Alison Giles

Alison’s career began with English National Opera in 1987, and developed to encompass a range of arts management and fundraising roles with significant venues, festivals and performers. Since 2005, she has added heritage projects to her fundraising portfolio, heading up capital campaigns, handling major Lottery and trust bids, and working on revenue development. She has been a Craigmyle consultant since 2008. In addition to active fundraising, she supplies a bespoke assessment and research service on potential funders to Craigmyle colleagues and to individual clients.

To contact Alison, telephone 07971 840672 or email her at alison@craigmyle.org.uk

Connect with Alison on Linked In. 

Joel Burden

Joel began his advancement career in the higher education sector, at the University of Stirling. He later moved to Newcastle University where he led
the alumni team and helped to plan and deliver the University’s fundraising programme from annual fund through to major capital campaign work. In the mid-2000s, an opportunity arose to run Third Millennium Publishing (TMP), a specialist publisher of illustrated histories for affinity organisations, including numerous schools, colleges, universities, churches, charities, professional and military institutions. Following its acquisition by a major British publishing house, Joel has now moved into consultancy work in both the publishing and fundraising fields. He joined Craigmyle Consultants in 2014 and is currently the Campaign Director on a major ecclesiastical sector capital campaign.

To contact Joel telephone him on 07894 467070 or e-mail him at joel@craigmyle.org.uk

Mark Jefferies

Mark Jefferies has over thirty years of experience as a fundraising practitioner, joining Craigmyle from a commercial marketing background in the
1980s. He has worked with some 150 clients, including national charities, churches and cathedrals, hospitals and welfare charities, with a particular focus on schools, conservation and heritage. His experience encompasses capital campaigns (with a specific emphasis on major gifts negotiations and leadership development), sustainable fundraising and cultivation strategies, capacity building, recruitment, training and development. A regular contributor of articles on fundraising and communications, he is a certificated member of the Institute of Fundraising.

To contact Mark, telephone 07850 318685 or email him at mark@craigmyle.org.uk

Geoff Howard

Geoff Howard joined Craigmyle in 1989. He originally trained as a teacher and taught in London, before joining the Theatre Royal, Winchester, as
Appeal Director and General Manager, and then becoming Campaign Project Co-ordinator at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton. At Craigmyle
he has worked with a very wide range of schools in the UK and overseas, as well as hospices, medical charities, churches and arts organisations.

To contact Geoff, telephone 07802 458451 or email him at geoff@craigmyle.org.uk

Bernie Morgan

Bernie Morgan worked for the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, BBC Children in Need and the Association of Charitable Foundations before becoming the first CEO of Responsible Finance and leading the development of that industry in the UK. She has raised about £85m through grants, sponsorship, contracts and investments. She has particular expertise in social investment and social enterprise. She is a trustee of RBS Social and Community Capital. Bernie also chairs the board of the Dreamland Trust in Margate. The Trust supports the heritage and education functions of Dreamland, one of the world’s oldest amusement parks.

To contact Bernie, telephone 07795 275641 or email her at bernie@craigmyle.org.uk

Connect with Bernie on Linked In.

Siân Newton

With 25 years of experience, Siân has worked in local and national fundraising for medical, international development, education, arts and heritage charities and faith organisations. Specialising in trusts and major gifts, Siân also has experience of case development, strategic development, statutory bids, integrating fundraising and communications,  membership programmes, legacies, and crowdfunding campaigns. As Appeal Director at Guildford Cathedral, Siân raised £6.9m from Heritage Lottery Fund and private sources.  She is a member of the Institute of Fundraising and an accredited Certified Fundraising Executive.  Siân joined Craigmyle in 2018, providing feasibility studies, campaign  development and campaign management, as well as case development, bid-writing, training/seminars and strategic planning.

To contact Siân telephone her on 07752 144 565 or email her at sian@craigmyle.org.uk

Or connect with Siân on Linked In.

Christine Buccella

Christine has 30 years of fundraising experience, including a significant background in major gifts and charitable trusts fundraising, as well as individual giving, statutory funding, membership programmes, legacies and corporate sponsorship. She has experience in strategic planning, training sessions for staff and volunteers, developing prospect pipelines, identifying, recruiting, and managing board members, and mentoring staff. She has worked on capital and revenue campaigns, for a broad range of organisations including universities, arts organisations, NGOs, schools and charities in the US, UK, Europe and New Zealand.

To contact Christine telephone her on 07914 340 325 or e-mail her at christine@craigmyle.org.uk

Connect with Christine on Linked In.

Gijs Elsen

Gijs joined Craigmyle following a 30-year career as a leader in the Performing Arts sector. Most latterly as Chief Executive of The English Concert he achieved considerable commercial and fundraising success and implemented a rigorous programme of strategic change. With a history predominantly in classical music, Gijs’ entrepreneurial inclination produced ground-breaking co-productions and collaborations with related artforms and raising six figure sums for a wide range of cultural, community and educational initiatives. Gijs was awarded Orchestra Manager of the Year by the Association of British Orchestras in 2014.

Trained as a lawyer, his experience encompasses strategic development, project management, trustee governance, as well as fundraising for health & wellbeing, arts and heritage charities through Individual Giving, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council and Trusts & Foundations.

To contact Gijs for an informal discussion of how he might support your organisation, telephone 07887 475190 or email gijs@craigmyle.org.uk

Connect with Gijs on Linked In. 

Greg Hodder

Following 17 years in fundraising Greg brings extensive experience managing projects and fundraising for multi-million-pound capital appeals and annual funds. He has a significant background in working with major donors, raising multiple six-figure sums. He also has a wealth of experience in large events, trusts and foundations and individual and community giving. He has coached and run fundraising skills training for key stakeholders, from students to board members.

Greg’s degree in Education and English at Cambridge University gave him a passion for storytelling. He uses this experience to help charities identify and tell their stories through their case for support and communications in a compelling way.

To contact Greg, telephone 07793 225769 or email him at Greg@craigmyle.org.uk

Connect with Gregs on Linked In. 

Aaron Barbour

Aaron has over 26 years’ experience as a seasoned and successful fundraiser and charity leader. Aaron has gained experience of most types of fundraising, specialising in Trusts and Foundations and the Lottery; as well as corporate fundraising, sponsorship, community fundraising, government (central and local – contracts and grants), major donors, individual giving, online fundraising and match giving campaigns e.g. the Big Give.

In addition to fundraising, Aaron has spent the last 17 years in senior leadership roles as CEO, Chair of Trustees and Trustee, for small and local charities (some start-ups and some well-established). Aaron recently joined Craigmyle in autumn 2023. His experience includes strategic development, project management, partnerships, trustee governance and leadership development, as well as feasibility studies, case development, bid writing, training and seminars.

To contact Aaron please call him on 07968 442 168 or email at aaron@craigmyle.org.uk

Connect with Aaron on Linked In.

Where next?

To have an informal conversation with a member of our team please call 01582 762441 or email first@craigmyle.org.uk