Creative Supergroup

Tolu is a socially conscious entrepreneur, a consultant at a culture change business, Utopia and the Inclusion and diversity champion at The Ideas Foundation. His real passion is awakening the talent that lays dormant in disadvantaged communities, both by connecting them with opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have access to but also in the generation of resources that can help them decide their futures for themselves. Tolu has worked with the biggest brands in the world including Coca Cola, Spotify, Verizon, Google and more. Tolu believes that the most impactful solutions have to be sustainable and has to be business-oriented with an ethical purpose at its core.

Lopa is a visionary leader bringing together arts, education, and entrepreneurship, with a proven track record of shaping innovative programs and initiatives. From pioneering the Education and Outreach Program at Canada’s largest theatre to spearheading national initiatives in London that bridge business and education, Lopa has consistently championed diversity and inclusivity in the creative industries. With a passion for coaching, she guides leadership teams in renowned arts organizations and mentors creative entrepreneurs, persistently fostering creativity, inclusivity, and innovation.

Having worked within in the creative sector for a number of years, Vivian is now focussed on supporting the next generation of creative talent access opportunities and showcase their skills and passions. A creative skills programme producer and manager, she supports creative organisations address key skills needs and develop more representative workforces. She is currently working on the London 2012 Olympic Regeneration project delivering East Works, the LLDC’s skills, enterprise and employment programme.

Hilary says: “Creativity is vital to our world, at its most powerful and richest when it encompasses a broad diversity of ideas and views. Our creative industries contribute enormously to our economy, providing jobs and leisure activities for millions of people. Creativity allows us to express ourselves and our different experiences, contributing to our health, wellbeing, and happiness. The Ideas Foundation makes a difference to young people who may never have seen our industries as their home, who may never otherwise have had the opportunity to explore the value of their ideas. It gives them the confidence and knowledge that they too have a place here. Our creative industries benefit enormously from the Ideas Foundation’s programmes too, gaining insight from new perspectives and becoming more inclusive and fair. I’m proud to be a part of it.”

Michael says: “Creativity is innate in all of us until it is knocked out of us by the vagaries of societal norms and the restrictions of just living. But it is creativity itself which gives shape and meaning to all our lives. I never cease to be amazed by the ideas and enthusiasm of the young people who the Ideas Foundation gives voice to: it is boundless, energetic, enquiring, thought-provoking and invariably brilliant. But more importantly the opportunity itself gives them a taste of what is possible for the lives ahead of them, and it enriches us all. Now, more than ever, we need young people to know that the world can be whatever they want to make of it, and I want to do anything I can do to nurture that enthusiasm and unlock those skills.”

Melissa has over 15 years’ experience of telling marketing stories from entertainment brands at UKTV and Channel 4. She is a chartered marketeer and CIM mentor and thrives as a brand and marketing strategist, specialising in nailing jelly to the wall and working with fascinating challengers from music, photography to parenting, media law and hemp clothing.

She is also a Business Director of Hoxby, working with clients from ITV to Etsy. Hoxby is an award-winning workforce of more than 1,000 handpicked, talented and diverse freelancers who work remotely in 30 countries around the world. Melissa launched White Camino after seeing so many smaller businesses with huge potential and no bandwidth to join the dots. She loves a high energy brand workshop!

Rick is a Creative and Art Director with over 15 years of experience in creating award-winning social, digital, TV and print advertising campaigns for some of the world’s biggest brands. Day to day he’s managed and mentored creative teams and looked after the creative output for brands such as EE, Oxfam, Bacardi, Great Ormond Street, Samsung and Disney, he’s even made a book with Director Tim Burton, created a brand that won a Channel 4 TV show, and an AR lens Clara Amflo used during her time on Strictly. Outside of work he also runs @nowisreallygood with his daughters, upcycling old watches to help with anxiety with the money going to Place 2 Be, runs mental health workshops in schools and mentors’ students at Westminster University.

Vincent is a Reader in Neuroscience & Digital Education at King’s College London. He considers himself to be a jack of all trades neuroscientist, with a love for science communication and public engagement. He has a passion not only for neuroscience, but also for psychology and education, currently studying neurodiversity in higher education. He also co-directs a team responsible for curriculum and digital innovation, including technology enhanced learning, learning design and creative media production.

Gulveen Bagri has over 20 years experience working in digital across strategy, user experience, marketing and transformation focused in financial services and professional services. She believes idea generation is critical to innovation and driving growth and combined with her passion to improve diversity and inclusion, Gulveen is delighted to be joining Ideas Foundation as a part of the creative supergroup, supporting the team on the mission to empower young people from diverse backgrounds to achieve their full potential through creative experiences, helping to drive more diverse talent into the creative industry.

A huge range of skills and experience

Justine Wright

Tolu Farinto

Lopa Sarkar

Vivian Murinde

Lydia Thornley

Ben Conway

Ruth Hooper

Hilary Cross

Michael Cockerham

Melissa Fretwell

Joe Thomson

Eliska Sky

Rob Pryce

Emma Cufflin

Rick Blackburn

Leonia Goromba

Dr. Vincent Giampeitro

Jag Singh

Gulveen Bagri

Milan Desai

John Mounsey