We recently appointed three new trustees with invaluable expertise in communications and fundraising. At our AGM on Monday 18 March, we also elected two trustees – Kaylah Jackson was elected as a new trustee and Ono Dafedjaiye was elected to serve a second term. We’re delighted to welcome our new and returning trustees to the Board, and look forward to working with them over the coming months and years. You can find out more about them below.
Janice White
Director, The Cogency
Janice is a marketing and communications consultant specialising in arts and culture. As Director of The Cogency, she has delivered strategies and campaigns for arts centres, theatres, festivals, producing companies, museums, local authorities and sector support organisations, across the UK. She is delighted to join the board to support the Albany’s mission and vision as a new trustee.
Kerry Haxby-Dean
Head of Marketing, Investment Trust, JP Morgan
Kerry is a highly driven marketing leader with over 20 years’ experience. She has demonstrated incredible focus and passion to deliver to strategic market leading communications, most recently in the Financial Services industry. Kerry’s passion for the Albany is to utilise her relevant leisure services experience, leadership skills and commercial awareness to support the venue and local community.
Ono Dafedjaiye
Taking Part Assistant, Heart n Soul
Ono has been part of resident organisation Heart n Soul for 20 years, and works as their Taking Part Assistant looking after new people for their Allsorts project. She also ran PERKY, a project for women with learning disabilities, from 2021-22. PERKY existed to create a safe space for women to talk about their bodies, womanhood and their sexuality, challenge negative stereotypes and empower individuals to express themselves. She is keen to continue to share with the Board her knowledge as a woman who has a learning disability and who works for a disability arts organisation.
Kaylah Jackson
Kaylah has lived in Deptford for most of her life and has been involved with the Albany’s young leaders programme and resident company SOUNDS LiKE CHAOS for a number of years. She has a passion for theatre and the arts, and is currently studying theatre. She is joining the Board to support the arts, learn new skills and make meaningful differences and positive change in the local Deptford Community.
David Bedi
Head of Corporate Partnerships, Guys and St Thomas’ Charities
David has spent his career fundraising for national and international charities. From Alzheimer’s Society to unicef UK, David is currently the Head of Corporate Partnerships at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charities. His love for theatre started at a young age and he has been a regular member of the audience at the Albany since he was a child. A South Londoner from birth his interest in the arts has stayed with him throughout his life, volunteering for a number of local arts organisations. David is very much looking forward to using his skills in fundraising to help the Albany achieve its mission and vision.
We are also pleased that Lewisham Council elected Cllr Dawn Atkinson, Councillor for Deptford, to serve as their representative on the Board.
The Albany is a membership organisation, and members are eligible to vote in the election of trustees at our AGM every year. You can find out more about becoming a member here.