P/T Development Manager: Jane Gallgher
Jane brings to her role over 15 years’ experience as a development manager within the voluntary sector. Prior to that, she worked for 10 years in further education where she became Head of Adult Training at Solihull College and pioneered vocational guidance services for the unemployed. Jane has specialised in funding issues, working as Head of the Funding Unit at Birmingham Voluntary Service Council and more recently was Projects Manager with Lynton Regeneration, leading ‘Connecting Faith Communities’ and a range of Ethnic Minority Outreach programmes to support job seekers.
Jane now works in a freelance capacity to support the development of faith-based and other voluntary sector initiatives and strategic policy issues. In a voluntary capacity Jane is Co-Chair of HALOW (Birmingham), a charity that operates four Prison Visitors Centres across the Midlands and a Trustee of two faith-based charitable organisations (the Good Neighbour Centre and Sports Pursuits). Jane is a partner at The Renewal Christian Centre, Solihull and also serves as an Executive member of the Birmingham Council of Faiths. At WMFF Jane leads on policy, sustainability and quality assurance.
Lead Volunteer & Communications Officer: Barry Keegan
Barry's background includes a 2:1 BA Hons. degree from the University of Wolverhampton in Religious Studies and Philosophy. This has given him a keen understanding of the teachings of a variety of faiths, as well as some of the issues confronting them.
From September 2009 to September 2011 he studyied a Master degree course in Sikh Studies at the University of Birmingham, investigating the relationship between religious identity and practice amongst Sikhs in the West Midlands County - he is currently awaiting the result of his final submission.
His volunteer placement with WMFF (which started in February 2009 with the job title of 'Communications Volunteer') provides him with a diverse range of work; from assisting in general office tasks to assistance in planning and delivering events. In 2011, in recognition of his commitment to the Forum and his willingness to take on tasks outside of his job description (including an occasional supervisory role) Barry's job title was changed to 'Lead Volunteer & Communications Officer'. From January 2009 to August 2011, Barry also volunteered with the National Trust's 'Who's Story?' Project, geared towards engaging BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) groups.
His hobbies include herpetoculture and music: he is a composer and plays electric/acoustic guitar, bass guitar and is teaching himself the Uilleann Pipes. He also has a keen interest in increasing youth engagement and encouraging the participation of the non-religious in interfaith activities.
You can also find Barry for networking purposes here
Volunteer Development Officer: Sylviann Olivia Thorpe
Sylviann has recently joined WMFF as a volunteer Development Officer. Her role involves developing the funding strategy for WMFF, researching policy material and assisting to facilitate WMFF youth engagement initiatives.
Sylviann also works as a floating project worker for a national charity, empowering individuals living in the community with mild to severe learning disabilities to reach their potential and access services, such as employment and education.
Sylviann has successfully completed a Combined Honours degree in Public Policy and Management and Sociology at Aston University and is currently studying part time towards a Masters in research with Politics. Her main interests include politics and sociology and in the future would like to venture into a career in politics.
Sylviann has a passion for sports - in particular football, where she supports Arsenal - and is a music enthusiast; she taught herself to play the piano and is currently learning to play the saxophone.
