Sandra has been a trustee of the festival for 6 years. Sandra spent much of her professional career working in the voluntary and community sector. However, prior to this Sandra, was a Principal Local Government Officer being the link between the community and the local authority. 

After a career in Legal Aid and audit for the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureau Kate became involved in local organisations including the Hasting's Old Town Residents Association. Together with Dick Edwards, they embarked on a storytelling pilot. Kate's contribution includes secretarial, governance and support for arts work in the schools.  

After teaching Modern Languages and working as a Civil Servant, Richard took early retirement in 2010 and has been involved in many local voluntary organisations since then including Ore Community Land Trust, Big Local North-East Hastings, Hastings & Rother Credit Union, Ore Community Library and Hastings & St Leonards Museum Association. He was a school governor for around 25 years (Red Lake, Ore Village and Sandown primary schools) and Hastings Borough councillor for Ore from 1996 - 2002 and 2012 - 2018

Hilary worked in publishing for many years before moving to the third sector to start a new sport for development charity. She is currently Assistant Chief Operating Officer (Sport & Active Campus) for University of East London. In her spare time she writes poetry and is a national amateur boxing referee! She recently moved to Hastings and is delighted to join the Board of Trustees, hoping to contribute especially in the area of fundraising and community engagement.  

Rounaq is from Hastings and has worked in the local area in the Health and Social Care field for a number of years. She was delighted to be asked to become a trustee of Hastings Storytelling Festival in 2022, as she has enjoyed the event as an attendee and looks forward participating and contributing more directly in future.

Louise Chantal has over 30 years’ experience in professional theatre, working with some of the UK’s leading companies and venues. She was the Director and CEO of the Oxford Playhouse from 2014-2022 and a producer on the London 2012 Festival (‘The Biggest Arts Show Ever Seen’ Evening Standard). Originally from Bradford in West Yorkshire, she moved to Hastings in 2023.

18 Hours' experienced team creates and delivers events and education across Hastings and Rother with a focus on global citizenship and diversity.

They have been producing Hastings Storytelling Festival since 2012, under the creative direction of founder, Dr Mandy Curtis.

As the Development Education Centre (DEC) for East Sussex, 18 Hours networks closely with local teachers to give them the skills, confidence and practical approaches to incorporate active global citizenship into their curriculum.

18 Hours is not-for-profit.