Meet the team
I’ve been working in the Arts for over 8 years now and have founded three companies. A live music events company organising world tours for Latin American artists, an immersive live music events company and my latest business, which is my lockdown baby called Chueco, an online platform connecting consumers of craft with independent makers.
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Two years ago I started supporting Aysen in the management and delivery of our corporate creative partnerships for the Crafts Council and here we are today.
Aysen Yilmaz
Founder & Managing Director
Aysen has worked for start-ups, Fortune 500 companies and world leading cultural institutions, both in the UK and internationally, She is an award-winning business development and communications consultant. With over 25 years experience, her background means she is uniquely placed to connect the corporate and cultural sectors and consult c-suite clients.
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Her stand-out achievements include global comms and partnerships for Getty Images, Microsoft and the Visa & Mastercard e-commerce consortium, securing the Turkish Ceramics partnership for the RA, co-devising and launching the Brookfield Properties Craft Award with the Crafts Council Collection and obtaining key sponsorships and creative partnerships for Collect and the Crafts Council for the last six years.
Aysen oversees all aspects of KAYA Partnerships and builds bespoke teams based on a project's objectives. Here is a cross section of our handpicked specialist consultants and long-time work colleagues.
Having worked in the Arts sector for over 8 years, Aylen has worked in multiple start-ups, later moving on to found three of her own. Her first company created and delivered European tours for Latin American artists as well as immersive live music events. She then moved on to work within conservation and sustainability, and her latest business, Chueco, is an online platform that connects consumers of functional craft with independent makers, by selling seconds and samples of small batch, handmade goods.
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For over three years she has been working side-by-side with Aysen, looking after corporate creative partnerships for the Crafts Council, and supporting her with business development and cultivation of new relationships.
Aylen Genero
Lead Consultant
Mel has extensive experience working within esteemed cultural organisations including the Science Museum and the Design Museum, in addition to a successful consultancy career working on cultural projects for public and private clients including English Heritage, Cannes Lions Festival, British Council, Somerset House and the Crafts Council.
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Mel has helped to forge many long-lasting relationships between the corporate and cultural sectors and takes great satisfaction from seeing both sides prosper as a result. She has led numerous cultural projects, both in the UK and internationally, ensuring that everything from campaign concept to delivery is executed to perfection to ensure ROI for clients and associated partners.
Mel Spencer
Project Consultant
Mary is a specialist in cultural relations with over 20 years’ experience in partnership building and development, and project management.
Throughout her long career in the British Council Argentina, Mary has designed, directed, and delivered a broad spectrum of education, science, arts and English language projects and partnerships, working with public and private organisations. As Country Director she moved the British Council in Argentina into a period of considerable expansion, including the creation of a Teaching Centre to service international education programmes. Mary has also managed high-profile visits such as the ones by Nobel Laureate John Sulston, writer Julian Barnes and linguist Henry Widdowson.
Mary Godward
Creative Partnerships Consultant
Jenny Houghton
PR Consultant
Having worked within the fashion and lifestyle industry for +20 years, Jenny has extensive experience heading up PR teams both in-house and agency based representing a broad spectrum of brands from established fashion designers, independent retailers, luxury brands and NGOs including Fashion Revolution.
Inspired by ethical and sustainable brands who aim to create impact and make their mark, Jenny focuses on creating impactful communications campaigns, delivering credible and relevant results for all clients.
She's also an Ambassador for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and an Associate Lecturer at the University for the Creative Arts in Epsom.
With a background in media, corporate event agencies, and the arts, Liz has many years of experience within project management and event production.
Most recently running the ever popular Hacks/Hackers LDN monthly events and managing the day to day running of the organisation, Liz has also produced many large scale conferences, parties and events across the globe for various corporate clients.
Previously, Liz was instrumental in setting up a photography gallery in Soho, London and worked in an online art consultancy specialising in young British artists.
Liz Hoselitz
Project Management Consultant
With a background in PR and partnerships, and a founder of two successful agencies, Catherine has worked with a broad spectrum of industries over the years, securing global publicity and social media. She has been instrumental in the creation of multiple sponsorship projects and collaborations.
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Past projects include Rockpost shoes sponsorship of Argentinian theatre collective De La Guarda at the Roundhouse, French designer Jean Charles de Castelbajac in collaboration with Liberty and Tank magazine, Red or Dead catwalk shows during London Fashion Week in collaboration with SKY, B&Q and Impulse Body Spray, and jewellery designer Hannah Martin, in collaboration with Motorola and promoted by David Beckham.