Juliet Alexander
Journalist/freelance PR
Over 25 years media experience, working as a journalist, TV and radio presenter and producer. A senior lecturer in journalism at a London University who now lectures in British PR on the Boston University British programme and runs Juliet Alexander & Associates, a PR, marketing, event management and media training company - whose recent campaign for Learning Trust in Hackney won two awards in the CIPR Excellence Awards 2006. Joined Talawa board in May 2005.
Mark Godfrey
Theatre administrator and producer
Executive Director of Soho Theatre Company, having played a key role in expansion of that Company and capital project to purchase and build new Soho Theatre venue. Has a background in fundraising and marketing at Oval House arts centre and, in a freelance capacity, programming comedy seasons for the RSC and broadening audiences for POSK Polish Centre. Prior to that worked in commercial marketing including with Price Waterhouse and London Chamber of Commerce. Also on Board of DV8 Physical Theatre. Joined Talawa Board in December 2005.
Lee Halliday-Davis
Barrister
Actor/writer who then re-trained to join the legal profession. Currently a barrister in the chambers of Richard Ferguson QC, specialising in criminal defence and the cross examination of small children. Joined Talawa Board in May 2006.
Yvette Griffith
Director of Global Meeting & Event Planning Organisation
Director of MD Events with Offices in Philadelphia, Manchester and Berkshire. Yvette's focus is logistics and organisation, with experience gained during 19 years of working with a range of organisations including: Theatre Royal Stratford East, Royal Court Theatre and Ambassadors Theatre Group. Big, complicated, high profile - she's arranged it all! From relocating theatre companies, to setting up corporate hospitality options for The London Eye, one of the UK's largest and most prestigious international visitor attractions. Joined Talawa Board in May 2007.
Rex Obano
Actor and playwright
Trained at Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art and awarded prestigious Laurence Olivier Bursary. Has worked for a wide range of theatre, film and TV companies including the Royal Shakespeare Company, Leicester Haymarket, Granada and Thames TV. Currently developing a Black British feature film.Joined Talawa Board in December 2005.
Joy Nichols MBE
Entrepreneur and founder of Nichols Employment Agency
Founder and Chief Executive of Nichols Employment Agency (three national offices and fourth based in Johannesburg). One of the UK's most successful Black British business women and holder of the prestigious Queen's Award for Enterprise. Awarded an MBE in 2006 for services to business and entrepreneurship.Joined Talawa Board in January 2005 and elected Chair of Talawa in December 2005.
Don Warrington
Actor
Trained at the Drama Centre, London. Numerous film, theatre, TV and radio credits include "Elmina's Kitchen", "The Crouches", "Hamlet" for Kenneth Branagh's Renaissance Films; "The Mysteries" for the National Theatre; "The Merchant of Venice" for Birmingham Repertory Theatre; "Manchild" for the BBC. Joined Talawa Board in 2002.
Colin Washington
Accountant
Internal Audit and Risk Manager for the Institute of Electrical Engineering and previously employed in audit/risk management capacities by a variety of private and public sector organisations. Joined Talawa Board in December 2005 and elected Treasurer in January 2006.
Benjamin Yeoh
Financial analyst and playwright
Currently employed by Dresdner Kleinwort as a financial analyst and previously for a range of financial institutions. Also advises the Co-operative Investment Society Sustainable Leaders Trust on socially responsible investment. Initially trained as a behavioural neuroscientist at Cambridge before winning a post-graduate scholarship to Harvard to study theatre. Playwright and formerly a member of Talawa's Writers Group. Joined Talawa Board in December 2005.