Trustees
UK (Global) Board of Trustees
RICHARD MANTLE OBE DL
Chair of the Board of Trustees
Richard Mantle was the General Director of Opera North. His first appointment in the opera field was as Deputy Managing Director at English National Opera, and he has worked atScottish Opera and Edmonton Opera (Canada). He is currently a Director of the National Opera Studio, a member of the General Synod of the Church of England and was awarded an OBE in 2013 for his services to music.
PROF. JAMES THOMPSON
Founder of In Place of War / Academic
James Thompson is Professor of Applied Theatre at the University of Manchester and co-Director of The Care Lab. He was one of the founders of the TiPP Centre tipp.org.uk and founder of In Place of War. As an arts practitioner he has worked in international war zones and places of humanitarian disaster. He has written widely on the socially engaged arts and now researches care aesthetics – exploring ‘artful care’ in different areas of health and social care. He is editor of the Routledge Studies in Care Aesthetics series, is one of the editors of ‘Care Aesthetics and the Arts (2025) and ‘Care Aesthetics and Dementia Studies (2026). His book Care Aesthetics: for Artful Care and Careful Art was published in 2022.
TOM SHORE
International Development & Programmes Specialist
Specialist in programme delivery, advocacy, operations and strategic leadership in the fields of International Development & Culture.
NADIA KHAN
Co-Chair of the Board of Trustees
Nadia brings over 20 years of experience in the music industry developing artist careers, talent management and running independent label businesses with a passion for developing talent from the grassroots. An advocate for sharing knowledge and education. As the Founder of Women in CTRL, Nadia is a passionate champion for diversity, equity and inclusion, and her work in promoting gender parity and representation of women in music has been widely recognised, being awarded Outstanding Contribution at the Music Week ‘Women in Music Awards’ in 2021.
GEORGE ADELMAN
Director and Head of Partnerships at FT Strategies
George is Director and Head of Partnerships at FT Strategies and has over 15 years experience in strategy consulting and in-house advisory. Leading strategy development, service design and digital transformation teams, he has advised senior leadership across media industry, public sector and the financial services.
CARYS WILLIAMS
Head of Orchestra Management at Royal Liverpool Philharmonic.
Carys is an arts leader with extensive senior level experience across major UK cultural institutions, including Arts Council England, where she oversaw funding, strategy and sector partnerships. She brings deep expertise in negotiation, artistic planning, organisational leadership and large scale music delivery, and is currently Head of Orchestra Management at Royal Liverpool Philharmonic.
MARIA ACHILLEOS
International Development Specialist
Maria brings over 15 years of experience in international development, specializing in programme and business development. She holds an MA in Conflict, Security, and Development, and has supported youth movements and human rights activists in advocating for change and equality.
ANNA BERENFELD
Financial Philanthropist
Anna’s career sprung from finance into philanthropy across Europe, UK, Russia and the USA. Currently Anna works for Ambassador Ronald S. Lauder on projects around the globe.
DARREN CORMACK
CEO, Mines Advisory Group (MAG)
Darren is CEO of MAG, a global humanitarian charity. Darren holds a first class Master’s in International Management and is an experienced Non-Executive Director. His previous roles include managing a wide range of global environment, conservation & humanitarian projects.
CLAIRE O’NEILL
CEO & Co-Founder of A Greener Future (AGF)
Claire O’Neill is a pioneer in sustainability for the live sector, establishing AGF following her research in 2005. Since then she has worked with the world's leading events and venues such as HM the Queens Platinum Jubilee Pageant, Glastonbury Festival, The O2, BST Hyde Park, UEFA Champions League, ASM Global, AEG and HM the Queens Funeral, and artists such as Bring Me The Horizon and Massive Attack. Claire organises the Green Events & Innovations Conference (GEI) & consults as sustainability expert to industry bodies.
CELINA NAIR
Celena is an experienced not for profit leader with a background in international development, specifically the rights of women and girls globally. She has spent most of her career as an international fundraising specialist, and outside of work she has a strong passion for all things related to the arts.
RUCI FIXTER
Strategic Advisor
Ruci Fixter is a strategic adviser specialising in purpose, reputation, and philanthropy. With over two decades’ experienc in international advisory and communications roles, she supports high-net-worth individuals and leaders navigating scrutiny and opportunity. Her work focuses on aligning influence, values, and public presence with meaningful social impact.
SHELAGH WRIGHT
Internationalist
Shelagh is a committed internationalist working with networks all over the world to develop the capacity and connectivity of creative and cultural activists to change systems at the individual, local, community, city or global level. She believes that systems don’t change until stories do and is currently engaged in two global initiatives: Humanity Declares galvanising cultural responses to the 80th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 2028; and One World or None bringing democracy done differently to the public imagination through culture and creative work. In addition Shelagh is co-chair of the Common Cause Foundation, vice-chair of Compass and sits on the Advisory Board of ArtQuest.
Martin Bremner
Head of ZEBOX UKiN
Martin Bremner is the Head of ZEBOX UKiN, a leading international accelerator and innovation hub initated by CMA CGM Group for startups in the supply chain, logistics, energy and mobility sectors. Before joining ZEBOX, Martin worked for Innovate UK as an advisor. Supporting companies within AI, Deep tech and advanced manufacturing, to scale and secure both public & private investment.
JO VIDLER
CO-CEO & Founder AMFE
Jo Vidler is a creative director and cultural entrepreneur whose work has helped shape some of the most influential festival spaces of the past two decades. As founder of Wilderness Festival, organiser of Secret Garden Party, and former creative director of Elrow, she has built a long track record of connecting artists, communities and social purpose.
US Board of Trustees
LAURA JONES
Producer Management
Laura Jones is the founder of Little Underground Management, a Grammy award-winning producer management company based in New York. Her clients have produced and mixed records for everyone from David Bowie to Panic! At The Disco, A Tribe Called Quest to Weezer. After building her business in London, England, where she successfully managed independent artists, she moved from the UK to the US 10 years ago and switched her focus to producers. Building the company from the ground up, her roster has since spawned a multitude of Grammy nominations, received several platinum and gold selling records and worked on boundless critically acclaimed albums.
ANGIE LINDER
Co-Founder, Detroit Techno Militia
Angie Linder is the Co-Founder and Label Manager of Detroit Techno Militia and Founder of Detroit Artist Agency, with over 25 years of experience in the music industry. She serves as Secretary for Tec-Troit Electronic Music and is a passionate advocate for the 24-hour economy through her work with Detroit Nightlife United and 24HourNation. Her career is rooted in a deep commitment to Detroit’s underground electronic music scene and to building sustainable platforms for creative communities.
DEMETRIUS SHIELDS
Senior Community Programs Coordinator, University of Michigan
Demetrius Shields is a distinguished dancer, choreographer, educator, arts advocate and philanthropist. Hailing from Detroit, Michigan, he brings over a decade of global experience in arts education, performance, and advocacy. Demetrius is deeply passionate about ethical community engagement and expanding access to the arts for all. As a performer, Demetrius has most notably been a guest with the Pennsylvania Ballet and member of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular's ensemble in Rockefeller Center, NYC. He's excited to be a part of the transformational work In Place of War does globally.
Dana Jackson Cohen
Founder, DJC Communications
Dana Jackson Cohen is a media strategist and public relations specialist. After 20 years at CBS Radio in Boston, she founded DJC Communications, where she creates and funds awareness campaigns that bring public engagement, social media and broadcast media together to drive change. Dana has partnered with public affairs offices and state agencies on cost-effective, multi-platform campaigns addressing fire safety, suicide prevention, maternal depression, teen dating violence, homeless veterans, industrial accidents, recycling, ovarian cancer, healthcare, child safety and labor relations. She leads national awareness and advocacy work for the Appendix Cancer PMP Research Foundation, including multi-state campaigns, gubernatorial proclamations and landmark lightings. Dana serves on the Board of Directors of the Associates of the Boston Public Library, where she co-chairs its Literary Lights gala, and is the former PR Chair of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's Massachusetts Chapter. She is proud to support In Place of War's grassroots creative changemakers in places of conflict.
TOMMY YOUNG
Principal Engineer, Google
Tommy Young is a Principal Engineer at Google and has worked in the digital video advertising industry for well over a decade. Avid lover and supporter of music and the arts 24/7, a musician himself in a past life. In addition to the service for In Place of War, he serves on the board of directors at HERE, a non-profit multi-dimensional theatre in lower Manhattan. Proud father to two cats (Dan and Darlene).
European Board (Ireland)
Olga Stuzhinskaya
International Relations and Development Specialist
A specialist in Eastern Europe, South Caucasus & Central Asia, Olga delivers expertise to the EU, international organisations, governments & NGOs. Areas include good governance, empowerment of civil society, participatory policy making, youth sector development and promotion of gender equality & equal rights.
CLAUDIA JERICHO
Creative Business Architect
Claudia Jericho is a visionary executive with ~30 years of experience in the Cultural & Creative Sectors & Industries (CCSI), specialising in connecting economy and culture. In the last decade, she co-established EIT Culture & Creativity, holding leading roles as well as in CREATIVE.NRW and for GIZ (German Development Association). Collaborating with public institutions and private organisations, Claudia has developed policy frameworks and governance models, structural strategies and innovation projects for creative ecosystems. Her work bridges the arts and business, fostering cross-innovation and emerging trends. Committed to shaping the future of CCSI, she drives growth, collaboration, and sustainable impact across diverse sectors.
Zoë Seaton
Founder & Artistic Director, Big Telly Theatre Company
Big Telly Theatre are at the forefront of digital & hybrid work, with a focus on live, accessible, interactive experiences, and have received wide international acclaim. Zoë has also just launched INCOGNITO - a fragmented reality experience on a mobile app played in towns/cities, which is a cross between live theatre & a multiplayer game. She was awarded an honorary Doctorate from Ulster University for her contribution & commitment to the dramatic arts in Northern Ireland.
Susa Pop
Urban media art curator, producer, and co-founding director of Public Art Lab and the Connecting Cities Network.
Susa Pop is a pioneer in hybrid digital placemaking through interactive urban art projects that foster communication and connect people across digital platforms like urban screens and media facades. She initiates and curates projects for Public Art Lab, including the City Digital Skin Art Festival, Connecting Cities Network, Media Facades Festivals, and others like Digital Calligraffiti and Intelligent Landscapes. Susa also lectures at Bauhaus Universität Weimar on Media Architecture. She co-edited Urban Media Art Cultures: What Urban Media Art Can Do – Why, When, Where, and How?(2018) and co-initiated the globally networked Urban Media Art Academy in 2017 with Tanya Toft Ag and the Goethe-Institut.
