Trustees

Currently Chief Executive of Borletti-Buitoni Trust, a UK-based charity that supports young international classical musicians with career development funding, Toby has over 25 years’ experience of programming, commissioning and producing in venues of different scales, multi-arts and music-focused festivals. Former positions include Associate Director at Greenwich+Docklands Festivals, Festival Director at Salisbury International Arts Festival, Director of Performance and Programming at Royal Northern College of Music, and roles at Cheltenham Arts Festivals and Barbican Centre. Toby joined the Motionhouse Board in 2018.

Giles is a qualified solicitor, who has worked for many years for a variety of clients across the public, private and not for profit sectors. Before that, he worked for some years in computing, and also as a teacher. He has a broad and longstanding interest in the arts, and through his own children has seen the power of stage performance to foster teamwork, confidence and personal development.

Jonathan studied flute with Kevin Gowland, trained in theatre at Bretton Hall, and with Philippe Gaulier, Lilo Baur and the National Youth Theatre. A more recent focus has been upon the study of crowd science and risk analysis to accompany his passion for community engagement. He has worked in local government for over 25 years now engaging with a diverse range of communities managing a range of culture and heritage facilities as well as large scale outdoor events and strategic development activity. He currently manages both sports and culture services for both Redditch Borough and Bromsgrove District Councils. He sits on the Executive for the Chief Cultural and Leisure Officers Association, and the Board of Birmingham Contemporary Music Group. He previously  chaired the Cultural Compacts Plus network in the West Midlands, and the National Advisory Group for Voluntary Arts England.

Sarah is Chief Executive & Artistic Director of Spitalfields Music, and is based in East London and Birmingham. She previously worked for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra before co-founding the award-winning arts consultancy, Indigo. Sarah is a Council member of the Royal Philharmonic Society, trustee of The Benedetti Foundation, and a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts. She also plays horn in many orchestras in the Midlands.

Yvonne has worked in a diverse range of settings, starting her career as a youth and community worker and then in the regeneration sector before moving to a regional role in sustainable transport. She has extensive experience of developing and achieving funding for community led regeneration programmes. Yvonne’s current role is CEO of Edward’s Trust, an inspirational Birmingham based bereavement charity supporting children, young people and adults who have experienced traumatic bereavements. Yvonne is a keen runner, cyclist and walker (though not fast!) and is always in awe of the physicality and energy of the Motionhouse performers whom she finds brave, edgy and inspirational.

Martin is a Business owner and a Senior Innovation & Business Adviser for Innovate UK. He has over 18 years’ experience as an IT Professional, with a background in Technical Sales, Cyber Security and Business Connectivity. Having worked for some of the biggest IT companies in the UK, he has been involved in projects both domestically and abroad, so Martin can draw on a wealth of experiences that will help enable the businesses he supports. From 2010 he has run and grown his own businesses in IT and the Health and Wellness Sector from start-up to exit and he is keen to utilise the lessons he learned to help other companies.

Rakhi Rajani is an Innovation Consultant with a background in engineering, design and psychology. She helps organisations think forward to identify white space and determine what they can do next. She has worked in a variety of sectors across the world and for organisations spanning the arts, hospitality, emerging tech, sports, retail, automotive and smart cities. Rakhi is a Chartered Psychologist and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Colin is a qualified accountant with extensive experience in the corporate sector at director level where his role broadened to include marketing. He was also an entrepreneur for over 20 years running a medium sized company, operating in retail and property management. Colin subsequently qualified as a counsellor, specialising in Person Centred and Couples Counselling. He also has extensive experience in the charity sector, including a recent spell as a Trustee for a national bereavement charity.

Zaylie is a multi-award-winning Arts and Cultural Producer, Consultant, Strategist and Fundraiser. She is currently Executive Director at Mercury Musical Developments, a talent development organisation supporting the evolution of new British Musicals. Alongside her work at MMD, she is currently a Consultant for West Midlands Combined Authority and part of the Ramps on the Moon change programme.

Before joining MMD, Zaylie led the Creative Partnerships team at Birmingham Hippodrome – shaping strategy, fundraising and developing artists and young people. Her work focused on Access and Inclusion, Associate Artists, Programming and Talent Development.

More broadly, her career has spanned National and International work developing festivals, supporting artists, touring new work and developing partnership and consultancy models. Most recently, this has included being Associate Producer for new musical To the Streets, Director of Education and Access for the UK Tour of Van Gogh Alive, Consultant for Frameless and United by 2022, as well as Strategy development for Tiata Fahodzi.