Anne Wood is the Founder and Creative Director of Ragdoll Productions Ltd, the Television Production Company she formed in 1984. Anne was made a Fellow of the Royal Television Society and won the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year Award in 1998. Two years later she received a Special BAFTA for her outstanding contribution to Children’s Television and was awarded her CBE for services to Children’s Broadcasting. In 2003, Anne received The Olswang Business Award from Women in Film and Television, and in March 2007 the Harvey Lee Award from the Broadcasting Press Guild for her outstanding contribution to broadcasting. In 2010 Anne received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Mother and Baby magazine. She has been awarded Honorary Doctorate of Letters degrees from the University of Birmingham (2013), University of Sheffield (2015), and University of Warwick (2016).
Katherine has worked in the UK Arts Sector for over 30 years. She runs Kath & Company working nationwide on a wide range of Gallery, Museum, Artist and Creative Industry projects, and Art at Home, connecting artists to those interested in buying original artworks for their homes.
She was founder Director of Firstsite (1994-2012), the award winning contemporary visual arts organisation in Colchester, which successfully launched its new home, designed by Rafael Vinoly Architects in 2011. She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by University of Essex and Colchester School of Art & Design in 2012.
Mark was a partner in a City accountancy practice and advised on the formation of Ragdoll Limited in 1985. During the next few years, he spent an increasing amount of time on Ragdoll affairs and in 1996, after negotiating the terms of the BBC commission of Teletubbies, he joined the company as Commercial Director. Appointed Chief Executive Officer in July 2008, Mark oversaw the development of the organisation and led the implementation of the company’s business strategy. He was also CEO of Ragdoll Worldwide Limited, the joint venture between Ragdoll and BBC Worldwide and directed the sale of Ragdoll Worldwide to DHX Media.
Régis is a Year 3 teacher at Brighton College Prep Kensington, having completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Education (PGCE) at the Institute of Education (University College London) in 2023. Prior to retraining as a primary school teacher, he worked at the Paul Hamlyn Foundation – most recently as Director, Grants & Programmes, and previously as Head of Arts and Acting Head of Education. Before working at the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Régis was Head of External Relations and then Opera General Administrator at Aldeburgh Productions (now Britten Pears Arts), 1998-2005, having co-founded the French Theatre Season (1995-97) earlier in his career. His previous non-executive appointments include being a member of the board of the John Lyon Foundation; a council member of the London Sinfonietta; the chair of Ministry of Stories and Tamasha Theatre Company; and a trustee of the Young Vic Theatre.
Francis is a writer, formerly of non-fiction, now of novels. Cahokia Jazz, his most recent book, was published by Faber in October 2023. Light Perpetual, the one before, was longlisted for the Booker Prize. He teaches at Goldsmiths, University of London, where he is Professor of Creative Writing. In 2007, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature; in 2021, of the Royal Historical Society. His memoir of childhood reading, The Child That Books Built, is often cited in discussions about literacy strategies and cultural provision for children. His connection with Ragdoll goes back to the 1990s.
(Photo by Antonio Olmos)
Peter is a highly respected senior arts and cultural professional with over 25 years’ experience in the public and private sectors. Originally trained as secondary school teacher, Peter has lectured in Higher Education, and delivered cultural management training courses in the UK and Internationally. Peter worked for many years within the arts funding system and was an Executive Director for Arts Council England. He now works as a freelance project manager and consultant and in skills and education. Most recently he has spent time in an Alternative Provision (AP) setting, working with young people who have been excluded from school, refuse to attend school, or have referrals from social services.
Kirsten joined the Ragdoll Foundation in 2016 for the launch of the Open Grants Scheme, and remains its only employee, working part-time from her home office in Northamptonshire. With a background in arts education and grant-making, Kirsten trained as a primary school teacher and initiated the learning and outreach programmes at the New Victoria Theatre in North Staffordshire and at Milton Keynes Gallery. She has been deputy director of engage, development coordinator for the Campaign for Drawing, and programme manager for the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council’s Strategic Commissioning. Grant-making experience includes the Milton Keynes Council cultural team and MK Community Foundation.
