The Trustees of The Friends

Claudia Harding, Chair

Claudia Harding has served as a trustee of the David and Claudia Harding Foundation, a family foundation, for over 10 years. Under her trusteeship, the Foundation has supported more than 900 UK-based organisations. Her key areas of interest include education, classical music and London museums. In this role, Claudia actively engages in fundraising efforts for causes that resonate with her. Claudia obtained her degree in Business Management from the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland, and she brings 14 years of experience in investment due diligence, audit and internal controls from her career in finance, having worked at firms such as PricewaterhouseCoopers, HSBC, Goldman Sachs and Winton Group. Originally from Germany, Claudia now resides in Kensington with her husband and two daughters. In her spare time, she enjoys playing the harp.

Dr. Melanie Gibson BA (Oxon) MA, PhD (SOAS, London University)

Executive Trustee of the Gingko Library and Editor of the Gingko Art Series. She convenes the Islamic Art module of the Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art at SOAS. She was formerly head of the Art History department at New College of the Humanities, London. Since 2005 she has lectured on the ceramics and glass of the Islamic world for SOAS, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Courtauld Institute and the Museum of Islamic Art, Qatar. Her publications focus on the ceramics and glass of the Islamic world as well as the reception and use of Islamic pattern in 19th-century British design.

Karen Moore LLB (Hons), CA

Karen is a chartered accountant with the majority of her career spent as a corporate adviser in London. She was Finance Director of Lazard London before becoming Chief Operating Officer of the investment banking division in London. She stepped down from Lazard in 2007 to focus on her family of 4 children and has since worked in a variety of charity trustee roles. Currently she chairs a sports charity running a large grass roots multi sports hub in London and is the Finance Trustee of The Friends.

Jo Banham

Jo Banham is an independent lecturer and curator. She was Head of the Adult, Students and Creative Industries programmes in the Learning Department at the Victoria & Albert Museum from 2006-16, and before that, Head of Learning at the National Portrait Gallery, Head of Public Programmes at Tate Britain, and Head of Adult Learning at the Royal Academy. Her curatorial and research posts have included Curator at Leighton House, Archivist at Arthur Sanderson & Sons, and Curator of historic wallpapers at the Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester. She has edited and written several books on art and design – including William Morris & the Middle Ages (1986), Victorian Interior Design (2000), Encyclopaedia of Interior Design – 2 vols (2002), Dictionary of Artists Models (2006) and William Morris and the Arts and Crafts 1837-1914 (2017). She lectures regularly on V&A courses and study days and contributes to conferences and research seminars on 19th-century design. She is is Director of the Victorian Society Summer School and has taught at BA and MA level for Birkbeck College and University College, both University of London, the Open University, and Manchester Metropolitan University. 

David Moody

David Moody is Director of Strategy and Business Development at BBC Studios. BBC Studios is the BBC’s commercial subsidiary with revenues of £1.4 bn responsible for all its production and programme sales activities as well as its commercial TV channels globally. David joined the BBC in 2002 and has held a variety of roles since then, including setting up and leading the Digital Media division of BBC Worldwide. Prior to joining the BBC, David held a number of strategy and commercial roles in the media sector. David has a degree in Modern History from Oxford.

May Calil

May is a founding partner at Marks | Calil, a cultural consultancy that supports creative businesses and arts organisations as they look to drive forward their strategic objectives and spot intelligent opportunities for growth. She was previously Membership Director of Cromwell Place from 2017–22 and has spent over a decade working in arts development; holding posts at the Royal Academy and Tate and working with clients including the British Council, Brunswick Arts, Bold Tendencies, Cass Sculpture Foundation, Create London, Frieze and the Showroom. Of Lebanese origin, May has a Master’s degree from SOAS in Islamic art and architecture, focusing on the Ottoman period. She has extensive experience in non-executive roles, currently as Chair of Chisenhale Gallery and having also sat on the boards of Auto Italia, Liverpool Biennial, the Chinati Contemporary Council and as the founder of the Royal Academy Young Patrons.
 

Timothy Saloman KC

Timothy Saloman KC has a long-standing interest in and knowledge of 19th century and early 20th century British and European art, and an understanding of the fine art market. Formerly a barrister specialising in maritime and commercial law, he is a Bencher of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple where, since 2019, he has held a special supervisory responsibility for the Inn's cultural assets, including its historic collection of paintings, in the role of Master of the House.

Karim Khwanda

Karim Khwanda is an independent conflict-resolution practitioner and strategic consultant and contributes to the research and peace-building work of organisations that include the UN, the European Commission and various think tanks and universities in the UK and beyond. He serves on the board of an international school and a Middle Eastern bank, has a commercial background in international trade and logistics, is a graduate of the University of Oxford, and is a Syrian-French dual national based in London since 2012.

Lena Demashkieh

Lena Demashkieh is a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs.  She joined the firm in 2006 and has held roles in both the public and private sides of the Global Banking and Markets division.  She now leads Origination and Structuring within the EMEA commodities structured financing investing and lending team in GBM – public.  She has a degree in Computer Science from Harvard College.    Outside of work, she volunteers her time in Middle Eastern, education and arts-related charities.  Lena lives with her husband, son and daughter in RBKC.