Our Board

Meet our Board of Trustees

headshot - Raeesa

Raeesa Rajmohamed – Chair (She/Her)

Raeesa is a Canadian/South African lawyer residing in the UK. Having lectured international and human rights law at the University of The Gambia, she currently writes for the French National Research Agency on issues of human rights and, in her work with the Human Rights Implementation Centre, works on confidential and sensitive cases to be put before the UN. In 2023, Raeesa received the internationally recognised Bristol Alumni Community Award. She was Called to the Bar of England in Wales in 2022.

Raeesa’s involvement in the arts has been continuous from a young age. She had extensive training from Toronto Second City performers via the Paul C. Duckett Theatre in Ontario, Canada, and has acted and performed in the dramatic arts since 2012, most recently with the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple in London in their small ensemble of You’re on Mute Your Honour, an original production. She does freelance directing, video-editing and photography work. Her relevant accolades include the Toronto Masquerade Award 2016 (for costume design) and the Drama Achievement Award 2015 (for acting in Ontario, Canada).

Adam Kessler Headshot

Adam Kessler – Treasurer (He/Him)

Adam co-founded and runs the consultancy firm DevLearn Consultancy, a company which specialises in conducting research for international development charities.

He lived and worked in Ethiopia for three years, evaluating the performance of UK- funded aid projects. While living in Addis Ababa, he spent time watching the 'azmari' traditional performers combining dance, music and Improv comedy.

Adam is an avid watcher of improv and stand-up comedy. In his personal life, he has one child, three chickens, and continues his love of theatre through training to become an aerial circus performer.

Helen O'Donnell

Helen O'Donnell (She/Her)

Helen is a creative and commercially driven senior executive in the media industry. She is the founder and Director of Development at BBC Studios TalentWorks. In 2024, Helen led BBC Creator Lab for BBC Public Service in collaboration with TikTok.

She was the inaugural chair of the BBC Studios Next Generation Board, aimed at re-inventing the BBC for its next generation of leaders. Helen is an advisory board member and speaker at Vidcon, was recognised as a FIPP Rising Star in Media, and a panellist at Cannes Lions Festival 2024.
Helen started her career in FMCG beauty marketing, with experience of managing global franchises, alongside work with Manchester International Festival. Helen is a passionate and experienced producer & performer over 15+ years in the cultural & creative industries in the UK & internationally. She serves as Trustee for Vault Creative Arts, on the production team at Machynlleth Comedy Festival since launch, and innovatively brings together science/arts-education & live theatre in critically-acclaimed company Do Not Adjust Your Stage.
 
Chris Bird portrait

Chris Bird (He/Him)

Chris was the youngest Chartered Management Accountant in all of Great Britain, and has over 40 years of experience in the profession. Formerly the IT Director of Psion, a Times 100 company, Chris owned software company Wealden Computer Services Ltd. before selling it in 2007.

Chris has travelled the world undergoing humanitarian work and aid in multiple continents and various countries, including Palestine, Burma/Myanmar and Uganda.

In 2010, Chris began creating a charity in Eastern Uganda to support schooling in rural Uganda and women's education. The charity was formally established in 2018. He also endeavours to support a neonatal unit at a regional hospital. 

In retirement, Chris became a non-Executive Director of the West Midlands Strategic Health Authority. He was on the Board of Trustees of Isabel Hospice Welwyn Garden City (2006 -2011), MIND Telford (2009 -2013), Tendring Specialist Stroke Services (2013 - 2020), AgeUK Hertfordshire (2016 -2019), Citizens Advice Clacton (2016 - 2018) and Homestart North Somerset (2020-2022).

Currently, Chris is a Trustee and acting Treasurer of 3H, his charity in Eastern Uganda, People First, a charity aimed at assisting those with learning disabilities and The Bridge Foundation, which aims to support the mental health of families in Bristol and the Southwest. Chris also works as a volunteer advocate for People First and AgeUK.

He is an avid viewer of Bristol Improv Theatre shows, you might find him at a performance of This is Your Musical!

Emily Griffiths

Emily Griffiths (She/Her)

Emily has been a dedicated supporter of theatre and the arts for over 30 years. Her passion for performance, from theatre to stand-up comedy, lead to a degree in creative arts, majoring in theatre media and drama.

Her enthusiasm was further nurtured through years of patronage to the Edinburgh Fringe, both as a director and an audience member.
With over a decade of experience on charity boards, Emily now balances family life with her professional work in the Communications and Marketing team at Brandon Trust, a charity dedicated to supporting autistic people and individuals with learning disabilities to live the lives they choose.

Having witnessed the transformative power of improv in fostering connection, building confidence, and bringing joy, Emily is passionate about ensuring this vibrant and inclusive form of theatre continues to thrive in her home city of Bristol.

Become a Trustee of the Bristol Improv Theatre

We are currently recruiting for motivated and knowledgeable people to join our Board of Trustees.

Anyone is welcome to apply, however we are especially keen to hear from people whose identities or backgrounds are underrepresented in our organisation. In particular, we encourage applications from women; trans and non-binary people; people from Black, Asian, traveller, mixed heritage or other global majority backgrounds; Disabled people; and people who are LGBTQ+.

We will be conducting an initial round of trustee recruitment for autumn 2024, with a deadline to submit interest by October 1st, 2024. However, subject to availability, we will continue to consider applications on a rolling basis.

Find out More and Apply