Patrons
Team
Sandra has over 30 years of experience in leadership, particularly in creative consultancy, programme management, group facilitation, research, and mentoring, with specialism in multi-disciplinary arts practices. Sandra’s leadership experience spans a wide breadth of practice inclusive of NHS and community health, national Theatre, Deaf and Disabled Arts practices, Early Years and Primary Education, and Criminal Justice. Over the past 16 years, Sandra has worked closely with our storytellers to lead, adapt, and manage our award-winning prison programme RESTORE. As a joint research fellow with the Griffin Society and Cambridge University’s Department of Criminology, Sandra has researched the relationship between shame and resilience with women of lived experience of prison, and subsequently co-created a training resource exploring how practitioners can develop a Shame Informed Approach in practice. With a passion to embed grassroots practices in diverse communities, Sandra’s focus as Executive Director is to nurture rich and meaningful collaborations with inspiring community leaders, storytellers, peers, and academics to offer the world hope, restoration and healing.
Marina Cantacuzino MBE is an author, broadcaster and award-winning journalist who has written for most British mainstream publications. In 2003, in response to the invasion of Iraq, she embarked on a personal project collecting stories of people who had lived through trauma and injustice, and yet sought forgiveness rather than revenge. As a result, Marina founded The Forgiveness Project and ever since has spoken and written widely about forgiveness and restorative storytelling.
Jacob is an author, campaigner, presenter, and educator, working across the justice, health, education, and corporate sectors. He has been a member of our community of storytellers for several years (you can read his story here) and is a passionate advocate for restorative justice and societal change. In 2020, Jacob presented The Punch, a BBC Radio 4 series exploring the impact of violent crime and the potential for redemption. The series won the ARIA Award for Best Factual Series in 2021. He is also a former Longford Scholar and holds a first-class honours degree in Criminology. His memoir, Right From Wrong, was adapted into the play, Punch.
Georgia is an MA Human Rights graduate from University College London. Georgia initially joined The Forgiveness Project after having been exposed to our work during her time studying a BA in Sociology with Criminology at the University of York. Georgia’s interests are far-reaching, and she has volunteered with a variety of different charitable organisations, but she has a keen curiosity in the way in which the modern criminal justice system intersects with other contemporary social issues.
Katalin is a BA Photography and MSc Development Studies graduate who is passionate about enabling organisations to realise their vision while fostering an open, safe and productive work environment. Besides having worked in the creative industries since 2010, Katalin immersed herself in studying economic and social power dynamics both at a global and micro scale at SOAS, London. This has led her to discover The Forgiveness Project, where she has enjoyed managing the charity’s website and social media accounts, and leading awareness raising campaigns to amplify the organisation’s voice across the world.
Eliyes has enjoyed maths since his childhood. He is a mathematics graduate and has a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in Mathematics. He also holds a Level 3 Advanced Diploma in IT, and a Level 3 Diploma in Accounting (AAT).
Trustees
With over 20 years of board administration experience, Helen is committed to fostering governance excellence and supporting impactful missions. After two decades in the USA working with national and community-focused organizations, she has returned to the UK to focus on causes that resonate personally. Helen has volunteered as a rape victims’ advocate and served on domestic violence hotlines in both the USA and with Samaritans UK. These roles reinforced her belief in the power of storytelling and forgiveness as tools for healing. She is now committed to serving as a Trustee and advancing The Forgiveness Project’s mission.
Tony is a physics graduate who qualified as a chartered accountant with PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Following a period in the financial services practice he transferred to a major European banking group where he ultimately specialised in Private Equity. He is currently the Chief Financial Officer for Indigo Capital.
After two decades in international development and social investment Mary now works as a volunteer mediator on neighbourhood and parent-child disputes. She is also studying for a PhD at the University of Strathclyde, exploring the process of change in parent-child mediations. How we tackle prejudice and stereotyping is another focus; she is a trustee of an award-winning charity, Migrateful, which supports refugees and asylum seekers and through our universal love of food, brings people together to address hopes and fears around migration.
Thea Platt is an Executive Coach, Consultant, and Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapist based in Totnes, England. As the Director of Coaching with Thea, she works with leaders and entrepreneurs in social enterprises, charities, and ethical businesses, guiding them toward professional development and personal fulfillment. Alongside coaching, Thea provides consultancy services to mission-driven organizations, helping them align their values with strategic goals and foster sustainable growth. Her coaching integrates mindfulness and transpersonal approaches, supporting clients in balancing career goals with deeper purpose and well-being. With a background in environmental and social change, Thea holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapy from the Karuna Institute, enhancing her holistic approach to coaching and consultancy.