Team and Trustees
Alka Bagri - Trustee
- Originally from: Made in India.
- Background: Indian Miniature Painting, Sumi-e Japanese painting and Arabic Calligraphy.
- Other experiences: Former Trustee of the Prince’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts. Committee member of Lily Against Human Trafficking. I have an interest in the performing and fine arts, storytelling and world cinema.
- What drives me: My constant desire to learn new things. Through the Foundation I get to share what I’ve learned in arts and culture with others.
- Recommended read – watch – listen: "Grace and Grit" by Ken Wilber; "Spring, Summer, Winter, Autumn and Spring" by Kim Ki-duk; Popular music
- Curious about: Japanese aesthetics, global cinema, and right now I am learning Farsi so I can translate Persian poetry.
- Personal Quirk: The ability to throw myself into anything – from a trek in the mountains of Bhutan to a Street Art tour in Berlin.
Apurv Bagri - Trustee
- Originally from: Mumbai.
- Background: I actively support the Bagri Foundation to ensure it remains entrepreneurial, ambitious, innovative and thoughtful, in the same spirit as which it was founded.
- Other experiences: President of the Metdist Group of Companies and Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Dubai Financial Services Authority. Trustee of Asia House. Chairman of the Governing Body of the London Business School, Former Pro Chancellor and Chair of Council at City University and honorary rector and visiting professor at Cass Business School. Non-executive Director of the Hong Kong Exchange and former Chairman of the Royal Parks. Passionate about education and maintain an interest in arts and environmental projects in the UK and abroad.
- What drives me: Travelling and seeing the world. Inspired by my late father, the Lord Bagri, I inherited a light-hearted way of looking at the world and a strong belief in philanthropy.
- Recommended read – watch – listen: Travel Magazines and Jane Austen; "Suits" ; music of 80s/90s and western classical music.
- Curious About: EVERYTHING. I could never choose just one.
- Personal Quirk: Being surrounded by strong women in the family, I have to rely on my sense of humour and playfulness to get some attention!
Aditi Bagri - Trustee
- Originally from: Born Londoner, but global citizen
- Background: Economic History and Management, Organisations and Governance
- Other experiences: Began working in micro-finance in rural India where I established a proprietary platform to provide financial services to the ‘unbanked’. Also part of the leadership team of our family group of companies Metdist, setting a vision for the organisation and overseeing its global operations. I grew up with a love for performing arts, theatre and music, playing three musical instruments and dancing competitively in a variety of dance styles. As a performer, I am moved by a wide range of artistic expressions and aim to understand the context in which art is made and the impact that it can have.
- What drives me: Socioeconomic change and its affect on individuals. Guided by a strong set of values, I believe in investing in people, challenging the status quo and championing diversity.
- Recommended read – watch: "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom and "When Breath Becomes" Air by Paul Kalanithi; "The Crown" and "Delhi Crime".
- Curious About: Finding my place in the world. How does one stay original and create a unique identity?
- Personal Quirk: My tiny size can be deceiving; with my quick thinking I am usually the winner of any argument!
Amisha Bagri - Trustee
- Originally from: Born Londoner, but global citizen
- Background: International Relations and then Management.
- Other experiences: Started in philanthropic consultancy, helping not-for-profits adopt good business practices. Since then I’ve spent time in the music, hospitality and retail industries. I am currently a Director at Metdist Enterprises Ltd where we identify investment opportunities and of course am a Trustee of the family Foundation.
- What drives me: Learning is key. Curiosity itself is the driving force behind my work at the Foundation. I share a zeal for education, culture and enterprise and my aspiration is to help ensure the Foundation reflects these shared passions.
- Recommended read – watch – listen: "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom; "The Shawshank Redemption"; "How I Built this Podcast" with Guy Raz.
- Curious About: People’s journeys…
- Personal Quirk: My undying love for Tupac, may he rest in peace.
Chelsea Pettitt - Director
- Joined: Director from February 2024. Head of Arts from 2018 - 2021
- Originally from: California.
- Background: Visual Anthropology and Fashion Design.
- Previous experience and projects: Previously at the National Trust, Bagri Foundation, Hayward Gallery, Wysing Arts Centre and formative years teaching English in Beijing. Projects curated include the Chartwell Literature Festival, Fungi Festival at Emmetts Garden, Chang/ce, The Bottom Drawer, Object, Story, Wonder: Museums Collections Revealed and A House in the Sky plus solo exhibitions by Kim Beom, William Kentridge and Yu-Chen Wang. Also research grants from Art Fund and European Cultural Foundation to Holland, Taiwan and Turkey.
- What drives me: Sharing lesser heard stories that help build empathy between cultures and discovering exciting, new creative talent. Luckily, my role at the Bagri Foundation epitomises these!
- Recommended read – watch - listen: "Mongrel" by Hanako Footman; "Parasite" by Bong Joon Ho; Islandman, one of my favourites discovered at Cappadox in Turkey.
- Curious about: East Asian art, film and culture, but also how we, as a society, can make diverse cultures and experiences less abstract to those outside of them. Currently brushing up on my Mandarin after years being out of practice!
- Personal Quirk: My obsession with buying colourful vintage dresses and my penchant for homegrown vegetables. Courgette anyone?
Ioanna Nitsou - Head of Grants and Partnerships
- Originally from: Bucharest, with a Greek twist
- Background: Arts, printmaking, and cultural studies
- Other experiences: For over a decade, I've been immersed in the world of contemporary arts as a fundraiser, dedicated to building connections and facilitating the realization of artists' ideas within the vibrant landscape of London's art scene.
- What drives me: Learning and growth fuel my belief in the power of cultural discourse. Nurtured artistic expressivity can become a beacon, inspiring others towards something new. Creativity is one of humankind's greatest assets and the stepping stone for innovation and progress.
- Recommended read – watch – listen: “Texture Notes” by Sawako Nakayasu; “Hit the road” by Panah Panahi; “Vulture Price” by Arrow Aftab.
- Curious About: Human behaviour and inspiring forms of storytelling
- Personal Quirk: Continuously excited by cultural narratives channelled by food.
Pavani Konda - Freelance Communications Manager
- Originally from: Born in India, grew up in the UK
- Background: Poetry, writing, content creation and communications
- Other experiences: Started a small social enterprise for young women in India and students in the U.K, during university gaining insight into South Indian crafts and social entrepreneurship. Since then, I was selected as a 2024 Creativity Champion by 64MillionArtists, and in 2023 was shortlisted for Penguin Random House's Write Now Programme and an poetry residency with We are Pocc. Continue to work for young people’s programmes in the arts, culture and heritage sector.
- What drives me: Storytelling, travelling and community as channels for exploration, learning and, growth. This helps me understand how to contribute to communities and be a part of the change I'd like to see in the world around me. I'm fascinated by the power of storytelling—how experiences are captured and shared, inspiring others along the way.
- Recommended read – watch – listen: Read: "When Breath Becomes Air" by Paul Kalinithi; Korean Drama "Lovely Runner", Telugu film "Anand", Hindi Film "Laapaata Ladies"; Any episode on the Ted Radio Hour podcast episode or Taylor Swift’s entire discography.
- Curious About: Everything! I enjoy asking questions and learning what drives other people's curiosity and what sparks their interest.
- Personal Quirk: I spend way too much time on the internet, which means I know a lot of trivia. An example being that the Eiffel Tower has 72 names of scientists inscribed on it, however there's no mention of Sophie Germain, the one woman who contributed to its engineering through her work in number theory and elasticity.
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