Meet the Team
Executive Team
The Executive Team lead the organisation along with the rest of the Senior Management Team. They are responsible for delivering on our strategic plans, in line with the Jack Petchey Foundation's values and mission.
Gemma Juma – Chief Executive Officer
Gemma joined the Foundation as Operations Director in 2017. She had previously worked as the Director of Link Age Southwark and following a long career in the charitable sector, she brought a wealth of experience in policy, delivery, leadership and grant-making roles in the voluntary sector across the UK, Europe, East Africa and beyond. In 2020 Gemma was promoted to the role of Deputy CEO and in then in March 2022 Gemma was appointed as Chief Executive of the Foundation.
Carys Bevan – Executive Assistant
Carys joined the Jack Petchey Foundation in November 2022, after three and a half years working in the Education Department at Shakespeare’s Globe. She studied English Literature, Drama & Theatre Studies at Aberystwyth University, and is no stranger to the Foundation having been the recipient of an Achievement Award and a participant in Jack Petchey’s Speak Out Challenge at secondary school. Carys is a passionate advocate of the youth sector, she is a qualified unit leader for Girlguiding and runs both a Brownie and Ranger pack weekly. In her role as Executive Assistant, Carys provides key administrative support to the CEO and wider leadership group, and she is delighted to be a part of our team inspiring and supporting young people across London and Essex.
Helena Boateng – Youth Voice & Engagement Intern
Helena completed her degree in Human Social and Political Sciences at Cambridge University, where she specialised in Politics and Sociology. Driven by a passion for youth engagement at national and international levels, she was awarded an Artivism and Amplifiers Climate Justice Fellowship from the Human Impacts Institute, centred around using creative avenues to develop international youth mobilisation around climate justice. In the same year, she was awarded a New Voice in Public Policy Fellowship with Salzburg Global, in which she developed human rights global policy initiatives particularly within conflict zones. As a Youth Voice and Engagement Intern, she engages the Youth Consultation Panel, the Achiever Network, as well as the Alumni community.
Communications Team
Our Communications Team work with the media to celebrate our young people and make sure their stories get heard!
Carl Smith – Communications and Engagement Manager
Carl joined the Jack Petchey Foundation in June 2023 and has a wealth of experience working with young people, including time spent in the education sector teaching English, amongst other subjects. On top of this, he spent three years with the Society of Young Publishers (SYP), a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping those aspiring to enter the book industry. For the SYP he managed their website, as well as alumni communications and events, before eventually leading the organisation through Covid as UK Chair. Carl also has a background in the book industry where he spent several years editing fiction and marketing non-fiction books for some of the biggest brands in the world – from Game of Thrones to Jurassic World and more. He’s excited to join the Foundation and is looking forward to promoting all the incredible achievements of young people across London and Essex.
Chelsea Bitonio – Communications and Engagement Officer
Chelsea joined the Jack Petchey Foundation in April 2024. Before joining the Foundation, Chelsea graduated with a degree in Advertising and Public Relations at the University of West London. She has previously worked in Communications and PR, Real Estate and Higher Education. She is looking forward to bringing her skills and experiences to this role and promoting the incredible achievements of young people.
Kornelia Theodoridou – Communications Assistant
Kornelia joined the Foundation in March 2025. Prior to joining the team, she graduated with a degree in Philosophy, Religion and Ethics from King's College London and worked in Events Management. However, her true passion has always been the charity sector and working with young people, which is why she is so excited to be championing young people's achievements through the Jack Petchey Foundation!
Events Team
Our Events Team work hard to put on fun ceremonies to celebrate the incredible achievements of the young people we support!
Philip Allinson – Head of Events
Philip, who joined the team in 2012, has trained and performed both on stage and on screen as a professional actor. He brings this high level energy to all our celebration events. Philip has several years’ experience in government event management and has also trained funders in the charity sector.
Chris Booty – Event Manager
Chris joined the Foundation as the Events Coordinator in September 2014. After qualifying as an Aircraft Engineer and spending several years in the aviation industry, Chris decided for a (small) change in career. Chris is also an adult volunteer with the Royal Air Force Air Cadets and has a lot of experience working with young people and projects, including events.
Ricardo Peña – Events Coordinator
Ricardo joined the Jack Petchey Foundation in October 2022 as an Event’s Coordinator, having worked for the foundation in 2017 as an Event Assistant. He has also previously been awarded a Jack Petchey Achievement Award and Leader Award for his work with the Royal Air Force Air Cadets, of which he is still an adult leader. Ricardo is experienced in organising and facilitating events for young people, and is eager to empower them through our Achievement Award events!
Talvin Rana – Events Coordinator
Talvin joined the Jack Petchey Foundation in February 2025. Prior to joining, Talvin graduated with a LLB in Law and is currently navigating his exams for the Legal Practice Course. With a background in Events, Talvin is a Disc Jockey and Events Consultant and has developed a deep passion for creating memorable experiences and enjoys the fast-paced dynamics and challenges that come with it. Having previously received a Jack Petchey Achievement Award via the Royal Air Force Air Cadet organisation, Talvin is no stranger to the Foundation and is excited to contribute to a cause that had a meaningful impact in his life!
Camillia Quartey – Event Administrator
Camilla joined the Jack Petchey foundation in October 2024. She has been involved in multiple projects within the children and youth work sector. Having been a recipient of a Jack Petchey Achievement Award she is excited to be a part of the Events team helping to celebrate the achievements of young people.
Grants Team
Our Grants Team manage our many grants programmes, collectively giving out over £4million each year!
Kirsty Telford – Head of Grants Team
Borough: Richmond and Kingston
Kirsty joined the team in June 2024, after more than 25 years leading teams in the homelessness and arts sectors. Most recently she was Deputy Director of a children’s charity in Hackney and held the role of trustee and Chair within the domestic abuse sector. Kirsty was excited to move into grant-making and use her experience from the charity world to ensure JPF delivers supportive and effective funding programmes to schools and youth organisations. Kirsty is also working with the Grants team, Achiever Network and Youth Consultation Panel to ensure our values, mission and decision-making are informed and influenced by the evolving needs and ideas of young people. She loves a good celebration, and JPF have these in droves!
Jane Parmenter – Grants Manager (Quality and Improvement)
Boroughs: Basildon, Braintree, Brentwood, Castle Point, Chelmsford, Colchester, Harlow, Maldon, Rochford, Southend on Sea, Tendring, Thurrock and Uttlesford
Jane has worked for the Petchey Group of Companies since 2005 and joined the Foundation as a Grants Officer in 2007. Jane’s role focuses on the quality and improvement within the Grants Team such as identifying and implementing development opportunities, providing support and guidance to schools and youth organisations administering the Achievement Award Scheme, and leading the training of new staff within the team. Jane also manages the project grants for the Essex Boys and Girls Clubs.
Emily Glazebrook – Senior Grants Officer
Boroughs: Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster
Emily joined the Jack Petchey Foundation in October 2023. Prior to this, she spent two years working in International Development in the Asia-Pacific region. With experience in youth-focused projects both in the UK and overseas, Emily is eager to further develop her skills in this area. Working with the Jack Petchey Foundation seemed like the perfect and exciting next step for her.
James Burns – Grants Officer
Boroughs: Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark
James joined the Jack Petchey Foundation in November 2023. Before joining, he graduated with a degree in History and Philosophy from Sheffield University. James has spent years working with young people, coaching both tennis and hockey, and is excited to develop his skills to benefit schools and youth clubs as Grants Officer.
Mary Bealt – Grants Officer
Borough: Epping Forest, Barking and Dagenham, City of London, Redbridge, Havering, Newham, Waltham Forest, Tower Hamlets
Mary joined the Jack Petchey Foundation in March 2024. Mary started as a member of the Jack Petchey Internship Programme as a Grants Administrator and has since transitioned into the role of a Grants Officer. Prior to joining the foundation, Mary studied Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies at Newcastle University. Through her anthropological studies, Mary became inspired to work within the voluntary sector and felt that the Jack Petchey Foundation was the perfect place to make a tangible difference.
Jovon Young – Grants Team Administrator
Jovon joined the Jack Petchey Foundation as a Grants Team Administrator in October 2024. Prior to this, Jovon worked at London Councils as a quality assurance administrator for their grants programme. Jovon’s role with the Foundation focuses on supporting all the members of the Grants Team to ensure the effective delivery of their grants schemes. Jovon is excited to make the next step in her grants career, and felt the role at JPF would be a great place to grow and develop while supporting so many young people.
Operations Team
The Operations Team works to ensure a smooth running of the Foundation, including the administration of our grants and grant programmes.
Hannah Ellis – Head of Operations
Hannah started at the Foundation in June 2013 having previously worked as Chief Executive of a voluntary sector youth organisation. Hannah is also an experienced Trustee for a number of charities. Her role is to support the Operations Team and make sure the Foundations processes and programmes run efficiently and meet the needs of the communities we serve.
Allison Burrow – Finance and Operations Manager
Allison has worked for the Petchey Group of companies since 2001 and joined the Foundation as an administrator in 2009. Allison has extensive knowledge of the Foundation and its work, and currently leads the finance and operations side of the charity.
Nadia Jones – Operations Officer
Nadia has been involved with the Jack Petchey Foundation for over ten years, having been awarded an Achievement Award when she was 11 from her dance school, a part of our Achiever Network and a young leader. More recently, she was involved in setting up the Foundation's Youth Consultancy Panel to ensure young people's voices are always at the centre of what we do. Nadia brings a unique perspective to her role at the Foundation after being involved in a range of our programmes, as well as key organisational skills for her role in supporting the administration and finance of our grant programmes.
Khushi Begum – Operations Assistant
Khushi joined the Jack Petchey Foundation in 2023 as an Administration Apprentice, where she complete her Apprenticeship Qualification in Business Administration with a Distinction. After completing her qualification, Khushi's role was made permanent in August 2024 and her role in the Operations team is to provide administrative support. Khushi is excited to work at the Foundation that encourages young people to achieve and celebrate their achievements. She is looking forward to learning more and developing her skills.
Partnerships
The Partnerships team work with different organisations and oversees grants amounting to over £4 million annually. This helps to facilitate programmes that cover a wide range of areas, from dance to financial education, all aimed at benefiting and supporting young people.
Vicky Mirfin – Director of Programmes and Partnerships
Vicky oversees the Foundation’s grant-making and operations, including leading the Foundation’s major partnerships and internship programme. Her previous experience includes senior leadership roles at a number of charities, including at a national membership body for Chairs of charities and at an education and employability charity in East London. She has also served as a Trustee at various charitable organisations in London and is currently on the main committee for the King's Award for Voluntary Service, the national honours award for voluntary groups.
Peta Cubberley – Partnerships Manager
Peta joined the Foundation in May 2022 from the Royal Borough of Greenwich where she was the lead Officer for the borough’s voluntary sector grants programme since 2016. Peta brings a wide breadth of experience of the charity and public sector, as well as knowledge of policy, public affairs and programme management. Peta leads the development of several JPF partnership programmes in a variety of areas and oversees the Jack Petchey Internship programme.
Hannah Martin – Partnerships Officer
Hannah joined the Jack Petchey Foundation in September 2024. Prior to this, Hannah worked for over 15 years in Community Regeneration and Social Impact in a grant giving role. She studied as a mature student and has a degree in Arabic and Linguistics. She has experience of working with young people both at home and abroad as a volunteer English teacher. Hannah works with a number of JPF Partners and supports with the Internship programme.
Meet Our Trustees
Our Trustees oversee the work of the Jack Petchey Foundation to ensure we are continually meeting our goals of empowering young people across London and Essex to be the best they can be, and to ensure we are doing the best we can to meet Sir Jack’s vision. Find out more about them!