the people behind ioi

Akvile Terminaite - Facilitator & Creative Content Designer

As an educator with a background in art & design and science communication, Akvile is excited to contribute to iOi’s mission of bringing engaging STEAM learning experiences to disadvantaged and marginalised communities across England. As a passionate tinkerer, she believes in creating more spaces for imagination and creativity.

Amandeep Hoonjan - Partnerships & Philanthropy Manager

I joined the iOi in January 2023. What first drew me to the organisation was their values which resonate and reflect my own personal values. In a world that is becoming more volatile, uncertain and divided, we need to ensure we are lifting up, making space and creating opportunities for children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. As a parent myself, it’s heartening to see that the iOi focuses it support not only on the child but their who learning ecosystem – from parents, teachers to communities and wider touchpoints. Since joining, I have had the privilege of working with a group of people who have a vision of a better world, a world that does not exist yet but one that will be created by our children. 

Carrie Anne Philbin MBE - Director of Learning

Carrie Anne Philbin MBE is an award-winning educator, computing teacher, author, YouTuber, and podcast host who is passionate about Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and how imagination and creativity are interwoven within these and other subjects. In 2020, she was awarded an MBE for services to STEM education. Carrie Anne strives to support students, parents, and educators around the world in creative and critical thinking learning experiences.  Alongside her work in formal education in the UK, Carrie Anne also hosts a Computer Science series on popular educational YouTube channel Crash Course and creates technology tutorials on her own channel the Geek Gurl Diaries. 

Catherine Lambert - Director of Marketing & Communications

Catherine has worked in marketing across the creative industries for over 15 years. After initially working as Global Brand Manager for Swedish retail systems and services provider, Gunnebo AB, she joined the South Korean government agency KOCCA in 2005 to head up its marketing and brand development, brokering broadcast, licensing partnerships and co-production agreements across Europe. Moving into live theatre, Catherine worked with various arts organisations to lead their strategic marketing and audience development such as Stratford Circus, Iris Theatre and Battersea Arts Centre – for touring work including at the Edinburgh Festival. Catherine has been a speaker at the Children’s Media Conference, Korean / UK Drama Festival and Seoul International Animation Festival (SICAF).

Damian Griffiths - Director of Finance & Enterprise

Since qualifying as a Chartered Accountant at the London office of EY, Damian spent over 10 years as a director of innovation firm, New Solutions. Following this, he engaged with a number of growing businesses in the creative and consulting sectors, taking a particular interest in organisations with a purpose beyond profit.

Emma Brand - Facilitator

I’ve always loved creative activities, especially writing and performing. But I’ve also loved disappearing into imaginary worlds through reading, and stretching my imagination to picture future worlds, other worlds, other ways of living. iOi workshops combine arts with science in order to show young people just what their imaginations can achieve, and what they can aspire to do later in life. iOi offers an opportunity to think differently about the world, and an opportunity to test, explore, fail, and try again. As a performer and facilitator, this is an ethos that comes into all my work, and I feel privileged to be part of a team that creates these opportunities for young people to learn by playing, exploring and creating.

Emma Callow - Creative & Content Lead

Emma is an insatiably curious learning designer, presenter, tinkerer and producer.  Emma is highly experienced in designing engaging spaces for teachers, children and their families to play and learn together, where they can find out new things about the world around them and each other.

Emma has 17 years of experience working with schools and marginalised communities, and is committed to inclusive learning, especially for neurodivergent communities. She is passionate about developing innovative blended learning experiences and pedagogical approaches that inspire us all to go mind-wandering and be in a state of awe and wonder. Her goal is to encourage everyone to go on their own journeys of curiosity in the world of STEM and imagination.

Fernand Frimpong Jnr - Facilitator

I’m thrilled to be part of an organisation where the power of imagination and creativity is celebrated. I’ve always relied on and found power in my imagination from a young age, and at the Institute of Imagination I take great pleasure in inspiring the next generation to do just that. With my experience working in schools and with young people, seeing faces light up and come up with innovative creative solutions to modern problems is really the best feeling. Plus, the Institute of Imagination – what an inspiring and exciting name!

Fran Meana - Educational Consultant & Project Lead

An experienced designer and educator, Fran has worked extensively with educational and cultural institutions, using art and new technologies to promote creativity and collaboration. He champions an audience-focused approach to ensure children, young people, families, schools and communities can actively participate in and enjoy innovative education projects that support creative learning and growth.

James Brown - Production Manager

James has worked with SEND children and their families across a variety of initiatives and organisations for several years. He has a background working with children with additional needs through experiential therapies and sensory play. His expertise helps the iOi team ensure that SEND children are able to have their strengths recognised and nurtured. Alongside his work with children and families, James makes excellent use of a background in property development to meticulously manage events, keep the Imagination Lab running smoothly and ensure our tech is tip top.

Jennifer Luk - Projects Development Lead

I love working at iOi as I am driven by getting every child, regardless of their background to feel empowered not only to build the best life for themselves but also inspired to play a key role in building the world they want to grow up in.

My background is in developing and delivering innovative projects for families from marginalised communities for national charities such as BookTrust. My passion is making sure these children’s voices are heard throughout our design and delivery processes so that we know it will really meet their needs.

Jess Joyson - Programmes Lead

Joining us from Teach First, Jess has ample experience in child and adult education. Prior to Teach First, Jess was a secondary school teacher and a learning assistant in a cultural organisation. She champions educational equality both in and out of the classroom, and is currently studying for her Masters in Leadership in Education at UCL Institute of Education.

Jonathan Godsi - Facilitator

As a trained actor and writer, creativity has always been my passion, and at the heart of everything I do. Creativity is something that comes so naturally to so many children, and as we say, it truly is their superpower. I’m so excited to be part of a team working to nurture those instincts, and help children use that superpower to change the world!

Kimberley Mitchell - Director of Development

As Director of Development, Kimberley oversees the iOi’s income generation and strategic partnership development. With over 15 years of fundraising experience, she started her fundraising career at Cancer Research UK before roles at Camden’s Roundhouse, Action for Child, and the Terrence Higgins Trust.

Most recently she spent a decade at Stonewall, Europe’s leading LGBTQ+ equalities charity, where she led teams across Special Events, Corporate Partnerships and Individual Philanthropy. During her time there she launched TeamPride – a group of world leading brands including the Premier League, Adidas, Barclays, and Unilever – to support the Rainbow Laces Campaign, resulting in raising over £1 million together with the campaign becoming a yearly fixture in the UK’s sporting world.

Maia Abayomi - Digital & Marketing Officer

From a young age, creativity and imagination have been of great interest to me. Growing up, I knew that working in education was paramount for me, and my experiences teaching in a school previously made this concrete. At the Institute of Imagination, our vision of a world where every child has the equal opportunity and skills to imagine and achieve their fullest potential resonates greatly with me. I’m proud to be part of a team that is working together to champion imagination and creativity to make this happen!

Martin Allen Morales - CEO

Creativity with a purpose to positively serve people and Mother Nature has been the connecting thread in some way in all of my work for over 30 years.

As I grew up, I was guided by some treasured educators, mentors and leaders over the years. As a result I was blessed with the curiosity to seek the space, tools, and opportunities for my creativity to thrive and I believe every child should have that same chance.

Imagination is the starting point of creativity and so if we can nurture our imagination then we can help society and our natural world, not just ourselves. I’d like to help achieve that for as many children as possible, especially those which suffer from a poverty of opportunity and I can’t think of a better place to do that in than at the iOi.

Max August - Fundraising Officer

Following his graduation in 2021, Max worked at Citizen’s Advice, assessing and advising client issues. His role later expanded to research into the delays of Personal Independence Payment entitlements in his home county. After a period in financial technology recruitment, Max is now utilising his experience within the FinTech sector, and commitment to social impact to support the Institute of Imagination’s goals for our major fundraising campaign.

Nadeem Din-Gabisi - Facilitator

As an artist, creativity and imagination have always been at the forefront of my work. During my time as a youth and play worker, this understanding became even more apparent. I have sought many ways to merge my artistic practice and my passion for working with young people and the Institute of Imagination has proven to be the perfect place to do just that. The Institute of Imaginations vision of an equitable world where every child has the opportunity to imagine and achieve resonates with me deeply. Working at the Institute of Imagination gives me the opportunity to contribute to children’s growth and development through creativity and that is a joy and a pleasure!

Nileema Yesmin - Programmes & Content Manager

Nileema has been working across arts and culture, in Heritage, Research and Film and TV. She loves engaging diverse audiences and bringing them together for shared learning experiences and knowledge exchange that supports creative learning and growth. She is excited to contribute towards Newham’s evolution as a hub of diversity, creativity and innovation. As a native and local, she is delighted to bring her experiences and imagination Home to Newham.

Paul Clifford - Facilitator

Paul is a highly experienced facilitator, maker and creative technologist. A qualified teacher, Paul has also worked in the cultural and heritage sector, including the British Museum, Museum of London and the V&A designing, delivering and evaluating learning activities, courses and projects. Paul designs and builds digital/physical products; interactives and games as well as running design and build workshops for a range of audiences in cultural, learning and creative environments. Paul is an advocate for making and maker culture and a champion of blended and applied learning

Sally Bateson - Fundraising Consultant

Sally is a fundraising specialist who has spent the last 20 years working with a wide range of charities to strengthen and grow their income. She’s held the top leadership fundraising roles at East End Community Foundation, The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, Duchess of York’s charity Children in Crisis. She spent eight years as a Managing Consultant at Compton Fundraising Consultants where she worked with clients to review and develop their fundraising strategies and worked on several large fundraising campaigns.

Sarah Coia - HR Consultant

Sarah has 20 year’s experience in advising charities, social enterprises, owner-managed businesses, SMEs and blue chip clients on HR policies and procedures. She supports us in all our HR needs, helps us to keep abreast of constantly evolving HR legislation and advised us on integrating good practice into our day to day operations.

Tanisha Reid - Bookkeeper

Tanisha has worked in finance teams across different industries over the past 10 years. Recently, she has been working within the creative industries with emerging businesses and is now supporting the iOi delivery team and Finance Director. She is originally from Newham and is excited to be a part of a team dedicated to contributing to the evolution of the future of Newham.

Tom Doust - Associate Director

Tom is passionate about the power of imagination. Through his career he has designed opportunities for people, particularly children and young people, to embrace and apply their imagination in creative, tactile and expressive ways. In order for the learner to be fully engaged, Tom believes education and learning must be playful and immersive. He draws inspiration from concepts like rapid prototyping and pedagogies like the maker movement. He is committed to social good and has only worked in the non-for-profit sector alongside stakeholders, exploring ways in which people can feel empowered to make a difference to the world around them. The iOi brings all of Tom’s passions under one roof: creativity; experimentation, design, technology and real world and interdisciplinary learning.