Mental Abuse Matters
LUCY BAXTER - CEO
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​Lucy is an experienced managing director, producer and author and has worked as executive/series producer, producer/director and production manager on shorts, features, drama series and documentaries for broadcasters such as BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky and Al Jazeera. She has also produced branded content, digital education projects and run several industry events. Her work as producer has won BAFTA and RTS awards, been runner up for the Japan Prize and nominated for the Learning Onscreen awards.
Lucy published her first book, Running a Creative Company in the Digital Age, in 2017.
Lucy previously founded and ran production company Mandrake Films.
Her work has focussed on human rights, women, education and young people.
Lucy has taught production at various Universities and film schools, and is currently Lecturer in Film Practice at Queens University Belfast.
KARIN JEFFREY – Trustee
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Following an early career in advertising and media in NI twice serving as Chair of the Publicity Association, Karin moved to London then Manchester to head up an international company in the media and events sector.
Managing a large global team she created and delivered conferences and events across the continents within the aviation sector with the most senior airline and government leaders for five years. She partnered with aviation giants like Airbus, Bombardier and Boeing and introduced an international charity to fundraise at events for the Flying Eye Hospital, restoring sight to thousands across Africa.
Returning to NI in 2012, Karin brought her previous experience and passion for charity fundraising home and has worked as a consultant with local charities since then.
Current board positions are Theatre & dance NI, Institute of Fundraising NI and Pintsized Productions. Karin is also an Independent Assessor with the Commission for Public Appointments NI. She enjoys theatre and dance, football, rugby, formula one, fine dining and creative cooking.
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MAIRE McGRATH, MSc, BA, MAC Trustee
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Maire is a Life and Leadership Coach, Facilitator and Speaker. Maire’s professional skills and experience include leadership development, team coaching, coaching workshops and facilitating organisations and teams in collaborative projects. Maire is an accredited and specialist Resilience at Work coach practitioner.
Prior to establishing FutureSpark Coaching, Maire has worked in the non-profit sector for eighteen years. She has worked as a CEO in the mental health sector leading a charity families and carers.
On a personal note, Maire has grown up with a parent experiencing mental illness and is dedicated to the importance of bringing to the fore people’s personal experience of mental abuse. Film is one of the most powerful mediums to help people express and understand life experiences from different perspectives and this is why Mental Abuse Matters is needed now more than ever.
ATHENA MANDIS - Trustee
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Athena Mandis is a filmmaker and a full-time lecturer in film practice at Queen Mary University, London.
She also runs production company Aegis Films.
Prior to that she worked as a facilitator for the David Glass Ensemble on the Lost Child Project, the project involved working with vulnerable children from around the world to create impactful pieces of theatre that could change policy.