BOARD
Joseph Jeffers - Chair
Joseph Jeffers is the CEO of Advice Support Knowledge Information (ASKI), a registered charity dedicated to providing essential services to older adults in Croydon, Sutton, and Southwark. Under his leadership, ASKI was honoured with the King's Award for Voluntary Service in 2024, recognizing the organisation's commitment to enhancing the lives of the community it serves.
With over 35 years of experience in management within the voluntary sector, Joseph is a passionate advocate for societal change. His diverse background includes a former career in dance, which has significantly influenced his current work. He is developing an innovative practice called "Gathering," which aims to unite people through dance, music, and food to foster meaningful change and connection.
Joseph holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance, a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), and a Master of Arts in Gender Studies. He is currently pursuing an MA in Dance Community and Activism at the London Contemporary Dance School, furthering his commitment to exploring the intersection of art and social justice.
Joseph is committed to co-creating and collaborating with organisations
who are committed to developing inclusive and diverse organisations with a strong focus on belonging. Joseph brings his visionary, strategic and tactical experience of people leadership and organisational culture in a range of organisations to his role in IRIE.
In recognition of his dedication to research and advocacy, Joseph was awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship in 2024, enabling him to investigate the impact of movement on older Black bodies. His work continues to inspire and empower individuals and communities, advocating for inclusivity and well-being through the arts.
Desmond Clarke - Treasurer
Born in Jamaica, and one of the longest-standing Board members, Desmond worked as a technician at the National Freight Cooperation, and as a Training Officer at Wandsworth Training Agency. He also developed and delivered accredited vocational training programmes at the New Cross Computer Project. He is a holder of a full City & Guilds technological certificate, and a Certificate in Education. Desmond has planned, developed and delivered training programs while working in middle-management for over thirty years. He has also volunteered his skills to various statutory agencies and community organisations and has served on a number of management committees, planning committees and remuneration panels.
Sheba Montserrat
Sheba is a graduate of IRIE! dance theatre’s first formal qualification in African and Caribbean dance. Gaining her Diploma in 1999. She has been a Caribbean dance practitioner with over 20 years’ experience teaching and choreographing in all aspects of the community. She is a live show producer bringing a variety of performance genres to diverse audiences. Sheba is Caribbean culture historian, trained at the Victorian and Albert Museum in 2016, where she created and give tours around the V&A Europe Gallery. She is also a performance poet and performs live as well as creating videos for social media. She is a stand-up comedian, who writes and performs her own material for live performances.
She brings the above experiences to the development of IRIE! as well as an awareness of changes and trends in the performing industry, making sure that IRIE! dance theatre remains relevant. She has experienced intense dance training and understands the impact it can have on individuals and the wider community. She hopes that her experience will help to keep IRIE! dance theatre one of Britain’s leading African and Caribbean arts and cultural organisation.
Paulette Ryan
Paulette’s journey with IRIE! dance theatre began when IRIE! delivered a workshop at her college in 1986. Her experience as a former student and teacher of African and Caribbean dance underpins her desire to continue to contribute to the legacy of the company, and ensure that IRIE! maintains its presence, relevance and influence on the British dance platform. As a young black dancer, she found IRIE! inspirational; to see herself reflected in art, culture and dance theatre. She would like all young people of African and Caribbean decent to share that positive experience of their culture, and know that there is a lengthy and rich heritage. Her extensive work as a Youth Support and Development Worker adds to IRIE!’s Children and Young People's work. She is passionate about being a custodian of this dynamic artform, making it accessible to generations of young people and the community locally, nationally and internationally.
Paulette is one of a few people to hold an accredited qualification in African and Caribbean dance. Delivered by IRIE! accredited by Birkbeck College, franchised by City and Islington College. The course ran as a pilot from 1998-2001.
Inês Carvalho
Inês Carvalho (she/her) is a creative Press and Communications specialist with over five years of experience in the arts and cultural sector, particularly in dance. Passionate about storytelling and emotion-driven ideas, Inês loves to invite audiences to engage with art through compelling communications campaigns.
Previous and current organisations she has worked with include English National Ballet, IRIE! dance theatre, Eventual, alongside a range of global artists and organisations through her Marketing & PR agency, Diagonal. In addition to this experience, Inês also continues to explore her own creative practice as a dance artist, and as a co-director and curator of Stretch conference & Showcase, an annual event offering time and space for connections in the dance sector. She also contributes regularly as a writer for Dance Art Journal and Springback Magazine.
Kadeja Braun
Kadeja Braun is a dance artist, performer, and facilitator. She is an alumna of IRIE! Having completed both her BA in Diverse Dance Styles and MA in Diasporic Dance Styles with the organisation. Her training at IRIE! laid the foundation for a versatile and reflective approach to movement that continues to guide her creative work. Alongside her formal training, Kadeja has performance experience in traditional African dance, having worked with Nii Kwartey Owoo, which has further shaped her understanding of cultural practice and performance within diasporic contexts.
During her studies, Kadeja developed a practice that views movement as a tool for intergenerational community impact. Her work uses movement to help communities engage with the environment and foster meaningful connections with both the natural world and the people around them. She has also worked with the not-for-profit dance organisation DancingStrong Movement Lab, supporting the delivery of performances, tours, and community workshops. She contributed to SPLASH! An immersive, participatory performance work that used movement and creative engagement to explore human connections with water.
As a trustee, she hopes to bring first-hand insight into IRIE!’s education programmes and a considered perspective to support the organisation’s development and growth.
