Haley has worked in the charity sector for 18+ years, including working for Freedom from Torture for 13 years. A passionate activist and human rights supporter. As well as socialising with friends, Haley enjoys getting out in nature and getting creative.
Kayleigh is our Development Manager and leads on fundraising, marketing, communications and evaluation. Kayleigh has over 10 years of experience working in the charitable sector, including varied roles in social care, education and the arts. Before joining Music Action International Kayleigh worked at museums and venues across London and Manchester including Cecil Sharp House, Frieze Art Fair, Southbank Centre, Chetham’s Library and The Stoller Hall. She is committed to ethical fundraising and being part of a movement pushing for change in the charitable sector. In her spare time, Kayleigh enjoys reading, cooking vegan food and visiting art exhibitions (she has a particular interest in women surrealists).
Phill Minns is a Programme Coordinator for Music Action International, he is also chair of Sussex based organisation Best Foot Music, producing collaborative projects with musicians and communities who have moved to the UK from around the world. He also teaches music business and production in a local FE college, loves music, food and riding a bike.
Sha manages our London programmes. Sha loves mangoes, cooking elaborate meals for friends, writing songs with her sisters, and spending time in nature. Her background includes NGO's, advocacy, and research, focusing on structural violence, access to health, and human rights, with an emphasis on refugee and indigenous populations. Originally from Singapore and coming from a family of musicians, Sha has called London home for most of her adult life and believes in the transformative power of music for healing.
Laith has been supporting Music Action International since 2024, generously volunteering his time to support Kayleigh with funding applications, newsletters, social media and system reporting! His background is finance and accountancy and more recently Laith has been enjoying contributing to community and wellbeing projects including food banks, homelessness, refugee and safety seeker walking events and furniture upcycling for affordable living. In his spare time Laith will often be found playing tennis or chess and spending time with his gentle natured cat (whilst listening to soothing music).
Also known to us as Mira! Mira works closely with Kayleigh on marketing and communications. She is also a freelance creative, producing collaborative music projects with Global Majority and working class communities, artists and organisations. Her Ethnomusicology academic research explored rap cultures and refugee rights activism in contemporary Britain. In her spare time and sometimes at work, Mira likes to dabble in playing various instruments ranging from theremin, piano, sitar, synths and making tracks out of found sounds.
Ramsey is from a Palestinian refugee family, and has lived experience of displacement from the Gulf War. He's previously worked in charity finance and project administration with MIF, Z-Arts, and IWM North. He loves music and volunteers for community music projects.
Christine Adcock trained as a Clinical Psychologist and Psychotherapist and is an amateur cellist. She has worked in the NHS with people with learning disabilities specializing in sexual abuse and trauma. She is currently volunteering as a psychologist for Freedom from Torture an NGO which offers therapeutic support to survivors of torture who do not speak English. Christine has been part of the ‘Stone Flowers’ project from its inception acting as both the clinical support to the participants and playing the cello. She believes strongly in the transformative value of music for everyone but especially for people who are vulnerable and in pain.
Previously MAI Chair of trustees, Debra King has worked across the arts and education sector in management, creative producing and programming. She is currently the Director of Brighter Sound. The company creates opportunities through music by presenting a diverse network of pathways and learning opportunities for children and young people, musicians, artists, and organisations. Debra’s previous roles include: Programme Manager for the Australia Arts Council; Co-Producer for the Nitin Sawhney project-Aftershock; Director of Women in Music; Regional Officer for Youth Music; Music Officer at ACE North West; Co-Director of FKuk and the joint Artistic Director for the Commonwealth Games Cultural programme in 2002.
Previously Artistic Director of the Setúbal Music Festival in Portugal, Artistic Director of The Musical Brain, also Director of the City of London Festival. Ian was previously Managing Director of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, General Director of Opera North and Artistic Director of the St Magnus Festival in Orkney. Ian has been involved with musical charities throughout his career and his work has contributed to rebuilding cultural life in a number of post-conflict situations, especially in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Lis Murphy has pioneered the use of singing and songwriting to support war and torture survivors find peace through personal expression and collective experience. Lis is a professional performing musician, supporting New Order, Billy Bragg and Balkan Beatbox as well as performing with Jane Weaver, Mali superstars Amadou and Mariam and a world premiere by William Orbit.
.
Our monthly e-news tells you what we are up to and how you can take action with survivors of war and torture
By signing up you are agreeing to Music Action International Privacy Policy.
