Anna Williams
Anna Williams is presently interim CEO at Aesop Arts and Society Ltd. Prior to this, she was at Birmingham Royal Ballet for almost 30 years, working in successive roles as Finance Director, Chief Operating Officer and Interim Chief Executive.
She is a qualified chartered accountant and has served a number of arts boards including The Drum Arts Centre, Bath Festivals, and Culture Central. She is currently Trustee for the Young Vic and the Theatre Development Trust.
Mete Akkemik
Mete is Vice President in Strategic Business Operations for Capital Group and is current sponsor of its Arts Community for the Europe and Asia chapter.
Mete was first introduced to Cardboard Citizens over a decade ago at one of its interactive, all-day workshops for Capital Group as a corporate supporter of the charity. Since then, he has volunteered his professional skills to support the development of Cardboard Citizens’ finance systems, as well as attending performances and participating in its fundraising efforts.
Chris Bull - Treasurer
When I learned about Cardboard Citizens’ work supporting people facing homelessness and inequality I wanted to find out more and the more I learnt the more keen I became to contribute my financial skills and knowledge to further their aims. The charity has a unique combination of artistic endeavour and more traditional support activities which allows them to build confidence, inspire trust and promote a wider understanding of the underlying issues. My background of working in a variety of finance roles across several London Boroughs allows me to bring an additional perspective to the board of trustees, and a prudent financial steer in my role as treasurer. This is a time of change and growth for the organisation and I am excited to work with them and see impact of all their hard work.
Ayesha Casely-Hayford
Ayesha Casely-Hayford is a London born, award-winning voice artist and Off West End Award nominated actress, as well as a practising solicitor at Capsticks LLP specialising in employment, healthcare, and discrimination law. Ayesha is a former chair of The Act For Change Project, a former trustee of Inc Arts, and a founding member of HIV Voices; and is currently working on “Afro Archives UK”, a comparative programme exploring the experience of women with afro-textured hair.
Alexandra Casson
Alexandra Casson is a senior digital leader with over 20 years’ experience across television, film, and global entertainment brands. As Head of Digital Strategy and Operations at BBC Studios Productions, she has a strong track record in harnessing emerging technologies to transform storytelling, deepen audience engagement, and enhance cultural relevance. She currently drives social marketing for flagship titles including Strictly Come Dancing and The One Show. She has held senior digital roles at ITV, Disney and with Sir Elton John, with a consistent focus on innovation, new-form content and emerging platforms.
With a long-standing interest in how evolving technologies reshape storytelling, Alexandra is particularly motivated by the potential of new platforms to connect with audiences in meaningful, participatory ways.
Vicky Featherstone
Vicky Featherstone is an acclaimed theatre director and artistic leader. She served as Artistic Director of the Royal Court (2013–2023), the National Theatre of Scotland (2005–2013), and Paines Plough (1997–2005). During her decade at the Royal Court, she directed over 50 world premieres by leading playwrights while championing bold new voices in contemporary theatre. Her productions have toured widely across the UK and internationally and have received numerous awards.
She is currently a Trustee of the Citizen’s Theatre, Glasgow, and played a key role in the UK theatre sector’s #MeToo movement, helping create the industry Code of Behaviour addressing sexual harassment and abuses of power.
Kiko Itasaka
Kiko Itasaka is a multi-award-winning broadcast journalist for NBC News. The recipient of three Emmy Awards for her work reporting and producing in Afghanistan, her work spans major global stories, from breaking international news to geopolitics, environmental issues, culture, and human interest features. Kiko is passionate about the arts, in particular theatre that explores social issues. She is excited to be on the board of Cardboard Citizens and support their work on behalf of people experiencing or at risk of being unhoused.
Ajeet Jugnauth
In a career spanning over 20 years, Ajeet has worked on community engagement and enterprise support programmes for organisations including the Equality and Human Rights Commission, British Council and the online marketplace, Etsy. He is passionate about social impact in the arts and creative industries and has spent the last decade working with entrepreneurs in the UK and overseas, across the creative sector. Ajeet is currently Director of Curator Community for Sofar Sounds, a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and a business mentor for UnLtd.
Claire Matthews
Claire Matthews (She/Her) is the Head of Community Services for The Passage in Westminster and has 15 years’ experience working in the homelessness sector.
Prior to her career working with homelessness charities, Claire trained at RCSSD and worked in the arts, delivering forum theatre workshops and educational theatre performances for marginalized groups, and producing a London fringe festival for several years.
She is thrilled to join the board for Cardboard Citizens where her two passions, working with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and the power of theatre, combine so beautifully.
Jenique McNaught - Vice Chair
I joined as a Trustee of the Board because I was keen to support the Cardboard Citizens’ purpose of empowering people with lived experience of homelessness or are vulnerable to become homeless. As a keen supporter of the arts, I also believe in the power of theatre to spark change. I am a management consultant in the financial services sector and I hold a Masters Degree in Business Administration. In my career I have held in various positions in consulting, strategy and business development in South Africa and the UK.
Anoushka Warden
Anoushka Warden is a writer for theatre, television, film and fiction. Her debut play, My Mum’s A Twat, premiered at the Royal Court in 2018, followed by My Dad’s a C*nt (2020), which received its world premiere in Germany last year. Her debut novel, I’m F*cking Amazing, was published in 2024, and she was named one of The Brit List’s 2025 Screenwriters for its screenplay adaptation. Anoushka was previously an Associate Artist at The Bunker Theatre and co-created and produced The Playwright’s Podcast with Simon Stephens. Her screen work includes adapting her novel for television and developing an original series with Working Title Films.
Matthew Xia - Vice Chair
I first worked with Cardboard Citizens 17 years ago on a project in South London. They are a theatre company I hold incredibly dear to my heart – its ethos completely allies with my principles regarding theatre for social change. I am a theatre director (credits include Shebeen, Nottingham Playhouse & Theatre Royal Statford East; Frankenstein, Wish List, Into The Woods, Royal Exchange; Blue/Orange, The Sound Of Yellow, Sizwe Banzi Is Dead, Young Vic & Eclipse; Suckerpunch Boom Suite, Barbican & NitroBeat; Migration Music and Scrappers, Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse). I’m a former Associate Director at Stratford East, Resident Director at the Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse and most recently Associate Artistic Director at the Manchester Royal Exchange.
Member Representatives:
Our Board is also supported by our elected Members Representatives – two individuals elected by our Membership to represent their views at all our Board and strategy meetings.
Our Member Reps are Barry Calaghan and Orinana White and our Youth Member Rep is Beyonce.
