Founding Members

Deborah Burton

Deborah first worked for UNESCO backed African publications before programming international film and arts festivals; a production assistant for David Puttnam’s company Enigma she went on to be Director of First Film Foundation, working with new directors from the UK, Europe and USA, developing and executive producing first films for film and TV and working with leading producers and directors as mentors.

She later became head of development for Patrick Rainsford and actor Gabriel Byrne’s company, Mirabilis – USA/Ireland/UK. Her first short screenplay starred Martin Sheen, and she is a former governor of the London Film School. A change of direction took her into the NGO sector, first in the peace movement and in 2004, joined Christian Aid on Trade Justice campaign as Global Campaigner, role to popularise the campaign through enlisting internationally recognised ambassadors; delivering high profile events; film and TV projects focused on trade issues.

Kevin has over 20 years of campaigning experience. He started out as a community worker in Belfast working on issues of conflict resolution, inner city regeneration and youth empowerment. Moving to London in 1992 Kevin began working for international development agency Christian Aid and has been at the forefront of the organisation’s campaigns on landmines, Jubilee 2000 debt cancellation, supermarkets, trade justice and climate change.

In his role as Global Campaigner he has more recently been involved in collaborating with a number of partners in using still photography and documentary film to communicate issues of global justice.

Justin has worked all over the world as a playwright, director and performer in arts media. His credits include Scaramouche Jones, starring Pete Postlethwaite (In The Name Of The Father, Brassed Off etc), which continues to tour internationally; the highly successful anti-war satire The Madness Of George Dubya (London Fringe & West End, 2003, Best Political Dramatist Award), receiving global media coverage; A Weapons Inspector Calls & Guantanamo Baywatch (West End, 2004); Black Comedy (director, Colorado Festival of World Theatre, 2006) Child Of Biafra (Contact Theatre, Manchester, 2007), Breaking Strain (Ed. Fringe 2003, “A modern classic” – The Scotsman), three plays for BBC R4, and two films for Anthony Jay’s (Yes, Minister) and John Cleese’s company, Video Arts.

In 2005, Justin directed the Trade Justice Vigil at Westminster Abbey for the MPH campaign, starring Vanessa Redgrave, Pete Postlethwaite, Damian Lewis, Ronan Keating, Beverley Knight and Jools Holland. As activist, Justin campaigns on trade, illegal detention, Stop The War, child soldiers and environmental concerns, and works widely in the charitable sector. He helped with the early funding of the acclaimed documentary Black Gold, and is currently working on a film about the Nigeria-Biafra War. Justin is a passionate advocate of the power of documentary to inform, provoke and lend a voice to the voiceless.

Adjoa Andoh – actor

Adjoa’s many credits embrace television, theatre, film and radio. Her TV credits include Dr Who and Casualty; her theatre work is extensive and has included leading roles in National Theatre productions such as David Hare’s ‘Stuff Happens’ and Philip Pullman’s ‘His Dark Materials’.  Adjoa also reads regularly for Radio 4 productions, such as ‘No 1 Ladies Detective Agency’.

She starred in the critically acclaimed film ‘Adulthood’ and was recently cast in Clint Eastwood’s ‘Mandela’ project, alongside Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon.

Adjoa is dual heritage British and Ghanaian and has a strong and long-standing commitment to development issues, drawing on her first hand knowledge of the impact of western policies on poor nations especially within the West African context, on which she has spoken out and campaigned on as an ambassador for the Trade Justice Campaign.

Currently Director of Health Unlimited, an international NGO working with some of the poorest and most marginalized communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America – to help them change the factors that deny them their right to health. Martin has a long background in the voluntary sector, initially an award-winning grass-roots community development worker in the UK, before moving to international development.

After a few years as National Secretary of World Action, a programme engaging young people in social justice issues, he spent the next decade as Head of Campaigns at Christian Aid. Here he played leading roles in Jubilee 2000, Drop the Debt, the Trade Justice Movement and was one of the coordinators of Make Poverty History.

Dionne has wide-ranging and longstanding experience of taking development issues to the African and Caribbean Diaspora in the UK, both faith and non-faith based. Her Pan-African work also includes international outreach in USA and the Caribbean. She is a qualified counsellor and lecturer, and a founder partner of the African Development Forum, set up to encourage black Christians in the UK to support African economic and social development. In her role at CA, she supported the making of Channel 4’s ‘Great African Scandal’, with Dr. Robert Beckford.

Karen is a published novelist, produced screenwriter, and script development executive. She has twenty years experience in the feature film industry as a script editor and analyst for European and North American film funding bodies, producers, and writers. She also has extensive pan-European experience in screenwriting training for professional writers and at university level.

Previously, as Head of Development for the European Script Fund, MEDIA programme, Karen created and ran a highly successful script analysis service and worked with both established and emerging film-makers throughout Europe. “ESF” co-developed numerous award winning films, including several Oscar nominees and winners.

Phil has recently retired after spending the majority of his career working for the Health and Safety Executive, first as an Inspector and then as a Policy Manager.  In early 2006, he became Secretary to the independent board appointed to investigate the major explosions and fires at the Buncefield oil depot near Hemel Hempstead, a position he held till the Board completed its work in December 2008. He was an active trade unionist throughout this time in the HSE, being a member of the national Executive of his civil service trade union for 25 years, with three of those years elected as union President. Though he has no background in the arts, he is enthused by the ideas behind Tipping Point Film Fund – giving human reality to complex issues of social justice.  As Treasurer, he brings proficient numeracy skills and experience of this role in another voluntary organisation.

Elizabeth, head of Terracotta Films Ltd in London, works with documentary filmmakers. She has a background as a journalist specialising in climate change, particularly renewable energy, and will serve as a consultant to the team on Tipping Point Film Fund’s proposed solar film, Here Comes the Sun. Elizabeth is a New Yorker long based in London.

After university Thea spent a year living and working in Nepal with Students Partnership Worldwide (SPW).  Living in the south-eastern Sunsari District of Nepal she worked in the local secondary school and community teaching health education, life skills and English. Back home, she joined Christian Aid in the International Department, first in the Global Advocacy and Policy Division and then in the Southern Africa and Campaigns Teams. She was part of the team that organised the ground-breaking Cut the Carbon march, taking the debate on climate change and poverty all round the UK and Ireland. Now working freelance for Tipping Point Film Fund Thea looks after the website, festivals and campaigns for this burgeoning organisation.

Emma is a communications specialist with five years’ experience at international development agency, Christian Aid. As a Press Officer for the charity, she covered print, broadcast and online media; she developed and project managed large-scale events including exhibitions at Grand Designs Live, the Royal Show and the Eden Project. She has led on PR campaigns; has experience in overseas research and working with celebrities, journalists, photographers and film crews. Her work has covered climate, trade and tax campaigning. Prior to working at Christian Aid, Emma’s various posts included volunteer teaching in Kenya; research with Tourism Concern (Burma) and several years experience in the banking sector after university. She has travelled widely across both Africa and Asia. Emma’s work with Tipping Point Film Fund includes project research and development, media and communications.