About Fiona Sutherland

London Play’s Director, Fiona has been championing children’s right to play across the capital since joining the charity in 2011. What began as a communications role has grown over the years to include strategy, finance and fundraising as well as developing and leading projects, running events,  advising boroughs, shaping campaigns and of course, driving the van.

Still a wordsmith at heart, Fiona continues to shape London Play’s voice and vision, ensuring play is taken seriously where decisions are made and joyfully where it happens.

INTERESTS

• Cycling adventures
• Travel
• Grammar nazi

About Mark Applegate

Mark is an artist and maker with a broad practical experience of designing and making as well as facilitating creative community workshops.

He joined London Play in 2025 to lead the Jelly Sports project and now leads on many of our nature play and Playful High Street events.

INTERESTS

• Music
• Food

About Melian Mansfield

Passion for children’s rights has to be the number one quality needed for leading an organisation like London Play and Melian has it in spades. Chair since 2001, she is a former teacher with wide experience in education from early years to secondary levels, and has written two books. She is a parent of five children and governor of two primary schools as well as serving on numerous boards for children’s organisations.

INTERESTS

• Children
• Education
• Theatre

About Louise Atkins

Louise has spent two decades working in education: as a practitioner, mentor, Senior Lecturer and now Associate Professor and Head of Initial Teacher Education at Greenwich University.

Play is intrinsic to all her work and she is dedicated to ensuring that it runs through the future approaches of all her students as they qualify and embark on teaching careers.

INTERESTS

• Reading
• Yoga

About Hal Davidson

Hal first got involved with London Play while still a student, as an apprentice ‘Play Starter’. In doing so he discovered a new passion and went on to work at White City Adventure Playground. He is now a charity consultant and is always on the lookout for new ways of getting play funded.

INTERESTS

• Running
• Running
• More running

About Ugonna Ezeyi

Ugonna is a Forest School teacher  with a passion for spreading the power of play. With over 15 years’ experience teaching across a range of settings, Ugonna currently works at a democratic school in South London that aims to create young people–led learning opportunities from primary through to the final years of secondary school. Alongside their teaching practice, Ugonna brings a love of folk music and storytelling from around the world, using them to celebrate cultural diversity and create enriching learning experiences in nature.

INTERESTS

Alongside their teaching practice, Ugonna brings a love of folk music and storytelling from around the world, using them to celebrate cultural diversity and create enriching learning experiences in nature.

About Sarah Martins

Sara is a social researcher who has studied, lived, and worked in different cities across Europe and in Australia. She is trained in educational methodologies which centre play: Montessori Early Years Practitioner, Reggio Emilia Environments, Summerhill Facilitation and as Beach and Forest School Leader

INTERESTS

About Dr Keith Cranwell

The voice of academia on the London Play board, Keith previously headed up the Department of Education and Community Studies at Greenwich University. His interests lie in education for playwork and he developed the BA in Playwork and Youth Studies with the University of East London. A Londoner from birth, Keith has a fervent commitment to improving understanding and provision of children’s play in an urban environment.

INTERESTS

• Test cricket
• History
• Analog devices 🙂

About Caroline Needham

Play is not just for children! Bringing a valuable intergenerational perspective to the mix, Caroline is a founding member of the London Intergenerational Network and London development manager for the Grandparent’s Association. She has an MSc in Life Course Development and was social policy manager at Help the Aged until 2009. She served as Labour Councillor for the Askew ward in Hammersmith and Fulham until 2019.

INTERESTS

• Intergenerational work
• Grandchildren
• Chunky jewellery

About Amy Quinn

Amy joined London Play in 2024, coming with 12 years’ experience working in the charity and education sector with children, young people and families – including running reading projects in under-resourced communities across London. She is also in the process of qualifying as a Play Therapist, where she works with primary aged children.

INTERESTS

About Sereena Keymatlian

Sereena joined the board in 2024 and is the director of Haringey Play Association which runs Somerford Grove Adventure Playground. Her work has been play for over 25 years, and she has worked as a playworker, training facilitator, and manager, in various settings including, parks, community centres, schools, street play, pop-up play events, youth clubs and adventure playgrounds.

INTERESTS

About Carlo Beschi

Carlo lives in London with his wife and three kids. He is
passionate about play – at all ages. His professional expertise is in software development, people leadership and facilitation, built in 20+ years working at tech companies in Italy and UK. He is committed to help and make London an amazing place to grow up for all of its kids – not just for a few lucky ones.

INTERESTS

About Nicholas Hall

Play occupies a place in landscapes both literal and political, and as former local authority landscape architect, Nicholas brings both perspectives to London Play. He pinpoints his work at Haringey council in the 80s, where he lead the landscape design team, as sparking a particular interest in play. Having retired in 2011, Nicholas joined the trustee team in 2012 in time to witness a few landscape changes of our own. He is a professional member of Learning Through Landscapes.

INTERESTS

• Rambling (in the outdoor sense!)
• Health and safety
• Fine chocolate