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.
Trudy Kilcullen MBE – Special Projects Advisor
Trudy, joined the Foundation in 2008 and stepped back from her role as Chief Executive in February 2022 having made a significant difference to the young people of London and Essex over 14 years. With her valuable experience in leading youth charities and her professional qualifications in Youth & Community Work, Youth Counselling and a Master’s Degree Voluntary Sector Management she will continue to support a number of special projects at the request 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.
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.
Aaron Lartey – Communications and Engagement Assistant Intern
Aaron joined the Jack Petchey Foundation in 2023 and is currently a part of the Jack Petchey Internship Program for 2023, where he works as a Communications and Engagement Assistant Intern. In this role, Aaron manages Jack Petchey Foundation social media channels and produces content. Before joining the Foundation, Aaron studied Sociology at the University of Kent and worked as a Teaching Assistant in secondary schools and as a social media associate. Aaron is thrilled to make the most of the Communications and Engagement Assistant role and eager to gain more valuable experience with communications and engagement throughout the Jack Petchey Internship programme.
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!
Samuel Katende – Events Trainee
Samuel joined the Jack Petchey Foundation as an Events Trainee in October 2023 after previously working as a helper at our live events. Samuel has been awarded two Jack Petchey Achievement Awards for his work with the Royal Air Force Air Cadets and is committed to supporting and inspiring young people.
Grants Team
Our Grants Team manage our many grants programmes, collectively giving out over £7million each year!
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 Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the national honours award for voluntary groups.
Peta Cubberley – Senior Partnerships Officer
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.
Gabriel May – Partnerships Officer
Gabriel joined us in 2021 as part of the Jack Petchey Internship programme. Before this, he studied Music at Newcastle University and then worked with SEND students in two colleges in South London. In his internship, Gabriel worked with the Communications and Partnerships teams, managing the social media and helping to deliver the Internship Programme. He joined the Grants Team in 2022 and worked to grow the Achievement Award scheme across north and west London! Gabriel joined the Partnerships team in October 2023 and now manages several partnership programmes as well as supporting the Internship Programme.
Dawn Garrigan – Head of Grants
Borough: Richmond upon Thames
Dawn joined the Foundation in 2022, having previously worked at the National Lottery Community Fund in both UK-wide and local funding initiatives in South London. In addition to her grants experience, Dawn brings 15 years of experience leading programmes for young people using participatory arts and drama. Dawn’s role is to lead the Grants Team to make our Achievement Award scheme and other grant programmes are the best they can be, and to work with our Youth Consultation Panel to ensure young people’s voices are embedded in all that we do.
Jane Parmenter – Senior Grants Officer
Boroughs: Barking & Dagenham, Basildon, Braintree, Brentwood, Castle Point, Chelmsford, Colchester, Epping Forest, Harlow, Havering, Maldon, Rochford, Southend on Sea, Tendring, Thurrock, Uttlesford, Fire Cadets Essex
Jane has worked for the Petchey Group of Companies since 2004 and joined the Foundation as a Grants Officer in 2007. Jane’s role focuses on providing support and guidance to schools and youth organisations administering the Achievement Award Scheme. She is also responsible for implementing and identifying development opportunities and leading the training of new staff within the Grants Team.
Jessica Villiers – Grants Officer
Boroughs: Greenwich, Hackney, Haringey, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Air Cadets London, Army Cadets London and Essex, Boys Brigade, Girls Brigade London and South London, Guides, Horserangers, JLGB, Police Cadets Essex, Sea Cadets, St Johns Ambulance
Jessica joined the Jack Petchey Foundation in 2022 after taking part in the Jack Petchey Internship Scheme, where she worked as a Programmes Assistant at Newham Music after graduating from a degree in Music from Goldsmiths University. In this role, Jessica worked closely with young people to ensure their voices were empowered and used in programmes at Newham Music. Jessica is excited to bring her experience and passion for advocating to young people to the Foundation in the Grants Officer role.
Emily Glazebrook – Grants Officer
Boroughs: Barnet, Brent, Camden, Ealing, Harrow, Hillingdon, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, and Westminster
Emily recently 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.
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 Administration Manager
Allison has extensive knowledge of the Foundation and its work having worked for it since 2009, and currently leads the finance and administration functions. Allison is also a Trustee of a national charity which helps people who stammer.
Nadia Jones – Senior Administrator
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 – Administration Apprentice
Khushi joined the Jack Petchey Foundation in 2023 as Apprentice, where she is coinciding to complete her Apprenticeship Qualification in Business Administration. Her role in the Operations team is to provide administrative support. Khushi is excited to be able 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.
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!