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.
Trudy Kilcullen MBE – Chief Executive Officer
Trudy, who joined in 2008, leads the team here at the Jack Petchey Foundation. She has many years of experience in leading youth charities both in the UK and overseas. Her professional qualifications in Youth & Community Work and Youth Counselling enhance the work of the Jack Petchey Foundation, as do her Master’s Degree – a distinction in Voluntary Sector Management.
Gemma Juma – Deputy Chief Executive
Gemma started in 2017. She brings with her 20 years’ experience in policy, delivery, leadership and grant-making roles in the voluntary sector across the UK, Europe, East Africa and beyond. Gemma previously worked as the Director of Link Age Southwark, a vibrant volunteering charity.
Communications and PR Team
Our Communications and PR Team work with the media to celebrate our young people and make sure their stories get heard!
Alice Clarke – Communications and PR Officer
Alice joined the team in February 2020 after returning from starting a youth empowerment project in Mozambique. She has previously worked in marketing and recently graduated from a MA in Media & International Development from the University of East Anglia. Her role at the Jack Petchey Foundation involves PR and Communications for our awards events as well as projects and campaigns.
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 Coordinator
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.
Sebastian Dulake – Events Assistant
Sebastian joined the team in 2021 straight off the back of his Master's Degree in International Event Management. He has previous experience organising and running events at school for students and is interested in growing his career in Events. His role is to support the administration and creation of our inspiring events!
Grants Team
Our Grants Team manage our many grants programmes, collectively giving out over £7million each year!
Gemma Dunbar – Head of Programme Development
Gemma, who previously worked in fundraising for various youth and health based charities, started at the Foundation in 2010. Gemma also volunteers for a number of charities and has sat on Trustee Boards, so she has a lot of experience within the sector. Her role is to look after major grants and develop new funding projects.
Vicky Mirfin – Head of Partnerships
Vicky looks after the Foundation’s partnership grant programmes and the internship programme. Her experience includes running three grant-making foundations for Lloyd’s of London. She was previously Deputy Director for an education and employability charity in East London and, most recently, was Deputy Chief Executive of the UK membership body for Chairs of charities. She has been a Trustee of a number of charities and is currently on the main committee for the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the national honours award for voluntary groups.
Gabriel May – Events and Communications Assistant (Intern)
Gabriel joined us in 2021 as part of the Jack Petchey Internship programme after working with SEND students in two colleges in South London. He previously studied Music at Newcastle University where he also gained extensive voluntary event experience by organising a range of gigs and festivals. In this internship, he will be working across the Partnerships and Communications & PR Teams to help the Foundation impact more young people. He will also play an integral role in organising the Internship programme for its 2021-2022 cohort.
Paul Davies – Head of Grants Team
Paul has recently joined the Foundation as maternity cover for our Head of Grants. Paul is a qualified youth worker with over twenty years’ experience in working with young people. He has previously worked as a Commissioner managing the grants for the youth sector in two London Boroughs and is currently the Chair of a charity supporting children and adults with Downs Syndrome.
Jane Parmenter – Grants Officer
Boroughs: Barking & Dagenham, Basildon, Braintree, Brentwood, Camden, Chelmsford, Enfield, Epping Forest, Hackney, Haringey, Harlow, Islington, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets, Uttlesford, Waltham Forest
Jane worked for the Petchey Group of Companies since 2004 and joined the Foundation as a Grants Officer in 2007. Jane’s role focuses on developing, monitoring and supporting secondary schools and youth organisations in the above boroughs.
Laura Voicke – Grants Officer
Boroughs: Bexley, Bromley, Castle Point, Colchester, Croydon, Greenwich, Havering, Lambeth, Lewisham, Maldon, Rochford, Southend on Sea, Southwark, Sutton, Tendring, Thurrock
Laura joined the team in November 2018. She previously worked as a Student Advisor at Birkbeck, University of London. Her role at the Jack Petchey Foundation encompasses supporting schools and youth organisations across South London.
Louisa Quadir – Grants Officer
Uniformed Groups and West London
Louisa joined the Foundation in June 2019 first as Grants Administrator and progressed to a Grants Officer in September 2021. Alongside this role, she is also an adult volunteer with the Royal Air Force Air Cadets and has experience working with young people and on overseas projects.
Allison Burrow – Finance and Administration Manager
Allison 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 administration.
Nadia Jones – Grants Administrator
Nadia has been involved with the Jack Petchey Foundation for over ten years, having been award an Achievement Award when she was 11 from her dance school, a part of our Achievers 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.