Meet The Team
We are small but MIGHTY!
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We operate with a lean staff team supported by programme-specific employees, freelancers, interns, and volunteers.
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Ignite! is also supported by its board of trustees made up of nine professionals who add value through their wide variety of expertise and guidance.
Click the button below to find out about current opportunities to work with and support Ignite!
Sarah Walley
Operations Manager
Megan Shore
Programmes Manager
(Designated Safeguarding Officer)
Tim Hatton
Development Manager
Catriona Kelly
Programmes Officer
Gemma Blackwell
Creative Practitioner - Curious Tots
Helen Goodbarton
Creative Practitioner - Curious Tots
Zoe Ambrose
Creative Practitioner - Curious Tots
Rachel Scanlon
Creative Practitioner - Curious Tots
Claire Finn
Freelance Creative Practitioner - Creative Sparks
Adele Cleaver
Freelance Creative Practitioner - Creative Sparks
Debi Maskell
Freelance Creative Practitioner - Creative Sparks
Ines Fernandez
Freelance Creative Practitioner - Creative Sparks
Charlotte Land
Freelance Creative Practitioner - Creative Sparks
Rufus Roberts
Freelance Creative Practitioner - Creative Sparks
Catherine Gittens
Freelance Creative Practitioner - Creative Sparks
Ignite! Trustees
You can contact the Board of Trustees using board@ignitefutures.org.uk
Chrys Allen
Fine Artist
Susan Anderson (Chair)
Deputy Head of School, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham
Nisha Aslam
Senior Stakeholder and Community Engagement Manager, Severn Trent
Antony Bellekom
Creative consultant and former Managing Editor of BBC Radio 2 & BBC 6 Music
Jo Hardy
Director of Innovation, TTS
Katie Kinzett
Centre Leader, IntoUniversity
Emma Sawula (Trustee Safeguarding Lead)
Consultant in HR and Organisational Development
Peter Scholes
Retired Scientist
Rachel Scholes
Finance Manager
Shivani Singhal
CEO, Dharohar
Very special mentions
Rick Hall
FOUNDER OF IGNITE!
Rick founded Ignite! in 2006 and, after 16 years of leadership, retired in 2022.
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Rick continues to playfully and provocatively promote an approach to education that recognises the value of curiosity and creativity in promoting lifelong, self-empowered learning. One of the (many) reasons that Rick is so special is the relationships that he fosters and maintains through his openness and generosity of spirit. Rick is an enduring mentor and aspirational figure to many – many of whom appreciate the pivotal role he has played in their lives.
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When Ignite! staff and trustees ponder a problem, we ask, "What would Rick do?"
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Read Rick's "Notes on Retirement" here.
Cathy Bereznicki
FORMER CHAIR OF IGNITE!
Our wonderful Cathy died in February 2016, aged 62, following heart surgery. She was a champion of opportunities for young people and dedicated so much energy and enthusiam to the work of Ignite!.
Cathy was a long-serving member of the west London choir the Addison Singers and performed regularly at their concerts.
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We continue our work at Ignite! in Cathy's honour, to bring creativity and opportunities to children and young people. Cathy lives on within Ignite!.
Read more about Cathy's life and work here:
