New Trustees!

We’ve talked previously about why boards are so important and how governance systems make it hard to recruit good trustees.

So…we’re genuinely excited, and very grateful, to be able to introduce a bunch of brilliant new Strike A Light board members.

We asked them each to say a bit about themselves; here they are!

Jay Tyler

Jay Tyler

I’m a 20-year-old student in my final year at the University of Gloucestershire studying Computer and Cyber Security.

I’ve been involved in a lot of climate activism, including being a cast member of a show about being a youth climate activist ‘I Stand For What I Stand On’, which is how I became involved with Strike A Light.

I am also a passionate martial artist of 7 years and an assistant instructor in my club — Kenbu Dojo, which is based in Gloucester. I’m an avid theatre-goer and music-lover and I think the arts should be accessible to everyone and have good representation.

Ellie Harris

Ellie Harris

Ellie Harris leads on the delivery of the flagship Greenwich+Docklands International Festival, producing cultural events for FESTIVAL.ORG, and leading on environmental and sustainable practice across the organisation.

Ellie joined the team in 2019, following her extensive work in the South West of the UK where she started her Producing career at Strike A Light. She independently produced theatre, puppetry, opera, dance, and enabled artists and companies to make and tour their work.

Ellie is particularly interested in the dialogue of how outdoor arts can respond to our world narrative and creatively adapt to changing circumstances we are faced with, leading and reimagining new ways of working, highlighting sustainability and accessibility, and producing ambitious and collaborative projects.

Nadja Singh

Nadja Singh

After a career in video games, culminating in the post of Marketing Director for Hasbro’s Interactive Division, Nadja moved to the not-for-profit sector: Initially at INGO Marie Stopes International, where she headed up the European and Japanese fundraising division working with partners around the world; moving on to help establish the separated parents charity, Families Need Fathers; youth leadership with UpRising; and then, on moving to Stroud, has worked with Stroud Town Council on Community Engagement and with New Brewery Arts and now the Sub Rooms, as their fundraiser.

The Very Reverend Andrew Zihni, Dean of Gloucester

The Very Reverend Andrew Zihni, Dean of Gloucester

The Very Reverend Andrew Zihni was installed as the 39th Dean of Gloucester on Sunday 23 April 2023.

Andrew was born and grew up in Hong Kong, before moving to the UK with his family. He trained for ordination at St Stephen’s House, Oxford, and was ordained Deacon in 2002 and Priest in 2003. He began his ordained ministry in the former mining town of Goldthorpe in South Yorkshire, before moving to St George’s Chapel, Windsor, where he was a Minor Canon and School Chaplain. Andrew then moved to Southwark, where he was Assistant Director of Vocations in the Diocese of Southwark and Honorary Minor Canon at Southwark Cathedral before becoming Canon Precentor in January 2021. He was also a Priest Vicar at Westminster Abbey from 2018 to 2021.

Zara Portlock

Zara Portlock

Zara grew up in the Tredworth & Barton Street area of Gloucester until moving to Birmingham to study Visual Arts & Photography at university.

She has worked for several Birmingham-based cultural organisations over the last 14 years such as Creative Alliance, Friction Arts, Punch Records and The Drum Arts Centre. She has worked in a wide variety of roles including Operations Co-ordinator, Youth Project Manager, Marketing Manager and Festival Producer with an on-going passion for people, audience development and partnerships.

She is currently focused on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion within her current role as Audience Engagement Manager at midlands-based dance development organisation FABRIC. She is an active member of the Arts Marketing Association.

Mowgli Myers

Mowgli Myers

Mowgli Myers grew up in Gloucester attending youth groups and a number of the dance and theatre schools before moving out of town and into the professional world.

Mowgli has filled his CV with tours, the west end, TV and films along with performing he has producer, teacher and choreographer credits.

Mowgli has run and supported dance companies and has also worked in education and event management — but has found a passion in holistic care focusing on community wellbeing and alternative medicine.

Bringing the two worlds together, he is excited to be working with Strike A Light and seeing how he can bring his energy to the board.