Meet the Team

Meet the NED Board

Mission Statement

Justin Donne - Beeston, Notts

Business strategist, coach, consultant, author of several books on Business and Influence, speaker and trainer who’s worked with Disney, Universal, Prince’s Trust, local and National government, and many small businesses; featured in magazines, on podcasts, TV and radio shows including Director, Heartrepreneurs, NBC, BBC, and the Peace Summit. Our proprietary proven processes save clients the 15-20 year learning curve. @justindonne.com 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/justindonne

Chris Chesney - York

25 yrs in the forefront of the Heritage & Culture sector UK/International, Lead Designer & Project Manager of Construct Interpretive Design - permanent museums & exhibitions, restaurants & major engineering projects. Consultant Proj Mgr for Modelcraft, S.Arabia, other clients include Riley & Sons, National Railway Museum, Goppion SpA, Milano, NMSI (UK), Ralph Applebaum Assoc, Horus Capital, Moscow (Russian Federation), BaRE Projects, London Imperial War Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, COSMO restaurant group.
See more  https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-chesney

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​Jeanie Barton - Beeston, Notts

Musician, Band Leader, Event & Project Manager, Writer
Founder of Beeston Street Art & The Beeston Showcase
High Street Regeneration Consultant
jeaniebarton.com ,
​writer London Jazz News, NG9 News, featured on podcasts, BBC Radio, NottsTV, Beeston Street Art - Facebook Group  https://www.facebook.com/groups/178727832631780/, 
Beeston Showcase - Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1116167545469132
2016-present ACTive visual musical arts collaborations with Roberto Alborghetti, Italy.
www.linkedin.com/in/jeaniebarton/

Cllr Kate Foale - Nottinghamshire

County Councillor since 2013, member for Beeston Central and Rylands, Deputy Leader of the Labour Group at Nottinghamshire County Council since 2017. National Leader of Governance with almost 30 years experience as chair of Governors in primary, secondary and alternative provision schools. Currently school governor at Chilwell school and the Trent Vale Rylands Federation.   http://katefoale.net/ 
Supports local charities such as Beeston Community Resource and the Trent Vale Sports Association. Trustee at Canalside Heritage Centre and Beeston Youth and Community Centre. An experienced and obsessive plants-woman and writer.   https://katescuttings.net/ 

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Marilyn Comparetto FRSA - Stevenage, Herts

Owner of Mardlebury Gallery   https://www.mardleyburygallery.co.uk/- Gallery-Local Art Gallery Hertfordshire-Datchworth-Free Parking & online shop of original artworks. TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice 2020. 49 yrs artist portfolio UK & International. Director of Junction 7 Creatives CIC. Art affiliations: Art Platform Collective, Herts Visual Art Forum, Society of All Artists, Institute of Contemporary Artists   https://www.marilyn-jane-comparetto-artist.co.uk/  https://www.art-platform-collective.co.uk/marilyn-comparetto  https://www.linkedin.com/in/marilyn-jane-comparetto-frsa

Debbie Bryan - Nottingham & Ruddington, Notts

Owner, Founder of  https://debbiebryan.co.uk/  Established 2009, multi-award winning retail gallery, tea room and creative space in Nottingham’s historic Lace Market area & Ruddington, Museum Village, Notts. Selling/hosting handmade art, design and heritage collections and cultural experiences. With experience of overseas trade and retail exhibitions in the USA, Italy, Germany and China.  @DebbieBryanShop  
Established in 2020 sister company, e-retailer Wilson and Harris, is dedicated to selling the very best artistic craftsmanship through handmade collections and original design https://wilsonandharris.co.uk/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbiebryan/

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Dr Ramona Usher IHBC - Nottingham

Dr Ramona Usher has nearly 20 years' experience in all aspects of building and area conservation in the public, private, charitable & higher education sectors. She is conversant in the research and production of Heritage Impact Assessments, is a regular Expert witness in Hearings and Public Inquiries. She has advised on the restoration of many Grade I and II* listed buildings including Wollaton Hall, Nottingham. She produces Conservation Management Plans and Conservation Area Appraisals. She is a Full member of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation and delivers professional training for their National Office. Her academic research endeavours include the politics of architectural destruction in post-
colonial environments.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-ramona-usher-ihbc-442178104/

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​Cristina Vannini-Goodchild - Peterborough, Lincs.

Originally from Florence, Italy where Cristina studied history of art, then moved to the UK. Cristina is a GDPR, risk, change and transformation specialist with 25 + years experience working at leadership level within some of the largest international corporations such as Hewlett Packard, General Motors and Serco.  Founder and Managing Director of CVG Solutions Int. Ltd a GDPR consulting business
​that provides CPD accredited training and data protection expertise.  Principal Founder and Chairman of Start-Talk-Grow; a non-for-profit organisation providing support, guidance and advice to new business start up in response to COVID-19.
​Home | CVG Solutions - CVG Solutions
Cristina Vannini-Goodchild | LinkedIn
CVG Solutions Int. Ltd: Overview | LinkedIn
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Ben Rawson FRSA - Nottingham

Ben is a Business Development Specialist and Retail/Online Retail & High Street Consultant at BRIC Consultancy. His national award-winning retail concept store in the former Broadmarsh shopping centre, brought increased footfall and helped other stores increase revenue and new stores to open.  Ben works with the Nottingham Tourism Centre and Nottingham Castle overseeing products/ gifts selection, visual merchandising, including creating unique window displays. He has created Shop Nottingham,  Shop Nottingham – Shop Local | Shop Indie | Shop Unique  an online marketplace for Nottingham/shire’s retail venues & creatives to showcase and sell their products to worldwide audiences. He advises small businesses on product development, pricing, photography, general business processes & best practice, alongside being a home/garden/lifestyle product/gift designer himself.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/brawson/

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Patrizia Poggi - Ravenna, Italy

Art consultant and gallerist, formerly of the Relais Villa Roncuzzi, Ambassador of Knowledge and Flavours of Italy for Italia&friends. 30 yrs in the forefront of the Heritage & Culture sector: Academy of Fine Arts and the Pinacoteca of Ravenna, co-founder and Secretary General of the International Association of Contemporary Mosaicists (AIMC) of Ravenna, "Patrizia Poggi"Art Gallery, Resident manager at the Relais Villa Roncuzzi, President Delegate of the LOGIS Federation for Italy, co-founder and Secretary of the Enotourism club Association based in Rimini, which manages the first Embassy of the European Wine Cities. Currently Patrizia collaborates with the Dante Society London organising exclusive trips to Romagna to share with Italy lovers the aspects she herself so loves. https://www.facebook.com/EnotourismClub/ https://italiaefriends.wordpress.com/ https://dantesocietylondon.com/index.html https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrizia-poggi-0338b864/

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Rita Carta-Manias CMgr, London

An independent curator and culture promoter, originally from Sardinia, living in London since 2014, Rita gained a BA Hons degree in History of Art (Birkbeck University, London), focusing on Italian Renaissance and Baroque period and completed a Masters in Art Management (Contemporary) at London Southbank University. Her involvement with the arts and culture is varied, spacing across the UK & Italy with multiple organisations. Her own artistic curatorial initiative aims at creating connections between her island of origins, Sardinia (Italy) and the UK with a series of exhibitions open to all international artists. Rita is an enthusiastic supporter and Operational Manager at ArtCan NFP organisation and an active advocate in fostering collaborations and new opportunities for the international artist members and cultural events. She is Administrative Treasurer of the ETS The Visual Guys Association established in March 2021 in Cagliari, Sardinia, carrying out artistic multimedia activities with an international focus for the development of a responsible and sustainable society. http://island2islandart.com/ rita@island2island.com / admin@artcan.org.uk / rita@thevisualguys.com

Barjis Chohan, London

Barjis Chohan is the Founder of the award-winning Multicultural Fashion & Lifestyle brand – Barjis London.  Barjis has 21 years of experience running a creative business. She launched her social enterprise; The Barjis Initiative - to empower communities through curated educational training programmes.

She studied Fashion at London College of Fashion and MA at Central St. Martins College of Art & Design. Barjis worked for a couture fashion house in Monte Carlo and for Vivienne Westwood before starting her own label.
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Barjis is a motivational Keynote Speaker and loves to work with young people.  Her passion is to inspire creativity amongst children coming from disadvantaged backgrounds. She believes that the creative industry should be accessible for all.
 
www.barjislondon.com
www.thebarjisinitiative.org.uk
https://www.linkedin.com/in/barjis-chohan-2261439/

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