the creative visual arts serving as a key tool to challenge dominant knowledge structures and amplify alternative and silenced ways of knowing and being in the social world. She has served on several Equality, Diversity and Inclusion boards and brings experience in inclusive learning practices through her work at Photofusion. Amelia holds a PhD in Political Science from UCL, a Master’s in International Law, and a BA in History from the University of Cambridge.

Has over twenty-five years’ experience of strategic financial and general management as Director of Finance and Operations in charities and NGOs, as well as in the commercial sector. He is a Chartered Accountant, FCA, and has served as treasurer and trustee of several charities and voluntary organisations throughout his professional working life. Alan is a Londoner, born, brought up and still living in southeast London.

Alan is also a photographer; he has recently completed MA Photojournalism and Documentary Photography at London College of Communication, University of the Arts London. He is a member of London Independent Photography and the RPS. His work has been selected for many group shows in London.

A higher education leader and cultural practitioner based in London. He is Chief Executive Officer of Central Film School, a specialist institution focused on practical education for the screen industries. With over 20 years’ experience across UK and international education, his work centres on widening participation, access to creative education, and supporting diverse talent pipelines into the cultural and creative sectors.

Rory has held senior leadership roles across a range of educational organisations and serves on the Board of Independent Higher Education. He is actively engaged in sector-wide initiatives focused on equity and student outcomes. His practice is underpinned by a commitment to amplifying under-represented voices and creating inclusive, practice-based learning environments that reflect the realities of contemporary creative industries. He is currently completing a PhD in Education & Social Justice at Lancaster University, exploring belonging and retention in creative arts education.

A solicitor, in her professional life she has advised a number of boards, including arts charities, on financial and governance matters. She lives in Brixton.

Hannah is a cultural strategist, producer and organisational leader working at the intersection of art, storytelling and social impact. Her work centres on using culture as a tool for dialogue, reflection and positive social change.

She is currently Interim CEO of the Bristol Legacy Foundation and previously held an executive leadership role at Black Cultural Archives. Alongside this, she runs WYN Services, working with organisations, to strengthen governance, systems and delivery so that ambitious social impact work can thrive. Her work also connects to international cultural dialogue through the British Council creative economy programme, and invests in the next generation via her role as Chair of Governors  at a primary school.

As a trustee of Photofusion, Hannah is particularly focused in supporting artists and photographers to develop their practice, tell powerful stories, and expand access to photography within communities.