Our People
Staff
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Emily Jolley, CEO
My role at CCA brings together interests and skills that I’ve previously juggled separately, in support of a wonderful team that truly lives our values of being welcoming, empathetic, inclusive, respectful and empowering. I have been a business development professional for over a decade alongside my own art practice. Primarily a painter I dabble in other media, love learning new skills and enjoy making connections and collaborating. I am aware of how vital creativity is for my own wellbeing and am proud to work to empower others through their own creative journeys.
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Jen Walsh, Head of Community Engagement
Historically I have had the wonderful opportunity to engage in roles supporting people to move in a healthier direction. This makes me happy. My education has focused around Women’s Studies, Sociology, Counselling and Management of Substance Misuse. I find joy in colour, music, fresh air and humour.
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Hannah Hitchin, Chief Operating Officer
I am passionate about making art accessible for all and have had the pleasure of seeing the benefit art can have on people’s wellbeing. My educational background is in performing and visual arts with a focus on film and television studies. I have been working in cinema exhibition and arts education for the past 10 years. Outside of work I enjoy attending music gigs and festivals.
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Christine Hammond, Next Steps Work Coach
I have always worked in people focused environments mainly supporting individuals to establish and work towards their goals. I enjoy seeing people grow and overcome their challenges to make positive changes in their lives, however small. Outside of work I explore my own creativity through working in fused glass, bookbinding and box making.
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Sacha Lee, Creative Fenland Director
I have 30 years of experience in the Arts & Culture sector, ranging from being a professional contemporary dancer and choreographer to creative producer and artistic director of The Point in Hampshire where I worked with artists in all art forms including dance, theatre, circus and outdoor arts. What motivates me is being able to connect people to the arts, to move people and to inspire. My big passions in addition to arts and culture are mountain biking, walking, nature and attempting to grow vegetables!
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Alan Seiglow, Creative Volunteering Officer
I really love helping, sharing and enabling others. I know first-hand through my own journey the value of finding wellbeing in creativity. Alongside a passion for theatre, cinema and music I have 20+ years of experience working in cultural and educational organisations. At home I am a practising writer of prose, screenwriting and other assorted ramblings.
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Beci Callow, Community Arts Coordinator
I have worked within education and arts settings for a little over 10 years. I knew from my own experiences the importance of creativity for wellbeing and I enjoy sharing that with others. Alongside my work, I am a potter and enjoy working with clay and being outside in my allotment digging in the mud.
Founding Staff
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Jane Rich
FOUNDER
Jane established CCA in 2014. She has worked in the Arts and Charity sector for over 25 years and enjoys every day seeing the power of the Arts make positive change.
Beth and Jane moved on to new creative endeavours in 2024; without them we wouldn’t be where we are today
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Beth McCabe
Beth worked with Jane since the start of Cambridge Community Arts and established the high quality delivery that we are known for, ensuring the CCA experience is the best it can be for everyone involved.
Creative Tutors
The creative practitioners we work with are very special. They are talented, passionate about their art-form and enjoy inspiring others. If you are interested in becoming a creative tutor with Cambridge Community Arts, please visit our Opportunities page.
Dani Penhaligan
Tiago Coimbra
Lynn Fraser
Nancy Pardo
Sa'adiah Khan
Antonia Maxwell
Bryan Johnson
Melanie Missin
Sarah Strachan
Sasha DeWitt
Simon Buchan
Dan Donovan
Rosina Piovani
Lele Saa
Sara Buccellato
Mary Denn
Belona Greenwood
Paul Fernie
Helena Judd
Meg Day
Melissa Santiago-Val
Pam Cole
Heidy Perez
Rachel Dormor
Helen Perry
Governance
Board of Trustees
Our dedicated Board of Trustees meets four times a year and is responsible for overall financial and strategic management. Members draw on a range of experience to help us achieve our goals.
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Kate Collins
Chair
Kate’s background is in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Consultancy. After 30+ years in consultancy she is enjoying a fairly intensive involvement in Cambridge charities and community projects. She founded Love Mill Road and was chair of Mill Road Winter Fair for 4 years. She’s particularly motivated by creative strategy and partnership building and enjoys making stuff happen via the process of meetings, networking and committees.
She spend most of my spare time on charity and community projects! Other favourite activities are gardening, watercolour painting, walking and travel.
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Tony Rosella
Creative Industries / HE
Tony is the Associate Dean of the School of Creative Arts at the University of Hertfordshire and a Visiting Professor at SANDA University, Shanghai, China. He has an industry and academic background in Fashion.
Tony is passionate about investing in people, providing lifelong learning opportunities for learners that may not always have access to creative experiences.
In his spare time Tony enjoys reading, running, cycling, spending time with his friends and family.
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Matthew Bryan
Legal
Matt is a legal professional in London.
In 2021 Matt cycled 4,600kn from Cambridge to Instanbul to raise funds for Cambridge Community Arts!
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Sophie Baillie
Communications & Marketing
Sophie is an Associate Director at Conscious Communications and supports Cambridge Community Arts will all things to do with Communications & Marketing.
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Tata Bassey
Creative
Tata is a performance artist with a passion for painting and singing.
He enjoys supporting people in the community to grow positively in their physical and mental wellbeing.
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Julie Brophy
Organisational Psychology
Julie is a business psychologist working in a business and data transformation consultancy.Working with clients on their most complex business, Julie brings a lot of creativity to their issues. She’s looking forward to bringing her skills and experience to CCA. It brings together two of Julie’s passions, creativity and mental health.
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Emma Lowe
Business
Emma retired in 2023 having spent her working life in outsourced service provision. Initially focussed on catering and facilities management, she then went on to take HR qualifications and became focussed on leading teams in HR business systems delivery, especially payroll, for large UK organisations, with team members based in the U.K. and India.
Emma lives in Newmarket and is enjoying the opportunity to go racing more frequently. She took a short art course and suddenly discovered a previously unknown joy in creating abstract art which has led to some small successes in local exhibitions, markets etc.
Community Advisory Panel
The Community Advisory Panel (CAP) meet four times a year and help to ensure that CCA continues to learn and improve, adopting best practice at all times and making sure that learners’ and creative tutors’ voices are heard.
MEMBERSHIP
Lizzy Sheerin-Roberts, Mental Health Professional
Lisette Veit, Education Professional
Amber Pletts, CCA Learner Representative
Emily Ward, CTA Representative
Dani Penhaligan, Tutor Representative