Our Team
Maryann Wright
FOUNDER AND CEO, SHE/HER
Maryann founded Sappho Events in 2020, and passionately runs the company to create more opportunities and visibility for LGBTQ+ women and non-binary people in the UK, and hopefully one day the world.
She was nominated for Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2022 Diva Awards for her work at Sappho Events.
Her background is in PR and communications for the entertainment and charity sector, and she also enjoys careers as a singer/actor and producer in the performing arts.
Originally from Australia, Maryann co-founded Women in Theatre and Screen, Australia in 2014, campaigning for gender equality in theatre, film and television. She produced all-women theatre festivals and think tank events tackling systemic concerns about the representation of women in the entertainment industry. She was nominated for the 2017 Australian Women in Leadership Award for her work with WITS.
A proud LGBTQ+ cis-woman, she led the creative ‘This Is Me’ visibility campaign as part of Lesbian Visibility Week 2020, working alongside Diva Magazine and InterMediaUK. She is also an LGBTQ+ ambassador for Inclusive Minds, consulting on LGBTQ+ representation in children’s literature.
Why Sappho: When I moved from Sydney to London years ago, I found it difficult to find opportunities for me to connect with the LGBTQ+ community to make friends and potentially find love. I wasn’t into clubbing, and the prospect of going to a gay bar by myself was daunting. Sappho Events is the company I wish existed. I hope it helps.
Ana Ndekwe
COMMUNITY AND WELFARE ADVISOR, SHE/HER
Part of the LGBT+ community, Ana is a boxing coach, personal trainer and Youth and Community worker. Owner of Female Boxing Coach, Ana runs boxing sessions for women of all abilities and fitness levels to enjoy not only the physical but mental benefits of sport. She’s a level 2 England boxing coach, level 3 personal trainer, and qualified in level 2 British Sign Language (BSL) and Safeguarding practices.
Why Sappho: I’m excited to be part of bringing those who share similar interests together in a safe space and a safe way - it is something that has been needed for a while. I do not take health as a joke; maintaining our mental health is important, and I believe Sappho will nurture just that. We’re here to provide to your needs under one umbrella so we want to hear your suggestions because your voice counts. Community is no longer a thing of the past, community is our Sappho.
Roshan Conn
TECHNICAL OFFICER, SHE/HER
Roshan has managed the technical and stage components of events big and small UK-wide. From Deputy Head of Stage at Vaults Festival managing over 10 theatre venues, to having worked on over 50+ Edinburgh fringe shows of all variety, to stage managing West End shows, and immersive experiences such as the Great Gatsby, Roshan is well-versed in event management.
Why Sappho: I’ve been very lucky that my career in the Arts and theatre has given me easy access to build LGBT+ communities and find safe spaces. Unfortunately this isn’t the same for everyone, so I would love to help expand activities to people who cannot access them as easily.
Jade
TRANS ADVISOR, SHE/HER
A lifelong entrepreneur who was born into poverty, Trans Woman Jade (aka Lady Phoenix) started her first business at 5 years old! (selling newspapers and magazines on the streets of her home city, Manila, Philippines
Jade is the founder of ZODIAC® Bar London, whos mission is to create the most inclusive and accepting LGBTQ+ space in the UK.
Jade has appeared in a number of publications and videos, representing the trans community and speaking out for inclusion and acceptance.
Jeanie Barnsley
INCLUSION ADVISOR, THEY/THEM
Jeanie is a non-binary and queer person usually found bouncing around theatre spaces and sometimes your telly box at home too as an actor. They’ve been running creative workshops for 8 years and got into equality and diversity through the workshops they run. They have a Level 2 qualification in Equality and Diversity.
Why Sappho: Having been to and worked in LGBTQ bars and clubs, I know they are great places to dance away the straight gaze, but they are terrible places to chill out and have a chat. It’s important for our community to have both. Sappho is an open and accepting place where we can get involved with things we are interested in without having the pressure to drink - how cool is that?
Our Facilitators
Margarita (she/her)
QUEER BOOK CLUB -FICTION
Margarita is an aspiring editor in the publishing industry and is always on the look out for the hottest new queer novel. In the past she has worked for a menstrual equity charity and a start-up focussed on creating a network for innovators in women and non-binary people’s health.
Margarita facilitates the fiction side of the Sappho Book Club and is always keen to hear about new recommendations from the Sappho community!
Why Sappho: When I was younger, I never quite appreciated the importance of having a queer community around me enough. Not being a big drinker, I found it difficult to fit into the London queer party scene so finding other queer friends was tricky!
Discovering Sappho was an amazing opportunity to meet people and do activities I love in a safe queer space, so I knew I wanted to get involved. I particularly love the book club community we’ve created at Sappho, who bring amazing ideas to challenge and inspire me every month!
J (she/they)
QUEER BOOK CLUB - NON-FICTION
Originally from the US, J works in the entertainment industry representing actors, with a focus on developing and helping actors of color break barriers in the industry. J has been involved in several racial diversity working groups within the entertainment industry as well as community outreach with volunteering work and mentoring through arts organisations and schemes. Usually curled up with a glass of whiskey and a book, J is excited to be working with Sappho Events to introduce more non-fiction reading and talks into the monthly book clubs!
Why Sappho? Community is so important to us as humans. When you want to connect with other people around a part of your identity or shared experiences, it's a gift to be able to find an organisation like this that will provide safe spaces for you to do just that whilst doing a fun activity or enjoying a non-clubbing focused night. We need to support Sappho Events and other organisations like it expand to create more space for LGBTQ+ women and non-binary people -- there is such a cry for this and there is a reason why!
Jeanie Barnsley (they/them)
OPEN MIC NIGHT, GAMES NIGHT
Jeanie is a non-binary and queer person usually found bouncing around theatre spaces and sometimes your telly box at home too as an actor. They’ve been running creative workshops for 8 years and got into equality and diversity through the workshops they run. They have a Level 2 qualification in Equality and Diversity.
Laïla El-Métoui (she/her)
LGBT+ QUIZ HOST
Laïla is an award winning Equity Educator with over 30 years experience in Education and Inclusion in the public and private sector.
Laïla is passionate about social justice and is the Founder of Pride in Education, Educating Out Racism.
In 2018, she founded and chairs Proud London Councils, the pan London LGBTQ+ Staff network for local authorities in the British capital.
In 2021, she also founded and co-chairs UK Queer Arabs.
Honoured as Stonewall Lesbian Role Model of the Year (2020) and named on the Guardian Pride Power List 2021, Laila’s impact on the LGBTIQA+ community and beyond has been influential.
Megan (she/her)
POTTERY FACILITATOR
Megan is a queer artist and writer based in London. She has a First Class degree in Fine Art from City & Guilds of London Art School where she specialised in sculpture and mixed-media. Now, she primarily works with clay to make sculptures and pots using hand-built techniques. She teaches pottery for events and within the community, such as in care homes. She believes passionately in the therapeutic nature of the arts. As a writer, she’s published poems and short stories in both online and print publications including BRICKS Magazine, Thought Catalog, Tickle.Life, Brenda Magazine, House of Revolution, Backlash Press and New River Press. She’s a current recipient of the London Writers Awards 2021 and is working on her first novel.
Our Advisory Board
Mandeep Soor (she/her)
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Mandeep is the CEO and co-founder of bendi, a tech-optimist, and a diversity advocate. Bendi enables brands and retailers in the fashion industry to measure and manage their sustainability data. They’re developing the world’s first AI-powered platform to help fashion companies set sustainability goals and measure progress while reducing reporting burdens.
Isabel Medem (she/her)
SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY
Isabel is an energetic and creative entrepreneur with more than ten years of experience in the social innovation sector. Having won prizes by Forbes 30 Under 30 as well as MIT Technology Review, Isabel is especially interested in strategy, leadership and change management within organisations. She has an MSc in Gender Studies and in Business Management, speaks four languages and has been calling London her home for three years now. Isabel currently works for an organisation in the humanitarian innovation sector, and is active in multiple side projects concerned with social justice and storytelling. In her free time, Isabel loves playing tennis, swimming (surfing, when she still lived in Peru), movies and hanging out with friends.
Jo Lambert (she/her)
ACCOUNTING
Jo is a queer trainee accountant with years of industry experience for small to medium-sized companies operating in multiple industries. She has a first-class degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Kent. Previous job roles include a hotel bookkeeper, a senior accounts assistant in the mechanical industry, and a finance assistant in recruitment. Her specialties lie in management accounting, budgeting, bookkeeping, and cash flow management/ forecasting. Currently, Jo is working and studying to become an ACA chartered accountant with the ICAEW, while working full-time at an accountancy firm in London.
Jo has participated in multiple charity events and roles over the years including being the financial secretary for her university Raise and Give society, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for Meningitis Research Foundation and skydiving for Mind Mental Health.
Bee Armstrong (she/her)
GOVERNANCE
Bee is a business and functions manager at Standard Chartered Bank. She’s a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. When not at work, Bee can be found running or chasing a ball around. She’s very happy to be on Sappho’s journey with Maryann.
Join Our Team
We are looking to expand our Advisory Board, and are looking for people with expertise in the following areas:
Legal
Fundraising
We are also on the lookout for:
Partnerships with LGBTQ+ friendly organisations
Sponsorship and funding opportunities
Please contact us at sapphoeventsuk@gmail.com to express interest.