Trust in Trustees: Changes in Governance at Kazzum Arts
As a registered charity in the UK, Kazzum Arts are governed by a voluntary group of trustees. The Board of Trustees collectively bring a diverse range of skills, experiences and insights to govern the charity and enable our organisational vision for trauma-informed multidisciplinary arts.
Kazzum’s trustees are a vital part of our community, supporting strategy development, managing risk, ensuring accountability and upholding the ethical and practical frameworks of trauma-informed working. Meeting regularly throughout the year at Board meetings, subcommittee meetings, and annual Away Days, our trustee team has evolved to reflect the growing needs of Kazzum and helped us to respond to the challenges facing the UK charity sector today.
Leadership succession
November 2025 will see a change in the leadership of our Board, with our current Chair, Laura Wilkinson, stepping down from her role. Joining in 2018, Laura has been an instrumental part of our team, taking on the role of Chair in 2022. Laura has spearheaded the development of our trauma-informed organisational approach, offered our leadership team vital support and guidance, and brought the board together to develop and deliver on our current strategy. Laura will be stepping down to concentrate on her professional responsibilities at the London Museum, as they relocate to a new site in Smithfield Market. Of her time at Kazzum she said:
“It has been an immense privilege to serve on Kazzum’s board, first as a trustee and later as Chair. The care, compassion, and creativity at the heart of Kazzum’s trauma-informed approach makes a profound difference in the lives of every young person the team works with. Small arts organizations like Kazzum are a vital part of our cultural landscape—not only for their direct impact on children and young people, but also in fostering collaboration with partner organizations and supporting the freelance arts community. Although I am stepping down from the board, I remain deeply committed to championing Kazzum’s important work and look forward to watching the organization continue to thrive in the years to come.”
Zulfi Ali will be taking on the role of Chair of the Board, leading the governance team in the next phase of our development. Zulfi has been a Trustee at Kazzum since 2021 and is already the leader of the organisational subcommittee, as well as a key contributer to strategy development. In his role as lecturer at Canterbury University, Zulfi specialises in children’s rights, and brings a wealth of knowledge from the charity sector, having led several small organisations whilst living and working in Pakistan. Zulfi says:
“Serving as a Trustee on the Board of Kazzum Arts has been an extremely rewarding learning experience for me. It has been a deeply humbling experience, watching the small team at Kazzum Arts do such innovative, empowering and impactful work.”
‘Parting is such sweet sorrow...’
During this time, we will also be saying a fond farewell to two other members of the Board, Chloe Johnson and Lynne Roberts.
Chloe’s contribution to our governance team has been invaluable. Since joining in 2020 She has offered key skills in fundraising, strategic development, and maintaining our healthy financial position as leader of our Finance and Fundraising Committee. We would like to wish Chloe all the best as she embarks upon a new career opportunity. Chloe said:
“It's been an honour to be a Trustee for Kazzum for the past 6 years. It's a truly inspirational place, achieving great things for children and young people who have faced adversity. The team and artists have such passion for their work, which can be seen through their dedication, innovation and care that they take in developing and delivering activities, all underpinned by Kazzum's impactful trauma-informed approach, which places children and young people's wellbeing at the heart of everything they do. I will miss being part of the Board but know that Kazzum will continue to be a huge success. I look forward to following Kazzum's journey and staying in touch so I can hear about the team's work in the future. Huge thanks to everyone at Kazzum - the team, the artists and fellow Trustees - for making this such a rewarding, fulfilling and inspiring experience!”
Our last departing member is Lynne Roberts, Kazzum’s longest-standing Trustee. Lynne joined the board in 2012, performing the role of Chair between 2019 and 2022 whilst navigating the many uncertainties of the Covid 19 pandemic. Lynne’s passion and dedication to Kazzum has been demonstrated countless times, through fundraising activity, advocacy, and staff support. Everyone at Kazzum has benefitted from her care and we wish her all the best in every new adventure that comes her way. Lynne said of her departure:
“I am very proud of having been a trustee at Kazzum for 12 years. As an organisation I have watched the charity go from strength to strength over this time delivery highly successful art projects across the board I wish them all the very best for the future.”
Welcome to the new!
In preparing for these changes, the team at Kazzum have been busy following a thorough recruitment and onboarding process, with five new trustees joining our Board. Each brings with them a unique perspective and fresh vision for the charity and will support to develop and deliver on our new strategic plan for the period 2027 - 2030.
Vanessa Stone is a freelance arts producer and project manager with 30 years' experience in strategy and project management and a Master's in Business Administration.
Kristian Sakulku is Director of Programmes at Create, with skills in advocacy, safeguarding, partnership working (community and corporate), and leadership.
Sophyat Jimoh is Volunteer Officer at Praxis for Migrants and Refugees and a former Kazzum participant at Brighter Futures.
A’Ishah Waheed is Community Engagement Producer with Talawa Theatre Company with experience in community engagement, artistic development and innovation.
Elias Matar is Deputy Artistic Director at Good Chance Theatre with experience in empowering under-represented voices through storytelling and socially engaged arts practice.
Our new trustees will join our current team, Zulfi Ali, Lynn Tabbara, David Gilbert, Bhagya Schiering, and Petra Tauscher, complementing our governance team and enriching our perspectives as we move forward with our unique trauma-informed approach to creative arts.
We hope you’ll agree that these changes to our governance are a perfect opportunity to build on our recent successes and develop the work of Kazzum Arts even further.