Where would we be without our trustees?

Leading professionals across the creative, communication and education industries give their time to sit on our Board of Trustees. They meet at least four times a year to discuss our direction, strategy and any big decisions we need to make. They guide, advise and make sure we’re always doing our best for the students, schools, agencies and organisations we work with. Naomi one our trustees first met us when she was 13 and is now at AKQA hosting and contributing to meetings to shape our future.

Ted Smith, Chair (photograph)

Ted Smith, Chair

Ted initially joined us as a new Trustee in December 2019 to provide cover for Trevor, whilst he took paternity leave and then started his new job with TikTok, but has remained in post throughout the pandemic providing invaluable support to the team.  Ted is an experienced organisation development consultant, owning UKHR.com Ltd.  He’s worked at Glaxo, MRC, Wellcome Trust and has been a trustee at Wysing Arts and was the Chair at Herts Careers. You’ll find him at festivals, travelling or taking photos at sports fixtures.

Pauline Wilson, Vice-Chair (photograph)

Pauline Wilson, Vice-Chair

In her current role with Hilton, Pauline has direct responsibility for over 50 managed hotels in the group’s focused service portfolio. She has more than 25 years experience in the travel industry, and, prior to beginning her Hilton journey in 2021, Pauline was at Virgin Atlantic Holidays, as Vice President Product & Operations. Before this she was at Tui and Thomson Holidays. Pauline was named among ‘100 Women to
Watch Index 2020’ by Women in Hospitality, Travel and Leisure – and is regularly involved with this organisation as part of the team that helps drive greater inclusion across the industry.

Naomi Desalegne, Trustee (photograph)

Naomi Desalegene

Naomi graduated from the Ideas Foundation Scholars’ Council and has a degree in graphic design and media from the University of the Arts London.  She started her career at Dare and is now a designer at AKQA. She became a Trustee in 2016 and is also a creative mentor,  and chaired our events at Number 11 Downing Street and the House of Lords.

Charlie Mawer (Executive Creative Director, Red Bee Creative) [photograph]

Charlie Mawer

Charlie is Executive Creative Director at RED BEE CREATIVE, an agency that has led advertising campaigns for: NBC Sports, Apple TV, Discovery, Netflix, Dreamworks, Unicef, and FatFace. The agency has also created design and branding for NBC Universal, BBC, TLC, Telemundo, France Television, ABC and TG4. Charlie was previously at the BBC and J Walter Thompson. Charlie has had a long-standing interest in education as a co-opted governor to Hammersmith Academy. He is a Bafta nominee, former Chair of Promax UK and has co-written the definitive book on broadcast marketing – The TV brand Builders (Kogan Page).

Simeon Quarrie (CEO, VIVIDA) [photograph]

Simeon Quarrie

Simeon, Founder of VIVIDA brings extensive experience in storytelling, technology, diversity and entrepreneurship focusing on societal change. Working with organisations including HSBC, ITV and the Department of Work and Pensions. Simeon was awarded Creative Entrepreneur of the Year, by Great British Entrepreneurs. He has developed immersive technology projects such as ‘In Their Shoes’ an initiative that enables organisations to place people into the shoes of a person of Black Heritage or a person with ADHD. Previously Simeon has contributed to the Ideas Foundation creative supergroup and has contributed to our projects with Burberry and Nike, having been introduced to us by Canon in his role as a Canon Ambassador.

Jenny Wilkins [photograph]

Jenny Wilkins

Jenny has been a Trustee since June 2005. She was Headteacher of one of our first pilot project schools in Hackney and continued when she was appointed as Principal of a new Academy in Hackney. She is now developing an alternative provision creative school for 14-16 year olds, the Ideas College. She also supports real-world learning charity as Vice Chair of Inspire which works to open doors to all careers for young people in East London and beyond.

Will Worsdell (The Park Co-Founder and Chief Strategy and Product Officer) [photograph

Will Worsdell

Will is Co-Founder and Chief Strategy and Product Officer of the Park, an award winning independent creative agency specialising in experiential marketing. The Park was shortlisted for Agency of the Year of The Campaign Experience Awards 2022 and was awarded start-up of the year by The Drum in 2020. Will previously held senior positions at ITV, Mediacom, and Channel 4. Will is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Founder

Robin Wight CBE, Founder [photograph]

Robin Wight CBE

Robin is our colourful Founder and his passion for nurturing future creative talent and his personal drive was central to the Ideas Foundation’s development. Robin is the Wight in WCRS and has been the brains behind iconic ads for BMW, Orange, Canon, 118118. When not championing the IF Robin is a gentleman farmer and a Lt Colonel in the TA.

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