Yinka Shonibare CBE (RA)is a British-Nigerian artist based in London, whose multi-disciplinary practice explores colonialism and post-colonialism within the context of globalisation. Through examining race, class and the construction of cultural identity, Shonibare’s works comment on the tangled interrelationship between Africa and Europe, and their respective economic and political histories.
Yinka is one of the world’s foremost artists. A Turner Prize nominee, his work has been included in Documenta IX, the Fourth Plinth, Trafalgar Square (2010-12) and the Venice Biennale. He has exhibited internationally at prominent museums and held in notable collections including Tate, MoMA, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and LACMA.

Tiwa Akinlemibola is Trustee and Honorary Treasurer at YSF. She is a chartered accountant with over 10 years post qualification experience and a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants England & Wales. Akinlemibola has served on charity boards since 2014. Prior to joining YSF, she was Trustee and Honorary Treasurer at Spark Inside. She is a private equity investment professional engaged with deal execution and managing a portfolio of businesses across Africa. She previously worked at PwC and E&Y, providing tax, accounting and business valuation services to a range of clients across several sectors. Akinlemibola holds a First-Class degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Warwick.

Doug is an American artist living and working in London. Fishbone’s practice is wide-ranging, using many different popular forms in unexpected ways. Selected exhibitions include Tate Britain, Dulwich Picture Gallery, Hayward Gallery and 56th Venice Biennale. He performs regularly at both international and UK venues, including London’s ICA, Royal Academy, Southbank Centre and Hauser and Wirth Somerset.

Freda Isingoma is an investment banking professional and entrepreneur who has worked in multinational and leading investment institutions in the UK, the US, and South Africa. Freda is the Lead Fund Manager of the Octopus AIM VCTs in an award-winning team specialising in investment in UK-listed small companies. Octopus Investments is the UK’s largest Venture Capital firm and one of the most active in Europe.

In 2009, she launched Eyecandy Brows, a specialist brow bar concept which grew to 21 branches across South Africa in 8 years and was subsequently sold. In 2018, she founded KIISA, a provider of innovative investment and impact solutions that drive the growth, visibility, knowledge, and sustainability of the African and Diaspora art ecosystem. Freda has been collecting art from Africa and the Diaspora for over 20 years and founded the KIISA Collector Series (a global platform for African & Diaspora collectors and patrons) in 2022 which is now in its 6^th Edition.

Freda is a member of the AUC Art History & Curatorial Studies External Advisory Group. She has spoken on various international platforms on art as an investment and the development of the African & Diaspora art ecosystem. This includes Harvard University, Stanford University, and Spelman College (Atlanta University Centre) as a Distinguished Guest Lecturer in 2023.

Bimpe is the Managing Principal of W8 ADVISORY LLP in London and is Head of Tax and Legal Services. A qualified lawyer and barrister, with over 30 years’ collective experience in England, Wales and in Nigeria respectively.  Bimpe is a non-executive Director of the Lagos Court of Arbitration (LCA) and previously Vice Chair of Africa Centre Board, London.

Oba is a barrister with an international practice, comprising extensive advocacy and advisory experience on behalf of private and institutional clients globally. Head, Pump Court Chambers, Visiting Professor of Law City University, Bencher Gray's Inn, Part-time Judge. Chair of the Africa Centre Board, London. Oba is also a former member of the Tate’s Africa Acquisitions Committee.

Ann Marie is Head of Culture of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham in East London.  Formerly Director of Frith Street Gallery and Lecturer in Visual Studies at UAL, in 2011 she initiated the Artist-in-Residence programme at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Canada.  As Studio Manager for Yinka Shonibare CBE from 2005-2011, Ann Marie collaborated with Yinka to establish the Guest Projects exhibition and residency programme in 2008.

CEO

Belinda leads on the programme, partnerships, fundraising and governance at both Guest Artists Space Foundation in Nigeria and Yinka Shonibare Foundation. In 2020, during the global pandemic, she launched Guest Projects Digital to support artists and curators in developing and sharing their work. In 2022 she firmly established the Guest Artists Space residency programme in Lagos with the artist Yinka Shonibare CBE RA.

With over 20 years of international experience, Belinda has developed and delivered culture-driven programs and commissions. She co-founded the arts consultancy T Projects in Melbourne and served as a strategic arts consultant for the Melbourne Metro Tunnel Creative Programme in Australia. From 2012 to 2017, she worked with the cultural agency Futurecity, developing cultural strategies, commissioning significant artworks and leading teams in London before becoming Head of the Sydney office.

Belinda excels in the integration of communities, art, design, and the built environment. With extensive experience in initiating and developing arts organisations and overseeing charity governance, she has a track record of establishing organizations from the ground up. She devises strategic programs, cultivates partnerships, and formulates funding strategies. Her expertise includes successfully initiating and delivering programmes and projects across hospitals, schools, housing developments, transport and cultural infrastructure.

Communications and Projects Manager

Magda Kaggwa is the Communications and Projects Manager at Y.S.F., having joined the organisation in 2021. With a background in cultural production, programme delivery, communications, and stakeholder engagement within the arts and culture sector, she has successfully led the production of ambitious artistic programmes, commissions, exhibitions, and public events.

Head of Philanthropy

Siti advises on philanthropy strategies and projects, secures funding for Y.S.F. and G.A.S. She has extensive income-generating experience in the commercial and third sector to include the Royal College of Music’s £25 million capital campaign. The National Gallery, Southbank Centre, MS Society and Tate are some of the major international institutions she has worked with. Siti read her Master’s degree in Art & Business at the Sotheby’s Institute of Art, London. Here she received a distinction in Arts Marketing, and her dissertation delved into alternative art investment.

Associate Curator and Archivist

Naima Hassan background lies in the development of archive collections, curatorial strategies and international cultural partnerships. Since 2022, she has led the development of the Picton Archive at G.A.S. Foundation. Under the multi-year programme Re:assemblages, she aims to connect the G.A.S. Library and Picton Archive to a transnational network of communities, artists, scholars, and institutions.

Communications Executive

Tomi has experience in gallery and non-profit arts management, through roles as Programs Manager at Pacers Gallery, Development Manager at African Artists’ Foundation, and most recently as Communications and Events Coordinator at Guest Artists Space Foundation.

She is currently studying The Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas at the Sainsbury Research Unit, University of East Anglia.