Board

I've lived in the area for over 40 years and have been involved in Sydenham Arts originally as a volunteer and latterly as a board member since the first festival. My working life was in education. I'm interested in most forms of the arts and love being involved as part of the team promoting them locally. The lockdown has given us the chance to put more events online and reach a wider audience. As we come out of lockdown, I'm looking forward to playing a part in the exciting future plans.

Based in Athens, Greece, as a film reviewer, journalist, and editor Ioanna collaborated with various magazines, newspapers, online platforms, and special editions, while globe-trotting, attending all the major Film Festivals and numerous other press junkets and events, meeting wonderfully talented and diverse people, for more than 20 years. Upon her move to London, she worked as a post-production assistant to a documentary filmmaker and volunteered first as a consultant, then as a programmer to Sydenham Arts Film (formerly Sydenham Film Club). She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Communication/Advertising and a Master’s in Art Criticism. She is currently employed in the Financial Services sector, but via Sydenham Arts continues to feed, express and share her passion for the arts and culture.

Involved with Sydenham Arts since 2013, Isabel has seen the company grow from an annual festival to a year-round programme that is now a cultural cornerstone within the community. Isabel combines 30 plus years in fundraising and charity management with a passion for the arts, particularly poetry and music. She has been on the board of several organisations including the Poetry Society. Isabel lived in Sydenham for 10 years before relocating to Somerset, but she has retained her links to this part of London. Isabel is passionate about broadening audiences for all the creative arts.

Jan moved to Sydenham in 1985 and has been a trustee of Sydenham Arts since 2014, and Chair since 2019.  She started her career at the Edinburgh International and Newbury Spring Festivals - before moving into international trade union and development politics and then central government education policy - and is very happy to have the opportunity to bring the focus of her energies full circle, to help enrich the community she loves.  She has a voracious appetite and curiosity for all forms of artistic expression, but if missing can usually be found in one of London’s many cinemas or galleries.

Jemilla Olufeko grew up in Sydenham and lives nearby in the Lewisham borough. She has been a trustee since 2020. Jemilla is passionate about the arts especially fashion, design, antiques, theatre and dance. She also loves exploring South East London's rich arts, culture and food and thinks diversity and inclusion is crucial to enriching the creative arts.

Jemilla is a qualified solicitor experienced in advising global companies on legal and commercial matters across the media, arts and technology spaces, previously working at international law firm Taylor Wessing, music tech start-up ROLI and BBC Global News/BBC Studios. She is currently at GroupM (part of the multinational advertising/​marketing company WPP).

Jemilla was a Senior Leadership Team Advisor during her time at the BBC, helping to provide diversity of thought to management and has been a guest speaker on the 'Brands and Creativity module ​' at the London Business School’s Senior Executive Programme.

Rachel has lived in Sydenham for 7 years and loves exploring culture and the arts. She is particularly passionate about theatre, literature and spoken word. Rachel is the Director of Marketing for The Stage Media Company with a particular interest in digital strategy. She was one of the creators of the Future of Theatre Conference, The Stage Debut Awards, and Get Into Theatre - a website aimed at helping young people of all backgrounds find routes into fulfilling careers in theatre. She joined Sydenham Arts in 2020.

Nitesh has been a Sydenham resident and artist for the last six years. Always looking for the reward and impact that his art can have on people, he is keen on learning how to become more instrumental in communicating initiatives in Arts that are accessible and inclusive for the local Community.

Stephanie moved to Sydenham in 2022 and loves exploring the rich arts, culture and heritage in the area.  She has worked in local government cultural services for over 15 years in London and the North West and currently leads the Culture, Leisure and Libraries services for Croydon Council. Stephanie is passionate about widening access and inclusion to the arts and building a creative sector more representative of London's diverse communities at every level. She is particularly excited by theatre, literature, visual arts, museums and artistic practice which explores lesser known stories and lesser heard perspectives.