Staff & Board

The team

	Ollie Dawson is the Executive Director of the Poetry School. Ollie studied American Literature at University of Sussex and at the University of California. After graduating, Ollie taught English to refugees in Brighton and abroad in Guatemala. Ollie has also worked as a Learning Designer for E-learning company, Epic and in television production before joining Arts Council East as an Assistant Officer for Literature and Visual Arts in 2007. Ollie left the Arts Council to join the Poetry School as its Executive Director in June 2009. Ollie's main role is to develop and implement the strategic and artistic vision for the Poetry School, with an emphasis on programme development and fundraising. Contact Ollie if you want to discuss donor opportunities, corporate sponsorship and high-level partnerships or special projects. director@poetryschool.com
	Julia Bird is Programme and Marketing Officer for the Poetry School. Julia is in charge of devising and putting together our extensive national programme of courses and workshops. Julia also leads on the marketing of our programme and is involved in developing new artistic partnerships for the organisation. She studied at Reading and Sussex Universities and has worked as an arts administrator since graduation. Her poetry collections are published by Salt, and she produces touring live literature shows with her own company, Jaybird Live Literature. Contact Julia to discuss teaching opportunities and programme collaborations. programme@poetryschool.com
	Jo Beckett-King is the Finance and Operations Officer at the Poetry School. Jo handles all course bookings, student and tutor enquiries and invoicing. Jo is also the main contact for enquiries about room hire at Lambeth Walk. She edits the flash fiction publication 'Oblong' and is studying part-time for a post-graduate diploma in French translation. administration@poetryschool.com
	Rachael Allen is Digital Programmes Officer at the Poetry School. Rachael is the main programmer for our online courses and download resources. Rachael manages the Poetry School's social media presence and is the main editor for the Poetry School blog. Rachael also writes poetry herself and her work appears in several magazines and anthologies. Rachael is also co-founder of the poetry organisation Clinic, which hosts regular nights of poetry and music in London. She is currently studying for a Masters in Creative Writing at UEA. online@poetryschool.com
Photo coming soon	Gwen Burns - Is a regular volunteer at the Poetry School. Gwen assists the rest of the team with admin, research and blogging. volunteer@poetryschool.com
Photo coming soon	Malcolm White - is the Poetry School's Caretaker at our classrooms in Lambeth Walk. Chances are if you've been to one of our London courses or workshops then you've been greeted by Malcolm at the door. Ever-ready to lend a hand where it's needed, Malcolm makes sure the classrooms are stocked with tea and coffee and that all students have a comfortable and enjoyable time at the Poetry School.

Board of trustees

	Philip Pollecoff - Chair Philip Pollecoff has enjoyed a long legal career and heads legal services at the charity agency Home Fundraising Limited. Philip was formerly chair of the Minster Centre a psychotherapy training organisation where he oversaw its transformation from a founder based charity to a professionally administered organisation. Philip was also chair of Poet in the City in its early days. Philip is a published poet and his work has appeared in editions of Smiths Knoll amongst other publications. Philip brings the skills of an experienced arts and education chair; as well as an understanding of writing and performance, combined with the pragmatism of the legal world. Philip considers his role as chair of the Poetry School and that of the Board as facilitating the staff and tutors in the poetry school's commitment to excellence and creativity.
	Matthew Wood - Honorary Treasurer Matthew Wood is the Co-Founder & Chief Investment Officer for Lancaster Investment Management. Prior to founding Lancaster in 2006, Matthew Wood was a Senior Portfolio Manager at Magnetar and co-Head of the European Office. Prior to joining Magnetar, he headed up the Fundamental European Equities operation at Deephaven Capital Management, before which he was an analyst at Lansdowne Partners. Matthew started his investment career at UBS Philips and Drew where he managed Pan-European long only portfolios. He graduated from Cambridge University with a double First in History, and is a CFA Charterholder.
	Julia Meek - Trustee Julia has a background in startups and social entrepreneurship. She co-founded ClearlySo in London, and subsequently worked as Chief of Staff for a non-profit microfinance intermediary in Beijing. She is now studying for an MBA at London Business School, graduating in 2014. She has taken two courses at the Poetry School and regularly attends live poetry events in London.
Photo coming soon	Hugh Rayment-Pickard - Trustee
	Anthony Joseph - Trustee Anthony Joseph is a Trinidad- born poet, novelist, musician and lecturer. In 2004, he was chosen by Decibel and the Arts Council of England as one of 50 writers who have influenced the Black-British writing canon over the past 50 years. He is the author of four poetry collections; Desafinado (1994), Teragaton (1998), Bird Head Son (2009) and Rubber Orchestras (2011) and a novel The African Origins of UFOs which was published in 2006. Joseph lectures in creative writing at Birkbeck College and recently completed a PhD at Goldsmiths College with a focus on Caribbean life writing. He performs internationally and is the lead vocalist for his band The Spasm Band with which he has released three critically acclaimed albums. In 2012 Joseph represented Trinidad and Tobago at the Poetry Parnassus Festival on London's South Bank. He lives in London.
Photo coming soon	Daphne Astor - Trustee Daphne is an American-born artist, writer and farmer who has worked with arts organizations in the U.K. since 1977. Most recently Daphne has been an artist in residence and trustee at The Centre For Recent Drawing (c4rd) in London and deputy chair of a major development project at Kettle's Yard, Cambridge. Daphne has a BA from New York University and an MA in Fine Art from City and Guilds of London Art School. She is currently a student at the Poetry School.