THE GOLDSMITHS' CENTRE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Senior Partner of Penfida Limited
Arabella Slinger is currently a senior partner of Penfida Limited which specialises in giving corporate finance advice to pension scheme trustees and sponsors. Having qualified as an accountant and worked in mergers and acquisitions for over a decade; Arabella spends her spare time in the polar regions and climbing mountains!
Arthur Drysdale's career spans 40 years in financial services in the City of London. He is the founder of the Investor Relations Advisory film, Chalcot Partners. He is also a member of the Court of Assistants at the Goldsmiths' Company, a Chairman of its Contemporary Craft Committee and Chairman of the Silver Society, which was founded to advance the study of silver of all periods and forms.
Ben Pritchard receives Goldsmiths' Young Apprentice of the Year Award from HRH, The Princess Royal
Conceptual artist Chino Ridge speaks about creating sculptural pieces using a variety of materials
Conka Cai of wedding and luxury jewellery brand Conka, speaks about her experience on Setting Out
Job Titles:
- Community Advisory Group Member
He gained the traditional techniques of diamond mounting by an Ex-Cartier craftsman in the prestigious jewellery quarter of London's West End, Mayfair; and since has also become one of the most highly accomplished and respected Diamond mounters and 3d CAD designers within the jewellery industry. Further to his training, he is a Fellow of the Institute of Professional Jewellers, a Freeman of the City of London and a member of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths.
Darren has spent almost 20 years perfecting his skills working with the finest craftsmen and designers creating some of the most iconic pieces, for the most internationally acclaimed jewellery houses; such as Graff Diamonds, Faberge, Cartier, Boodles, Mikimoto, Asprey, Phillips Auctioneers, Steven Webster, Cassandra Goad, and Garrard.
Darren now has his own boutique, Sherwood Jewellery based in Purley, London. Sherwood Jewellery's aim is to make jewellery of the West End quality and standards more accessible and to pass on more knowledge of the bespoke crafting process to the public.
Job Titles:
- Community Advisory Group Member
Kelly read for her MA and PhD at the University of Leeds, and her doctoral research was one of the first studies of inward investment into China from South Africa. Since completing her PhD, Kelly's research has focused on international business development and strategic management in the luxury sector. This includes more recent research on market opportunities and sustainability within the high-end traditional Chinese crafts sector, with an emphasis on mobilising and preserving traditional craftsmanship.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Trustees
- Member of the Board
Edward Braham was the Senior Partner (Chair) of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP for five years, and is a leading corporate lawyer.
Edward is on the Court of the Goldsmiths' Company, became a Trustee of the Goldsmiths' Centre in 2012 and Chair in 2016. Other roles include being a director of TheCityUK and Chair of its International Trade and Investment Group and being a member of the Campaign Board of the Museum of London.
Job Titles:
- Artist Jeweller and Goldsmiths' Centre Alumnus
Job Titles:
- Meet Russian Born Jewellery Designer
GARY WROE - Chairman, Managing Director
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Managing Director
GARY WROE, Managing Director at Hockley Mint and Chair of the National Association of Jewellers
Watch and listen to Gary Wroe's full story
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Designer at Birmingham School of Jewellery
- Trustee and Chair of the Trade Advisory Subcommittee
She was the originator of several courses in Further and Higher Education with the specific intention of providing suitable opportunities and training for students wishing to enter the jewellery industry. Within this role she worked closely with companies through Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and collaborative projects, building relationships and educational links globally. Gaynor retired from her position as Head of the School of Jewellery after an entire career in Birmingham and continues to be involved with the jewellery sector as a Trustee of the Goldsmiths' Centre, Chair of the Trade Advisory Committee and a Centre representative on the Goldsmiths' Craft and Design Council.
GAYNOR ANDREWS, Trustee and Chair of the Trade Advisory Sub-Committee at the Goldsmiths' Centre
Watch and listen to Gaynor Andrew's story
Job Titles:
- Designer
- Member of the Board
Grant MacDonald is a designer and manufacturing silversmith with a flourishing second generation business based on Bankside Southwark. Granted a Royal Warrant as Goldsmith and Silversmith to HRH The Prince of Wales, he is a Member of the Goldsmiths' Company since 1973 and was the Goldsmiths' Company's Prime Warden 2008-2009.
Job Titles:
- Curator of Pamela Rawnsley 1952 - 2014, Gives Insight into Putting a Retrospective
Gregory Parson, curator of Pamela Rawnsley 1952 - 2014, gives insight into putting a retrospective
Award-winning designer Imogen Belfield on being one of the Goldsmiths' Centre's first Gold Members
Job Titles:
- Resident Silversmith, Jeweller and Goldsmiths' Centre Alumnus
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive
- Community Advisory Group Member
Melissa Lawrence is Chief Executive of a diversity charity and has worked in the not-for-profit sector for over twenty years, developing impactful and educational programmes for businesses. She is a passionate advocate for Equity and Inclusion.
Having spent over a decade in the fine jewellery sector, working in operation and strategic roles for world famous brands Cartier and Graff Diamonds, Trang Do started her own consultancy before launching her own award-winning fine jewellery brand.
Job Titles:
- Designer
- Director
- Director of the Goldsmiths, Awarded MBE for Services to the Jewellery and Silversmithing Industries
Peter Taylor initially trained as a designer and goldsmith at Birmingham School of Jewellery.
After working as a lecturer and tutor, he developed a European funding and project management consultancy which was launched in 1993. He returned to education in 1997, when he established the Jewellery Industry Innovation Centre for the University of Central England. In 2002 Peter joined the Goldsmiths' Company as its first Director of Technology and Training. Here he developed and project managed the construction of the Goldsmiths' Centre before becoming its Director in 2011.
Job Titles:
- Silversmith, Lecturer and Chair of Contemporary British Silversmiths
Job Titles:
- Silversmith and Co - Founder of Elliot & Fitzpatrick
REG ELLIOT, Silversmith and co-founder of Elliot & Fitzpatrick at the Goldsmiths' Centre
Watch and listen to Reg Elliot's story
RICHARD FOX, CEO of Fox Silver Limited, former Trustee at the Goldsmiths' Centre and Trade Warden of the Goldsmiths' Company
Watch and listen to Richard Fox's story
Job Titles:
- Designer
- Community Advisory Group Member
Having benefited from the Centre's initiatives to develop the careers of young people herself, she is looking forward to being able to contribute ideas to their programmes over the next two years.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Trustee
- Chairman of the Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances
- Managing Director of Beko Plc
Teresa Arbuckle is Managing Director of Beko Plc UK & Ireland. She joined the company in 2011 as Marketing Director and was promoted to Managing Director in 2015.
Teresa is the Chair of the Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances (AMDEA), assuming leadership of the association in April 2018.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Director of Thomas Fattorini Ltd
Tom Fattorini is the Director of Thomas Fattorini Ltd, established in 1827. A Royal Warrant Holder by appointment to HM QEII, he is a manufacturer of Insignia, Honours & Awards.
Job Titles:
- Community Advisory Group Member
I am looking forward to joining the Community Advisory Group because of the Goldsmiths' Centre's ambitious plans to improve Diversity and Inclusion across the Centre, community and industry overall. This role combines my passion, creativity and professional experience, which will enable me to contribute to a much needed change to the industry.
Ruth Brown's background as a designer/maker has cemented her passion for the promotion of crafts and craftspeople, whether that be through the education of young people and the teaching of traditional hand skills, or the promotion of other independent makers' work.
Job Titles:
- Head of Communications
- Community Advisory Group Member
- New Generation Leader
Currently, Veronique is Head of Communications & Digital at Craft Scotland and chair of Scottish Contemporary Art Network after 3 years as an active trustee. Veronique previously sat on the advisory group for the grassroots MAKE | Manifesto for craft.
Veronique is an advocate for anti-racism action within the arts. Her side-project, the Zanana Project launched in 2018, to amplify Black, Asian, Mixed Heritage and People of Colour working in the creative industries from Scotland, and beyond. She has played a key role in refreshing Craft Scotland's Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion policy.
In 2022, Veronique launched PERO. An agency and creative lab, for new projects and thinking through the role of intersectionality in projects and communications.