OUR TEAM

Suzie Curran

Festivals' Director

Suzie has extensive experience organising large scale events for private sector, public policy and charitable organisations. She was previously Head of External Affairs at Demos and Head of Events at the Behavioural Insights Team.
suzie.curran@bigtent.org.uk

Emily Benn

Programme Director

Emily Benn recently returned from Harvard University, as graduate student in the Department of Government, and a researcher at the Centre for Business and Government. She is working with MPs, academics and business leaders to come up with new political approach to tackle the challenges facing the UK, to tackle extremism and intolerance on all sides of the political spectrum. She is a former Director at UBS Investment Bank, stood as a Labour Parliamentary Candidate in the 2015 and 2010 General Elections, and is a former Local Councillor for West Thornton Ward in London. A keen musician, she is a founding member of "The Statutory Instruments", The UK Parliament’s First Ever String Quartet, and serves on the board of the London Mozart Players.
emily@bigtent.org.uk

Georgie Pike

Commercial Director

Georgie has for many years worked in sales, fundraising and events; in 2012 she sold an events business. Immediately prior to joining the Big Tent in 2018 she was Head of Events at a military charity with responsibility for corporate fundraising as well as sponsorship and managing budgets.
georgie@bigtent.org.uk

Trin Gong

Events Assistant

Trin moved over to London from Australia five years ago and has volunteered and worked in the charity/community sector in the UK. She has previously worked as a policy analyst at the Department of Treasury in Australia and as a research assistant at KPMG.
trin@bigtent.org.uk

OUR BOARD

Dermot Campbell

Chair of the Board

Dermot has taken over as Treasurer of Big Tent in a key year for Foundation finance. Dermot is a Financial Technology entrepreneur with over 25 years’ experience working in Financial Services. He founded the investment platform Kuber Ventures where he was responsible for the financial management.

Dolly Theis

Member of the Board

Dolly Theis held the role of Programme Director, successfully leading the team for two years. We now retain this indispensable experience through her continuing role on the Board. After a period as Chair she is focusing on completing her PhD at Cambridge.

Polly Mackenzie

Member of the Board

Polly is Chief Executive of the Demos think tank, media commentator, former Policy Director for Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, and well-known optimist.