The First Women team is a group of talented professionals, from a range of backgrounds, who have been brought together by a passion for the arts. Their skills and expertise combine to create a formidable team, which works tirelessly to support this important venture. We really couldn’t do it without them..
Our leading lady
Anita Corbin is a world renowned photographer, based in Wellington, Somerset. Born in 1958 in South West London, Anita fell in love with photography at an early age; winning her first prize at just age ten.
Anita studied photography at the University of Westminster and the Royal College of Arts, before becoming a regular photojournalist and editorial portraitist for the Sunday Times and Observer magazine, specialising in
human interest stories. Having worked out of Corbin O?Grady Studio in central London during the 80s and 90s, Anita escaped to the countryside with family and business, and is now happily settled in Somerset.
First Women is the project that Anita has waited all her life to create. Her passion was born out of work she began in the early eighties - her Visible Girls portfolio was symbolic of women’s new found freedom to be whoever they wanted to be and has been fired by her years spent working at national newspapers, where the stories she covered so often involved inspiring women. This project is a celebration of 20th and 21st century women, creating a magnificent archive for many generations to come.
A spirited marketeer
Drew Sarah Llewellyn is a talented marketeer, who works to keep the First Women project in the spotlight by providing us with her specialist marketing consultancy from her company, QBallyhoo.
Drew is both a qualified designer and a Chartered Marketer, which gives her a unique understanding of both the creative and strategic aspects of marketing. She combines this rare quality with excellent instincts honed over her two decades of working in marketing and promotions for various industries including IT & online communications, wine & spirits and latterly in Higher Education - where she first started to work with Anita.
Drew now represents a wide rage of clients, overseeing everything from brand designs of small artisan companies to integrated campaigns for the NHS, as well as providing strategic marketing support for businesses operating in Europe and the US. Drew has been working on the First Women Project since 2008, providing invaluable marketing support to Anita and the team - and ensuring that the wider world hears about the venture.
Keeping us on track
Cressida Moger joined us in October 2010 and is the most organised person we know - combining excellent communications skills with an incredible eye for detail. For more than a decade Cress has worked within organisational roles, predominantly as an Assistant and Office Manager, for international companies in London. Her extensive experience in working for large multinational firms makes her an excellent project manager, and allows her to deliver unrivalled organisational skills to her clients; and luckily, to us!
In 2010, Cressida founded Advanced Virtual PA. This innovative service recognises that, with the technological advancements that have allowed collaborative and virtual working, companies can now enjoy the best PA services without the need for full time or office based staff. As our office manager, Cress takes care of everything from database management to admin support. A vital team member who keeps us organised and ensures that the project is on track.
A head for PR - and an eye for business
Jane Adkins is a consummate communications professional, who provides us with hard working media relations programmes. Her PR skills work to keep the First Women project in the press - and to let the world know what we’re doing, and why.
Based in Dorset, and heading up A Head for PR Ltd, Jane is also a trained journalist, having spent over a decade working in the media in London. Jane brings to the team fifteen years of experience working in the PR industry, which has resulted in long-established and beneficial relationships with both the UK and international press.
As founder of A Head for PR, Jane works with a disparate range of clients, including travel and tourism companies, lifestyle, charities and food and drink firms.Jane and her daughter Rhiannon, who handles the videography side of the business, joined the team in June 2009.
Not just a token male
Michael Kay runs a full service business consultancy from where his team provides strategic advice and support to a range of companies across diverse business sectors. Michael specialises in corporate sponsorship, charity fundraising and business development. Over his 20 years in the business, Michael been involved in the development and implementation of some huge projects, including the Reuters Global Golf Challenge and the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
Prior to forming Michael Kay Associates in 1991, Michael held the position of Sales and Marketing Director at The Challenge Business. In that high profile role, Michael was instrumental in securing major global companies to sponsor the yacht entries in the British Steel Challenge the BT Global Challenge Round The World Yacht Race. In what was a major coup, Michael secured BT as the title sponsor of the race - and it is this level of achievement that we are keen to harness in the year's ahead!
Michael is a vital support to the First Women team, helping us to secure much needed sponsorship to keep the project going. His business advice and consultancy is essential to the initiative, and we love having
Michael on board since he joined us in February 2011.
