Advisory Board

Local London is one of four sub-regional partnerships in the UK’s capital city. Founded in 2016, they represent nine local authorities in northeast and southeast London.

Member authorities are Barking & Dagenham, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Havering, Newham, Enfield, Redbridge, and Waltham Forest.

A fine art practitioner with a decade working in creative HE, Chris is the Senrio Strategic Engagement & Partnerships Manager at Creative UK. He works with the UK's skills and education providers to open up the creative industries and help drive investment in, and shift perception of, creative education, making the case that creativity is one of the most valuable assets in the current and future workforce. Creative UK is the national membership oragnisationand development agency for the UK’s cultural and creative industries. Formed in 2021 by the merger of Creative England and the Creative Industries Federation, it supports businesses and individuals through direct investment, business mentoring, networking, and industry advocacy

Richard is the Head of AccessHE, the widening access and participation division of London Higher. He joined London Higher in 2019 and prior to that, had headed up the research team of a higher education-focused executive search firm. London Higher, a not for profit charity, is the primary representative body for universities and higher education institutions in London. The organization acts as a collective voice for London's higher education sector, advocating for its institutions to the government, supporting local economic growth, and addressing challenges within the capital.

Family-owned JGA Group is a well-established ambitious apprenticeship, training, and career management organisation, providing safe and high-quality learning and career management experiences to enable our customers to progress in education, work and life.

30 years’ experience and knowledge of working as skills academy

NextGen Skills Academy brings industry and education together. Our courses in Games, Animation and VFX skills have been developed in partnership with some of the biggest companies in these industries. NextGen courses are available at industry selected colleges across England and along with the industry written curriculum, students receive industry masterclasses, live streams and more.

The Freelancer Club - dedicated to helping creative freelance talent achieve their goals. Offering freelancers access to jobs, networking, promotion of work and support.

Matt chaired the national Working Group for the Creative Self-Employed, lobbying for an official government representative for freelancers - resulting in the appointment of the UK’s first Freelance Champion.

Foundation for Future London is an independent charity that connects people, ideas and investment to create real, lasting change. We bring together the talent and ambition of East Londoners with the opportunities, organisations and industries that can open doors and transform lives.

Appointed Chief Executive in 2023, Sarah brings over 15 years’ senior leadership experience across the public and charity sectors. Throughout her career, Sarah has been dedicated to supporting people, communities and businesses to create equitable, sustainable and thriving places. Her particular passion lies in social and situational criminal justice, community engagement, and regeneration.

Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture, helping people in every corner of the country to experience and benefit from creativity. They invest in artists and organisations that make and deliver exceptional, inspirational work for our communities. 

Patrick is an award-winning British-Irish writer and Literature Relationship Manager at Arts Council England (ACE) in London. Beyond his public sector advisory role, he is a published playwright and author who frequently leads creative writing masterclasses and discussions on ACE funding for individual

Ahmed has over two decades of experience shaping the future of radio and audio working at BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra, and as Head of Prison Radio at the Ministry of Justice prior to his current role as Head of BBC Asian Network, He has led the brand through an evolving industry landscape, ensuring content stays relevant, distinctive, and reflective of their audiences and won several awards. From championing new talent to creating opportunities for independent suppliers, to moving a whole radio station to another city halfway across the country, to changing the culture in the workplace, his focus has always been on growth, collaboration, and impact. Beyond his core roles, he regularly speaks at global industry events and panels, including Harvard University and Chulalongkorn University, SXSW London, and the Bridge Summit in Abu Dhabi (2025) to name a few. He also serves as an advisory board member for East Bank, helping shape spaces that celebrate creativity and community.

Paul is the UK network Director for the National Saturday Club. He has worked for 25 years in Arts and Arts Education, from performing on London’s West End, to teaching the next generation of performers, to managing the network and growth of two of the UK’s largest extra-curricular arts organisations.
At the National Saturday Club, he collaborates with a vast array of Cultural, Creative, Industry & Educational partners to create free-to-access extra-curricular opportunities for 1000s of 13-16yos across the UK. The Saturday Club Trust runs The National Saturday Club, giving 13–16-year-olds across the country the opportunity to study subjects they love at their local university, college or cultural institution, for free across eight subject areas – Art & Design, Craft & Making, Fashion & Business, Film & Screen, Performance & Theatre, Science & Engineering, Society & Change and Writing  &Talking.  It is a powerful, countrywide network of shared knowledge and best practice, and the model represents an exceptional opportunity to build young people’s creative skills and embolden them to become the next generation of innovators and imaginative thinkers. It also serves to connect educators and industry professionals so young people are better informed about the choices that exist for further education and rewarding careers.

Daniel is the founder of the Minority Report Group DE&I Consultancy, and the Fashion Minority Report CIC, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to fostering diversity and inclusion within the fashion industry. With nearly 20 years of fashion industry experience, Daniel has been instrumental in advocating for marginalised voices, striving to create equitable opportunities across all facets of fashion. Under his leadership, Fashion Minority Report has launched impactful initiatives, including a mentoring program that has supported over 200 mentees within three years, underscoring the demand for change in the industry. 

Sanaz is a dynamic cultural leader with a proven track record of excellence. Having served as Chief Executive of Rosetta Arts from 2007 to 2023, she brings extensive experience in driving cultural initiatives.  Currently, Sanaz holds the position of Chair at Creative Newham, overseeing a coalition of over 70 organisations dedicated to enhancing the cultural mobility of the borough. Additionally, she serves as a trustee of Amal, a pioneering organisation focused on empowering Muslim communities through creativity. In 2023, Sanaz expanded her impact by joining Creative United as Director and assuming the role of Special Advisor for the Contemporary Visual Arts Network in London. With a passion for advocacy, Sanaz has advised the UK Government on the critical importance of arts education and has contributed to numerous publications, bridging academia, creativity, and business.

Founding APE Media in 2007 to help young people prosper in the job market, Trevor Blackman is a creative entrepreneur who is passionate about ensuring today’s youth can envision a positive future for themselves. Having worked his own way up through the world of radio and media, Blackman has had many roles in the creative industries as a creative producer, award winning charity founder, award winning speech producer and presenter, CEO for Edmonton Community Partnership and local councillor.

Dominic is the Strategic Lead for Impact and Innovation in the School of Arts and Creative Industries at the University of East London and co-Director of the Centre for Inclusive Research in Creative Arts (CIRCA). He is also Creative Director of ‘The Source’ Professional Arts Venue and leads the delivery of the Newham Place Partnership for Creative Newham. Dominic’s research is through publishing and practice and focuses on methodologies of inclusion and contesting structural inequalities in relation to access and participation in the Arts, Heritage and the Creative Industries. 

Dominic is also joint Creative Director of Brolly Productions CIC a cross arts company that stages sensitive histories creates new roles in the repertoire for under-represented artists and develops new participants & audiences for the Arts and Heritage.