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.
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.
Charlie Josephine
Charlie Josephine is an actor and writer, passionate about making work that centres working class women and queer people. They are an associate artist at the NSDF and the current writer in residence at Headlong Theatre. Their award-winning theatre includes I, Joan, Bitch Boxer, and BLUSH, and they are currently developing a new feature biopic with Salon Pictures. Charlie was last seen on the Globe Theatre’s Sam Wanamaker in Metamorphoses 2021.
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.
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.
Sacha Milroy
Sacha is a freelance Technical & Production Director, Production Manager & Producer. Most recently, she worked as a producer on Punchdrunk’s The Burnt City and was Technical & Production Director at Secret Cinema. Previously she worked with Mark Rubinstein Ltd, general managing and producing in the West End, she was Director of Producing & Planning at the National Theatre & Executive Producer at Shakespeare’s Globe. Before going to the Globe she was Head of Production at the National Theatre heading up the workshop departments, production and stage management teams, developing and overseeing the production process of around 26 shows a year across the building. For many years she was a Production Manager working extensively in theatre and events – touring, West End, international and at the National Theatre. As Production Manager, some of her production highlights were TINA – The Tina Turner Musical (West End), War Horse (Olivier), Frankenstein (Olivier), His Dark Materials (Olivier) & Jerry Springer the Opera (Lyttelton). As well as being a trustee for Cardboard Citizens she is also a trustee for Tonic.
Jon Opie
I have a background in theatre fundraising and administration with previous roles at Hampstead Theatre and the Independent Theatre Council. Since 2011 I have been Jerwood Charitable Foundation’s General Manager, with responsibilities for grant making, project development and management, and the running of the charity. I first came into contact with Cardboard Citizens through Jerwood’s support for the commissioning of writers for Home Truths, and was honoured to become a Trustee of a theatre company that can profoundly change people’s lives for the better.
Prue Skene CBE - Chair
I have enjoyed a long career in arts management, holding top positions at the English Shakespeare Company and Rambert. I have held Trustee positions at, among others, Theatre Royal, Bath, NESTA and the RUH NHS Trust, and I previously chaired the Arvon Foundation (2001-2005), Rambert (2000-2009) and Free Word (2000-2014). I was also a member of the Arts Council England from 1992 to 2000, and continue to work as an independent freelance consultant for the Clore Leadership Programme amongst others. I was awarded a CBE in 2000 for services to the arts, especially dance.
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 Reps – two individuals elected by our Membership to represent their views at all our Board and strategy meetings.
Our Member Rep is Michael and our Youth Member Rep is Sarah.
