Meet The Team
Steve Mead Artistic Director/CEO
Nataly Chambers General Manager
Jo Williams Fundraising & Partnerships Manager
Heather Spencer Festival Producer
Helen Goodman Talent Development Producer
Jeni Illingworth Brand & Communications Specialist (contact for press enquiries)
Mary Allen Operations & Festival Administrator
Evie Henderson Digital Creative Content Creator & Distributor
Aiyisha Williams Audience Invitations Specialist
Willow Ward University Placement Student (supporting our Operations & Festival Administrator)
Coco Yuan University Placement Student (supporting our Digital Creative Content Creator & Distributor)
Here at mjf we are a small but mighty team; hover over each profile to discover more about our staff.
Steve Mead
Steve is mjf’s Artistic Director and CEO - and was involved in setting up the very first mjf! Steve brings his passion for new music to our artist development and commissioning schemes, and of course to curating the festival programme itself, which has won mjf the Europe Jazz Network Award for Adventurous Programming. He was also instrumental in ensuring mjf was first to sign up to Keychange and Black Lives in Music. He enjoys a wide range of new music, existing people and really old things that still work. Dream festival? Jazz Sous les Pommiers – “Jazz Under the Apple Trees” in northern France has to be my favourite.
Heather Spencer
Heather is mjf's Festival Producer responsible for all logistical things over the festival site, organising the piano trail & managing venue partnerships. Alongside mjf, Heather works as Jazz North’s Programme Manager delivering talent development & sector support activity, including its live talent development programme, Northern Line. Prior to this, she worked in jazz as a promoter, producer & project manager across the North East. Heather is a trustee of Jazz Promotion Network & a Clore Emerging Leader. Her previous work includes co-founder/co-director of DJAZZ, Jazz Development Coordinator at Sage Gateshead & co-programmer of Middlesbrough Jazz Weekender. Timeless jazz tune - "Ponta de Areia" (Milton Nascimento) from Wayne Shorter's Native Dancer
Mary Allen
Mary is our Operations & Festival Administrator, overseeing mjf’s artist logistics, volunteer coordination, and the festival’s environmental sustainability. With a varied background in events management, she has worked across iconic Manchester venues including Islington Mill and Victoria Baths. Mary's experience in events is diverse, having tried her hand at everything from club nights, community markets and weddings, but her speciality lies with live music and festivals. She has been part of projects including We Out Here, Parklife, IMBC, Standon Calling and Moovin Festival - to name a few! Favourite show she has attended? Kate Bush at Hammersmith Apollo. Everything you'd have expected and then some."
Nataly Chambers
Nataly is mjf’s General Manager. In 2019, Nataly decided to work in music and the arts because she loves creating memorable experiences for others. Nataly is well connected in the Manchester music scene and enjoys varied styles of music ranging from punk to electronic and jazz. She is a regular gig-goer and can be found in any of the great venues across town. Nataly also works in visual arts and is the director of artist studio Paradise Works. Nataly loves learning and creating lasting connections with people. She enjoys travelling and even tinkers a little on the bass. Favourite Manchester gig spot? The Ritz
Joannne Williams
Jo is responsible for mjf’s fundraising alongside developing partnerships with likeminded organisations. Jo has over 20 years experience in arts & heritage fundraising, working for organisations including Arts About Manchester, Cornerhouse, The Lowry, National Trust & Buxton International Festival. She also works for the cultural heritage site Cromford Mills helping to explore the possibility of incorporating jazz in their programme. Further to this, Jo has a MSc in Social Change. She truly believe’s that music can change lives: there is nothing like live music & performing arts to create shared experiences & she is enthusiastic about the role mjf plays in the city to bring people together
Jeni Illingworth
Jeni is our new Branding and Communications Specialist. She’s an experienced and creative freelance digital marketing professional with over 19 years working in the arts sector and has a Masters (MSc with Distinction) in Digital Marketing Communications and a BA (Hons) in Music and Music Technology and has recently started a BTEC Higher National Certificate in Photography at the British Academy of Photography. Jeni also manages tour marketing, album launches and social media campaigns for bands and artists, including GoGo Penguin, who made their sell-out debut at mjf in 2015. Favourite Artist of the Year? I know I’m biased but I’m a massive fan of GoGo Penguin.
Evie Henderson
Evie is our newest Digital Content Maker & Creator. She has a background in acting having graduated from ALRA North in 2020. She previously worked as the Digital Marketer for the hottest sushi joint in MCR ‘Umezushi’ and as the Senior Creative Apprentice for the Award-Winning Warrington based company ‘Not Too Tame.’ Evie has an eclectic music taste and regularly attends gigs on the MCR scene as well international festivals. She is thrilled to start work at mjf and deepen her knowledge and love of all things Jazz. Most timeless Jazz Tune? Nina Simone ‘Please don’t let me be misunderstood’ she’s a legend, do I need to say anything else?
Aiyisha Williams
Aiyisha is our Audience Invitation Specialist. She has spent much of her career using art as tools for engagement, spending time working with young people within mental health and alternative education. Aiyisha studied contemporary art history at MMU and went on to study her MA in Youth and Childhood studies with a focus on art as a tool to ease trauma in early years development. Aiyisha has also worked under the title of ‘Audience engagement’ for Manchester international festival, The Turner Prize and last year for See my World festival. Favourite anthem of the year? I imagine my spotify playlist is going to say Rennaissance by Beyonce is my most played album.
Willow Ward
An MA student in Arts Management, Policy & Practice, Willow is finding her feet in the city's vibrant festival scene with a real zeal for all things jazz. She is a strong advocator for community arts & music as a powerful tool for uniting us & boosting mental & social wellbeing. While she doesn't make music (yet!), her ear for jazz slingshots from the plucky strings of Grant Green's guitar-playing to intergalactic fusions of electro rock from The Comet Is Coming.
Coco Yuan
As an MA student in Digital Media, Culture & Society, Coco has developed solid experience in brand marketing, media operations, & digital content creation. She also holds a strong passion for working in music & the arts. She enjoys exploring diverse musical genres, frequently attending concerts, festivals, & other live performances, & is also dedicated to learning instruments such as the guitar. By joining the mjf team, Coco aims to apply her creativity & media expertise to share the unique spirit of jazz with a wider audience.
mjf Board of Directors:
Victoria Robinson (Chair) , Nelson Beaumont-Laurencia, Yemi Bolatiwa, Gawen Higgins, Robin Phillips, Lucy Scott, Danni Skerritt, Eric Solomons, Thanda Gumede & Julia Payne.
