Meet the IAMM assessors

As Chief Operating Officer Aleander is responsible for overseeing all operational aspects of the business ensuring that the financial, technological and administrative functions of the business run smoothly. He has responsibility and oversight of Creative United's business governance including compliance with the regulatory bodies regarding financial conduct and data protection. Alex also leads the consumer credit team driving performance in the Own Art and Take it away schemes.

Alex has over 15 years of experience working within arts administration having led teams in busy box office environments from small independent venues, to internationally renowned institutions. He is also an active musician, playing in a popular function band for 5 years, and has acted with a number of small theatre companies.

As Chief Executive, Mary-Alice is responsible for the strategic leadership and management of Creative United. This involves a wide range of duties including; the exploration of new business opportunities, ensuring social objectives remain central to the design and delivery of all Creative United's programmes and services.

Having studied at Falmouth School of Art and at Courtauld Institute, Mary-Alice's background and professional expertise is firmly rooted in the visual arts. She also passionate about theatre and poetry, having spent many years working with small theatre companies, both as an actor and director.

In addition to her work at Creative United, Mary-Alice is, involved in a voluntary capacity, on the Board of a number of other arts organisations including Poet in the City, New Contemporaries and the Oppenheim-John Downes Memorial Trust.

Hannah Kayi is strategic leader, cultural producer and change agent with an exceptional track record- natural gift of working at the intersection of inclusion, art and culture across diverse stakeholders within the public and private sectors. She has over 20 years’ experience in the arts, education, public and private sectors.

Working at the intersection of inclusion, art and culture, her experience spans music, theatre, digital media, equality and diversity, contemporary visual arts and heritage. She is currently the Head of Social Entrepreneur Support at UnLtd, Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs managing a team who deliver a complex portfolio of awards by finding, funding and supporting people from the most marginalised communities who have the solutions that change our society for the better.

Sanaz Amidi is a highly accomplished leader in the arts, and is known for her dedication to working with disadvantaged communities, and uses the arts as a means of bringing positive change to the lives of people facing challenging circumstances. Sanaz was a member of the British Council's Creative Hubs Advisory Board for the UK, and has worked on projects across Europe, from Sweden to Armenia.

In her own right, Sanaz is a figurative painter with a degree in Fine Arts from London's Central St Martins and Camberwell College of Art (now University of The Arts), as well as a trained accountant and an executive coach. She holds a Global Executive MBA from the IESE Business School and a Diploma in Strategy in Not for Profit Management from Harvard Business School. These multifaceted qualifications have underpinned a highly successful career in the creative industries, where she ran Rosetta Arts (2007-2013), transforming it from a small educational charity to an acclaimed exemplar of effective socio-economic regeneration through the arts, working with some of the most disadvantaged multi-ethnic communities in England.

She currently is a NED and Trustee of the English National Ballet, Chair of Creative Newham, and has been an advisor for the UK Government, especially on the essential value of arts education, and is a frequent speaker at international conferences on the creative industries.

Hi! I’m the Finance and Operations Officer at Creative United. My responsibilities focus on the general accounting needs of the organisation e.g. bookkeeping, credit control, prepayments, and assisting in the preparation of management accounts, annual financial statements, and financial forecast. I also maintain the data integrations for our Consumer Credit programmes.

My background is in the charity sector supporting international finance and IT systems to meet the needs of third sector aims. I’m a part-qualified ICAEW accountant with experience in the R&D and grants landscape. I’m also an avid supporter of my childhood club Dagenham & Redbridge FC.

Neil offers a range of original art, murals, merchandise and more from his online store, as well as selling on marketplaces and at physical trade shows and art fairs.

Contemporary ceramic artist Frances Priest creates objects and tile installations exploring cultural histories of ornament and pattern. Her award-winning work is represented in private and public collections, including The National Museum of Scotland, The Fitzwilliam Museum, and the Victoria & Albert Museum.

Elin designs hand blown glassware for gifts, sculptural accessories, corporate awards and unique one-off cast sculptures for interiors. She stocks her work in galleries all over the UK and she also sells from her website and at trade shows.

Inspired by local landscapes in southern Scotland, award-winning designer/maker Daniel Lacey creates contemporary fine furniture – transforming self-harvested local hardwoods into cherished heirlooms.  A specialist in individual bespoke commissions, he also makes speculative and limited-edition pieces for exhibitions and online.

Alison makes finely crafted pieces drawing from jewellery’s rich history of celebrating human connection in all its forms. Referencing the past within a modern context, her jewellery imbues a sense of relaxed elegance, meaningful pieces to be worn and enjoyed every day.