Nicole Finnan (she/her) - Chair
Nicole is an experienced board director and Film/TV Executive with over 25 years experience in the creative industries. She is the Managing Director of Caryn Mandabach Productions, the producer behind the smash hit TV series Peaky Blinders. She has previously held Managing Director, Finance and Commercial Director roles at Film and TV production companies and has executive produced numerous feature films and television dramas. She is an expert in corporate governance having recently completed the FT non-executive Director (level 7) diploma. Nicole is an accountant by training and started her career at KPMG. She has always worked with writers and has a passion for supporting underrepresented writers and artists.
Salma Begum (she/her)
Salma is an Agent at Greyhound Literary. She spent four years working as an Editor in mainstream publishing. Prior to that, she helped set up The Good Literary Agency, a social enterprise focused on launching the careers of under-represented writers. Salma is also a Trustee for Literature Works.
Edward Ball (he/him)
Edward is a curator and writer, and currently Director of Devonshire Collective, a cultural and community organisation in Eastbourne. He leads a collaborative team of five in a programme that pursues a model of artist-led learning and grassroots inclusion. DC commissions cultural projects from emerging, underrepresented artists living regionally and nationally, while working with communities, in community spaces. Previously, he held curatorial positions at Camden Art Centre, Freelands Foundation and White Rainbow.
He began his career in the cultural sector as a writer for frieze, Art Monthly, ArtReview and Apollo magazines, and now focuses his work on championing underrepresented voices and supporting efforts to widen access to the creative industries.
Janet Farr (she/her)
Janet has worked extensively in adult education, founding and leading Community Learning in Partnership (CLIP) in Lincolnshire for over 25 years, with 3 years as Director of Adult Learning in Portslade from 2010. Throughout, her key focus has been on exploring new ways of widening participation and creating opportunities for young people and adults to learn, whether for personal development, community involvement or progression to work/HE. While mainly working at a local level, this also included accessing funding for international exchange projects in mentoring and digital access. Janet has recently completed a term as Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees of Exeter Northcott Theatre.
Jenni Lewin-Turner (she/her)
Jenni has over 25 years experience of both mainstream and culturally-specific arts practice and delivery. She is the founding Director of Urbanflo Creative Consultancy (www.urbanflo.com), a socially engaged collective of arts professionals who share a vision of equity and excellence in the cultural sector, specialising in participatory and inclusive initiatives, offering expert advice and creative support to individuals, groups and organisations across all sectors. Jenni was recently elected as a board member of Brighton & Hove’s Arts & Creative Industries Commission, and was previously listed amongst the top 50 “Women to Watch”in the Cultural Leadership Programme’s prestigious national list.
Melanie Lewis (she/her)
Melanie is a Barrister who practised in London for 20 years, mainly at the Family Law Bar. She then sat as a Tribunal Judge on specialist tribunals so has particular experience in Immigration and issues relating to Health, Education and Social Care. She has a particular interest in inclusion and diversity and for many years developed training for Judges to facilitate inclusive practice. Melanie is passionate about the Arts in many forms. She is additionally a Trustee of Brighton Dome & Festival.
Clarissa Angus (she/her)
Clarissa has more than 10-years’ experience as a creative communications professional, creating, editing and coordinating content for a variety of publications, projects, events and engagements. She has led and supported the delivery of organisational strategies and actions plans. Enthusiastic and always curious, she loves everything to do with writing and words, so much so she tries creative writing in her spare time. She likes to play a small part in advocating for mental health and wellbeing, gaining a Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills in 2023 and more recently qualifying as a Mental Health First Aider in the workplace. Clarissa works at The National Archives and has expertise in diversity, equity and inclusion.
