MEET THE TEAM

Founder & Executive Director, Partnerships & Business Development
Michael Burgess, previously a senior diplomat, has been the programme and business development lead, event producer and advisor for key Africa-focused organisations in the UK and Europe, including Africa Fashion Week London and Nigeria, the Africa Centre, the Royal African Society, Tate Museums, Victoria & Albert Museum, Focus Africa, among others.
Michael Burgess is currently the High Level Events Programming Manager for the Royal African Society (the UK’s largest and longest running Africa focus charity). He is also Founder and Director of one of the UK’s most highly regarded social enterprises, Creative Resilience International, which specialises in concept development and production. CRI promotes and empowers creatives in art, design, and culture from Black and underrepresented communities.
Michael is also a member of the Mayor of London’s, Africa in London Committee. He is a certified coach and mentor and have launched mentoring programmes for Africa Fashion Week London, University of Northampton, University of Reading and New York Parson's School of Design and Technology's Fashion Futures Course and Blake Arts. He is the creative advisor for international fashion icon, ALPHADI who is also an advisor for CRI. He is the Creative Director for the African Fashion Awards. He is a creative producer for several global creative platforms including Focus Africa Festival, Reine de l'Art, FIMA, Worldwide Afro Network. to name a few. He spearheaded the formation of the Association of Africa Fashion Weeks Global, a voluntary members group of Africa Fashion Week organisations worldwide.
Michael's most recent outstanding accomplishments include being a Senior Producer of the International Africa Day celebrations on the Worldwide Afro Network in partnership with UNESCO and WIPO. He has received special thanks as a consultant on the Victoria and Albert Museum's hugely successful exhibition, Africa Fashion. He curated and produce the Royal African Society’s 120th Anniversary Gala and Creative Programme 2022, in partnership with the Society’s Royal Patron, HRH Prince William. He Co-produced and curated the iconic Grace Jones' Meltdown Festival for the Southbank Centre's Black Fantastic open festival 2022.
Most recently Michael Co-founded Dhaa Botswana, a ground-breaking platform in partnership with the Government of Botswana, aimed at boosting the country's exposure, support and opportunities for its creative industries and stakeholders, increasing the probability of sustainable economic and industry development. Michael's relentless passion is elevating others to elevate others.

Head of Finance & Operations
Tiffany Burns has over 15 years senior experience managing the accounts for leading governmental and non-governmental organisations and private companies. She is also a very talented, award winning contemporary artist. She is known for her captivating mixed media and collage works. With a deep interest in exploring the diverse facets of femininity and spirituality, Burns has successfully created a mesmerizing series of paintings featuring women from all different races, encompassing a variety of archetypes such as madonas, curanderas, African deities, and erotic feminine figures. Burns' unique artistic vision manifests in her use of mixed media, combining various materials and techniques to create stunning visual narratives. The layering of different elements, including paint, paper, photographs, and found objects, adds depth and texture to her artwork. Her masterful use of collage techniques allows her to seamlessly blend disparate elements, resulting in rich, multi-dimensional pieces that invite contemplation and reflection. At the heart of Burns' work is a fascination with the power and symbolism of women throughout history and various cultures.

Director Art, Education & Skill Development
Gary March is an award winning, internationally acclaimed multimedia contemporary artist and designer who specialises in architectural carving using such materials as stone, wood, metal to name a few. He designs with an emotive dimension which is augmented by using found and upcycled personal objects. He is the only Black Sculptor to have a work commissioned by Queen Elizabeth II which is at the entrance of St. George’s Chapel, Windsor. The piece is titled, Mother Earth, and depicts a mother protecting her child from harm, with stylised hair representing wing of sanctuary and serving as protecting the womb.

Gary has also been an art teacher and mentor for many years. He also currently works for Hackney Council and provides mentoring and teaching workshop to young and aspiring artists using painting, soap carving, mask-making, breeze block, wood and stone carving.

CRI KENYA: Director of Arts, Education & Skill Development
Titus is a professional tour guide and businessman with over 15 years of experience showcasing the breathtaking beauty of Kenya. His journeys stretch from the stunning coastline to the majestic mountains, highlighting not only the remarkable wildlife, such as the elusive Big Five, but also the diverse bird species that call this land home. Titus excels at sharing these experiences, providing insightful commentary effortlessly while on safari.
Beyond his impressive work in tourism, Titus is deeply committed to giving back to local communities. He has spearheaded several initiatives focused on improving sanitation in schools and donating sanitary towels to those in need, directly impacting the lives of many underprivileged individuals. His passion for wildlife and environmental conservation drives him to advocate for tree planting to heal our planet and protect animal habitats.

Fashion Direction & Visual Communication Executive
Renowned fashion consultant and stylist with a global footprint, Taiwo has collaborated with designers across Europe and Africa, dressing celebrities and corporate leaders worldwide. He has consulted at Milan, London and Portugal Fashion Weeks.
He has been the keynote speaker and lectured on personal branding at universities and seminars in Europe and Nigeria. He was the first president of the Lagos Coral Chambers, and a Senator of Junior Chambers International in Missouri, USA, where he received the highest honours.
In 2019, he was appointed Co-director of the 1st Nigeria Cultural Day Berlin by the Embassy of Nigeria, showcasing Nigerian culture and fashion. He was the Senior Creative Advisor and Stylist of fashion consultant to the 120th anniversary gala of the Royal African Society in 2022.
His motto is style should always speak volumes, reflecting one’s distinctive effortless personality.

Director, Cultural Strategy, Policy and Programme Development
Tracey Sage is an Associate Creative Director with Creative Resilience International a multi-dimensional cultural production and development organisation; ensuring that creatives have agency in their careers, providing support and creating opportunities for talented yet underrepresented individuals and organisations within design, art, fashion, culture, performance and literature.
Tracey is a freelance consultant and founder of SageCulture. She has over 30 years of experience in the Public Sector, with expertise in culture, tourism, financial & strategic planning, and cultivating partnerships across business, regeneration, and government. Occupying multiple Board positions, she provides counsel to organisations in the creative, public, and voluntary sectors. Proficient in stakeholder engagement and organisational change, Tracey spearheads initiatives in cultural, tourism, and regeneration programmes. She champions the role of culture and creativity in fostering resilience and joy, particularly through festivals and events, to promote diverse cultural expressions and opportunities for creatives globally.
Tracey is currently the Creative Director of Culture Trust Luton and an Associate with People Make It Work, Creative United and Emergency Exit Arts. Prior to this she played a pivotal role in the arts, culture, and heritage sector in the Royal Borough of Greenwich and across London for over 2 decades. She holds a number of Board and Advisory positions (including Outdoor Arts UK, Tramshed and Fun Palaces) and is a trusted adviser to a range of organisations in the creative, public and voluntary sectors supporting Chief Executives, Senior Leadership teams, Community Leaders and entrepreneurs.

CRI KENYA: Managing Director
Salome has made significant contributions in both the aviation industry and community service. Born in the Indian Ocean Island of Lamu in Kenya, she has dedicated over 25 years of her career to working with the world's leading airlines across Kenya, the United Arab Emirates, and now the United Kingdom.
Salome's passion extends beyond aviation; she is deeply committed to giving back to her community. She has volunteered in various outreach missions across Tanzania, Jamaica, Ghana, and several regions in Kenya, positively impacting the lives of over 4,000 children. Her core causes include mentoring youth to be better versions of themselves, fundraising to improve school infrastructure for underprivileged children, providing sanitary towels to combat period poverty, and promoting environmental sustainability through tree planting initiatives.
Recently, Salome achieved remarkable success managing projects at Gitiba Primary School in Kenya. Her efforts culminated in a fundraising walkathon in London that allowed her to complete eight toilets serving 200 boys and two toilets for 12 teachers at the school. Furthermore, her initiative led to the distribution of over 800 sanitary towels to schools and the planting of 250 trees so far and counting.
Salome exemplifies what it means to be a change-maker. Her unwavering spirit and dedication are truly inspiring.

Senior Curator & Creative Producer: Visual Art, Film and Performance
Daniel Walker (Creative Artist) Trained at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts.
With over 30 years of experience in the West End, working onstage, creatively and backstage on productions including The Lion King, an American in Paris, and We Will Rock You. Daniel has also worked as a creative producer in the World of fashion, directing several projects alongside designer Vivienne Westwood.
He directed, filmed, and styled the music video for singer Daniella Galbin's "unforgettable" from the movie Pecado Fatal.
More recently he has been performing his one man/woman cabaret show "ladies with an attitude".

Head of Fundraising & Governance
Uchechi Eke is a Management Consultant who has spent the last 17 years working independently alongside individuals and teams within the private, public and third sector, to implement and achieve their growth ambitions. Uchechi achieves this primarily through Business Development activities, which includes writing commercial and public tenders, as well as authoring applications to grant making trusts, foundations, statutory bodies and major donors. To date she has secured over £100 million for her range of national clients. Uchechi’s works also includes research production, programme design and development, policy campaigns and social justice activism.