Meet the team

Mike has worked in the film industry for nearly 20 years, starting out as a trade journalist before transitioning to publicity and working with most of the major studios and an array of independent distributors.

Before joining the Film and TV Charity, he oversaw marketing and comms for three industry trade associations where, amongst other things, he was responsible for the development of the UK’s first official film chart, as well as industry-wide sales promotions that are now emulated across Europe.

Before joining the Film and TV Charity Rupert spent ten years at Northern Film and Media, the screen agency for the Northeast of England (now North East Screen), broadly working on talent development and public affairs.

His earlier career was in social policy, primarily with colleagues at Newcastle University, and in political communications at the Labour Party, having originally been involved in community-based projects concerned with housing and statutory benefits.

Anna has a background in TV Production with a particular focus on leadership, culture change and people development. Before joining the charity, she worked at Raw TV and prior to that she spent 24 years at the BBC leading and managing Production Management teams and production departments including Current Affairs, Arts, History, Science and Documentaries’.

During her time at the BBC, Anna launched several industry initiatives, including the first disability scheme for new entrants into News and Current Affairs. While at the BBC she also acted as a mental health first aider, trauma advisor, and mentor.

Manie has worked at the charity since 2016. He led on the implementation of the charity’s 24/7 support line and still manages the operation and development of the support line and associated counselling, financial and legal services.

Manie also oversees the front line services the charity offers including the individual grants, the bullying advice service and the work and wellbeing advice service. He previously taught and trained adults, including those from marginalised groups. Manie is also a Mental Health First Aider and holds i‑ACT accreditation.

Tom started his career working for a Scandinavian based film sales and distribution company focusing on international sales and distribution in French and Spanish speaking territories.

After a stint working for a film finance outfit, he moved into the charity sector 17 years ago working at Stonewall heading up major donor and corporate fundraising before taking on leadership roles at a homelessness charity, a humanitarian charity among others. He’s launched a range of new revenue streams at all of these and specialises in a streamlined lean approach to income generation. 

He’s worked with a wide range of partners across his career, ranging from studios and broadcasters to blue chip international companies and high-profile individuals. He loves a good long swim and speaks six languages.

As Chair of Trustees, Claire brings more than 20 years of experience driving the growth and performance of a wide range of media and digital enterprises. She was previously Global Head of Digital at Fremantle, Managing Director of a multi-channel YouTube network, and CEO of media intervention NGO, Girl Effect. Claire is now a senior media adviser and consultant. She is currently also Chair of Trustees at Charity Digital, an organisation that has helped more than 400,000 charity workers embrace a digital-first approach, and a Trustee of the Institute of Imagination.

Joseph is an award-winning indie Screenwriter and Director. He was nominated for the BFI IWC Schaffhausen Filmmakers Bursary Award at the 60th BFI London Film Festival in 2016. In 2017 Joseph was longlisted for BIFA’s Best Debut Screenwriter award for his film White Colour Black. Joseph’s second feature film Faces had its world premiere at the Durban International Film Festival in 2018. The film stars Terry Pheto from Oscar-winning film Tsotsi. Faces won Best Feature Film at the 2018 Durban LGBT Film Festival and 2019 British Urban Film Festival. As a freelancer, Joseph is active in the LGBTQ and Black and Global Majority sectors of the industry.

Catherine is Director of Income Generation and Grants at Hospice UK and was previously Director of Fundraising for Stonewall. Catherine’s earlier career was in media for the likes of CBS and Mindshare.

An internationally recognised scholar and research leader in the screen industries, Professor Emily Caston previously spent over a decade in production as Executive Producer at Black Dog Films/​Ridley Scott Associates.

As Founding Director of PRISM at the University of West London, she has led groundbreaking research into underrepresented sectors through R&D initiatives and cluster analyses. She is also a long-standing collaborator with the BFI and former Film London board member.

Robin is currently Chief Legal Counsel at super-indie All3 Media International. He trained and practised at law firm Pinsent Masons before moving into the industry to work at BBC Studios, Fremantle, Channel 4 and now All3 Media. Over almost 20 years, Robin has held a variety of roles and gained wide experience covering production, distribution and broadcasting in the UK and internationally.

Peter has spent a career in investment management and sits on the Investment Advisory Group of Comic Relief.

Suki is the Chief Financial Officer for the UK, Northern & Eastern Europe for Viacom International Media Networks, leading the finance function for Channel 5, MTV, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central and is passionate about diversity and inclusion. Suki qualified as a chartered accountant with Arthur Andersen and in a career spanning 24 years has held a variety of roles in the media sector including at Sony Music, Capital Radio Group, Channel 7 (Australia) and Sony Pictures International.

Juliet Gilkes Romero is Writer in Residence at the National Theatre attached to the New Work Department for 2022/2023. She is an award-winning writer for stage and screen. She is the recipient of the 2020 Alfred Fagon Award for Best New Play with The Whip, the Roland Rees Bursary 2019, (named in honour of the co-founder of the Alfred Fagon Award), the Writer’s Guild of Great Britain Award 2009 for At The Gates of Gaza and also a recipient of the BBC World Service Alexander Onassis Research Bursary. Screen work includes Soon Gone; A Windrush Chronicle for BBC and co-produced by Sir Lenny Henry’s production company Douglas Road and the Young Vic Theatre. Juliet formerly worked for over 20 years as a Foreign Affairs producer and reporter at BBC World TV News and BBC World Service. Read more here.

Kirsty Good is a Director in Brunswick’s Business & Society team. She focuses on helping businesses understand the profound role they can play in making the world a more diverse, fair, and sustainable place to live for its staff, stakeholders, and customers, while still driving financial value

Before joining Brunswick, Kirsty was Head of Campaigns, Policy, and Communications at the UK’s biggest consumer website, MoneySavingExpert.com, working directly with Martin Lewis OBE. With the organisation’s mission statement – ​“cutting your costs, fighting your corner” – at heart, Kirsty led, and won, many of MSE’s major national campaigns during her five-year tenure.

Prior to becoming a campaigner, Kirsty spent more than 15 years working as a business, economics and personal finance news journalist and Editor for BBC News and Sky News.

Emma is an accomplished HR leader with over a decade of strategic HR leadership experience, predominantly within the media and tech sectors. Currently working as Global Head of People Partners at Wise, a UK listed Fintech, Emma has brought her expertise to the Charity’s Board of Trustees since January 2023.

Emma’s leadership is characterised by her people-first approach to HR strategy, believing that prioritising employee wellbeing and development and recognising that engaged and valued employees are crucial for organisational success.

Emmy-nominated and a recipient of both BAFTA and RTS awards, Nadine Marsh-Edwards is an acclaimed film and television producer, and the co-founder of Greenacre Films.

In joining the board of trustees, she brings a wealth of industry expertise. Her commitment to driving meaningful change across film and television, both on screen and behind the scenes, will be reflected in her continued championing of distinctive and diverse voices.

With a distinguished career across leading British and international firms, Dr Richard Peters is a seasoned authority in workplace Health, Safety, and Wellbeing (HSW), grounded with a clinical background in Occupational Medicine.

Currently serving as a global Chief Medical Officer, he also brings valuable creative insight from his experience as a director and crew member on various productions, and as an Associate Member of Directors UK.

For 25 years Sara has run Sara Putt Associates, the UK’s leader agency for freelance technicians and production personnel based at Shepperton Studios. Sara Putt Associates also runs an in-house Trainee Scheme supporting the next generation of freelance talent including those entrants from less traditional backgrounds. Sara is also Chair of BAFTA’s Board of Trustees, having previously served on its Learning & New Talent Committee and TV Committee.