Melanie is Director of Reclaim The Frame, the UK’s leading campaign for gender equity in cinema. With over 20 years’ experience across film exhibition, festivals, audience development and talent support, she has held senior leadership roles including Deputy and Interim Director of Sheffield DocFest and Director of Berwick Film & Media Arts Festival. Melanie has served on numerous festival juries, including the Teddy Awards at the Berlinale, and regularly speaks internationally on audiences, inclusion and film culture. She is a BAFTA and BIFA voter, a member of the European Film Academy, and an NFTS MA Curation Advisor.

With a background in social media strategy and human rights communication, Eleshea helps global non-profits connect with younger audiences and build authentic online communities that inspire action.

She’s a Charity Comms trustee, mentor and advocate for making the social impact sector more accessible to early-career professionals.

Recently graduating from both the London Screen Academy and a Directing & Cinematography Course in Pinewood Studios, I’m kickstarting my filmmaking career doing a combination of commercial and unscripted projects. I’m a strong believer that there’s no single unimportant role in the industry and so I spend my time bouncing around as many departments as possible.

Jensen’s journey into legacy fundraising started back in 2004 at Dogs Trust as a Legacy Marketing Officer. From day one, it wasn’t just a job for him—it became a passion.
Helping people create lasting change through their legacies felt deeply meaningful to him, and that feeling has never left him.
Since then, he’s had the privilege of leading legacy fundraising teams for some incredible charities which have included Dogs Trust, Christian Aid, The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity to name but a few.

Tahera Mayat is known for hosting #CharityHour from 2014 to 2024. With a passion for communications, she enjoyed facilitating #CharityHour – a weekly themed Twitter/X chat that provided connections and learning. Tahera is recognised for championing the work of those doing good. She has presented at charity and communications events: CommsHero; I Wish I’d Thought of That; Pizza for Losers; Chartered Institute of Fundraising Northern Fundraising Conference; Charity Meetup; and Leeds Charity Social. Her successes include nominated for Charity Times International Women’s Day 2023 and having #CharityHour named one of the 20 charity accounts to follow by Charity Times in 2022.

Ayesha Farah is a storyteller, filmmaker, and Senior Communications and Advocacy Manager at Comic Relief. She has led charity films broadcasted on the BBC, played a leading role in the documentary Who Runs This Place?, and led on the production of impactful films on malaria and mental health. A specialist in authentic community storytelling, Ayesha champions locally-led narratives that drive systemic change in development. With an MSc in Public Policy and extensive experience across global education, climate justice, and maternal health campaigns, she was named Strategic Communications Leader of the Year 2025 at the Charity Comms Inspiring Communicator Awards.

Jo is the Artistic Director at Hear Me Out. For the last 25 years her career has always centered around the arts and media. From theatre acting to international marketing, radio presenter for the BBC, UKCCA Carnival participation manager to Senior Producer working to enhance and expand the artistic lives of young people in Luton. Jo has always been passionate about working with local and marginalised communities as this is the world that she grew up in and feels that now it’s time to give back. Jo is also a trustee for the Philharmonia Orchestra, championing their drive to welcome more diverse audiences and players.

Before that, he was the co-creator and head writer of The Stand Up Sketch Show for ITV2. He’s also the producer of the BAFTA nominated sitcom short, Zoners.