I have more than 20 years’ experience in fundraising, marketing, membership and audience engagement across the arts, charity and healthcare sectors, featuring many years working in theatre in London and Kent.
I create and lead strategic fundraising and engagement initiatives that connect people with causes they care about, build sustainable income, and create real social impact.
My career has included senior/leadership roles at The Marlowe Theatre, The National Theatre, Wildwood Trust, Kent Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance Trust and The Caldecott Foundation.
I have developed teams, introduced new income streams and engagement strategies, led rebrands and CRM projects, and built productive relationships with trustees, donors, corporate partners, funders and communities.
I lead with warmth, clarity and accountability, and thoroughly enjoy bringing people together around ambitious shared goals.
Top achievements
My most recent proud moments involve leading fundraising and storytelling for the University of Kent’s Sanctuary programme, securing support from charitable trusts, corporates, alumni and individuals for scholarships and wider support for refugee and asylum-seeking students.
Securing formal City of Sanctuary status for the University of Kent through a presentation programme led with Sanctuary Scholars, was a particularly special time.
During my 8+ years at The Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, I led fundraising campaigns which enabled new productions in Kent including Return of the Unknown (with a cast including1000 children); and I reimagined flagship membership, loyalty and corporate programmes, which continue to benefit the theatre, audiences and communities.
At the National Theatre in London, managing high level donors was an incredible experience, as was my proudest work – delivering Barclays Firsts and Hamlyn Nights – trailblazing affordable ticketing programmes and theatre access for everyone.
I enjoy finding creative mechanics to generate income and partnership which supports social inclusion. I am proud of any opportunity to make this work happen.
Why did you choose the Kent MBA?
I am excited to study at Kent, where I already work, because as well as being a first-class business school, it provides a unique opportunity to develop new real-life advancement projects for and at the University, meaning I can still deliver positive wider impact, whilst studying and learning.
I am very interested to learn with people from different sectors and diverse backgrounds. This will richly challenge my thinking and perspective, broaden my network and help me bring fresh ideas and approaches to the University, the charitable/arts sectors and the wider community.
MBA goals
Having spent my career delivering growth and impact in mission-led organisations, I hope to consolidate my understanding of finance, organisational strategy and business transformation through the MBA.
I aim to broaden my outlook and to hone my working practices. I am excited to learn from peers across diverse industries and backgrounds, and bring new perspectives into the creative, charity and higher-education sectors.
What are your aspirations post MBA?
In the coming years, I aspire to progress into a senior executive role in development, external engagement or organisational leadership. I want to lead ambitious, values-led functions that combine financial sustainability with focussed social and cultural impact. I have the seed of an idea for my own business with a social impact heart… something I look forward to exploring on this programme.
What is the best lesson you have learned in business?
I have learned quite a few lessons (sometimes the hard way). A few favourites which came to mind:
- Build business relationships with care and integrity; partnerships can be for the long term.
- Be clear about the difference you are trying to make, not just the activity you are delivering.
- Be curious and open to learning from people with different experiences.
- Ask questions and listen.
- Bring people with you – creating the right conditions for others to succeed and shine – it’s so important to lead with kindness and creative vision – get your people (teams and audiences!) on board.
- Resilience. When you fall, get back up again – stronger and wiser – even when you don’t want to. There is always a new glimmer on the horizon.
Tell us something about you that may surprise your colleagues?
I got married last year, into a Portuguese family, at a ranch near Lisbon. I decided to go out and make it memorable, so I had 23 bridesmaids (and boys), and made everyone learn the ‘Candy’ dance.