Isy Mead – Artistic Director
Isy is our Artistic Director. She joins the Poetry School from The Story Museum in Oxford, where she has been Head of Learning and Participation for eight years, leading a vibrant team of oral storytellers and creative writing teachers. She is a Trustee of Jane Austen House and studies Bengali at SOAS. Isy grew up in Cambridge, and holds Master’s in History of Art at the University of York. A secondary English teacher in Ilford through Teach First, she spent two years living in a rural area of Rwanda with Voluntary Service Overseas. Her debut pamphlet based on this experience, Dear Rwanda, was published in 2023 with Live Canon. Her work has appeared in Magma, Mslexia, The Telegraph, Poetry Wales, Anacapa Review, Poetry News and Ink Sweat & Tears. She has won 8 poetry competitions including the Julian Lennon Poetry Prize (2021), has been twice Highly Commended in the Bridport Prize (2016 and 2019) and was a finalist in the Brotherton Prize (2021).
Lusungu Chikamata – Finance & Operations Director
Lusungu is our Finance & Operations Director. He brings over 10 years’ experience in finance and operations in the start-up sector and most recently at First Story, England’s leading creative writing charity for young people. He has a passion for collaboration, developing and implementing strategic business functions and charities that provide meaningful creative education.
Andrew Parkes – Head of Programmes
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Andy is our Head of Programmes. He programmes all of our In-Person, Video, and Online Courses. Andy has a BA in Media & Modern Literature and an MA in Modern Literary Theory, both from Goldsmiths, University of London. He founded the independent poetry press clinic in 2009, has written and produced several works for the theatre, and loves the writing of Mark Z. Danielewski and Deleuzian metaphysics.
Jasmine Ward – Marketing Manager
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Jasmine Ward is our Marketing Manager and Ginkgo Prize Manager; she’s in charge of submissions, partnerships and social media platforms. Jasmine previously managed the Betjeman Poetry Prize, a prize designed to spark creativity in early adolescents. She also has a history in PR and events. When she isn’t working on Ginkgo she is a freelance writer (specializing in satire), as well as a copywriter and artist.
Caleb Parkin – MA Personal Tutor and Poetry School Wellbeing Adviser
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Caleb Parkin, Bristol City Poet 2020 – 22, has published widely in journals including The Rialto, Poetry Review, Magma, Poetry Wales and Butcher’s Dog, and has won or been shortlisted in major competitions. He tutors for The Poetry Society, Poetry School, Cheltenham Festivals and First Story and holds an MSc in Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes (CWTP).
His debut collection exploring queer ecopoetry was developed with Arts Council England Developing Your Creative Practice support. His debut pamphlet, Wasted Rainbow, is forthcoming with tall-lighthouse in February 2021 and his debut collection, This Fruiting Body, with Nine Arches in October.
Maryam Hessavi – Resident Reviews Editor
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Maryam is our resident Reviews Editor. She commissions and edits poetry reviews for the School. Outside of this work, Maryam is a freelance writer, poet, critic, and Contributing Editor for Ambit. Her work has featured in various publications and was recently selected for Carcanet’s New Poetries VIII anthology. She is also a member of the Ledbury Poetry Critics.
Tessa Foley – MA in Writing Poetry Manager
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Tessa is our MA in Writing Poetry Manager. She is also a poet and has published two poetry collections Chalet Between Thick Ears and What Sort of Bird are You? with Live Canon. She has also been published in several poetry magazines and prize anthologies.
Nazrene Hanif – Programmes & Website Administrator
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Nazrene is our Programmes & Website Administrator. She is also a freelance writer and editor. Currently completing the MA Creative & Life Writing at Goldsmiths, University of London, Nazrene received special mention in the Spread the Word Life Writing Prize 2021 and her creative non-fiction has been published by Ache magazine.
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