OUR TEAM

Co-Director (Artistic)
leah@compasscollect.com
As the visionary Artistic Director and co-founder of Compass Collective, Leah has successfully led major projects and built partnerships with organisations like Shakespeare's Globe and BAFTA, and her talent for juggling multiple tasks, a skill perhaps honed by unicycling, makes Compass an excellent creative partner.

Co-Director (Executive)
dorothy@compasscollect.com
Dorothy joined Compass Collective as Executive Director in February 2025, bringing extensive experience from growing arts organisations, including Create. She uses her leadership roles, including as a Trustee of Fairbeats and Co-Founder of Anthem Music, to fulfil her passion for building creative, compassionate communities through the arts.

Youth Participation Manager 
mhairi@compasscollect.com
Mhairi is a Co-Founder of Compass and has been part of the Collective from the start. Trained as an actor at Guildhall, she has developed many of our projects and leads on our programmes in the Highlands. As Youth Participation Manager, she welcomes new young people into the Compass community. Outside of work, she enjoys climbing, hiking, running, and cycling in the mountains.

Lead Fundraiser
tom@compasscollect.com
As Senior Producer at Counterpoints Arts, Tom brings experience in project development and fundraising to his role at Compass Collective, which focuses on identifying funders, writing applications, and developing our individual giving programme to ensure we can sustain and expand our work.

Youth Board Co-ordinator
A poet and activist, Sanam uses her political science studies, theatre practitioner masters, and internships at Minority Rights and UN Women to consistently volunteer with refugees and asylum seekers, contributing to projects of revolution and poetry across Switzerland, London, and Morocco.

Finance & Operations Manager
Since joining Compass Collective in February 2020 (now serving as Finance and Operations Officer and Lead Safeguarding Officer), French musician Leila leverages her background in International Relations and Development Studies—including five years supporting young refugees at the British Red Cross—to manage operations, drawing on deep experience in humanitarian work across the Middle East.

Finance & Operations Officer (Maternity Cover)
Maz is an accountant with over 6 years of experience with a range of small and medium sized businesses and non-profit organisations. They’re also an artist working in theatre and poetry as Maz Hedgehog 

Compass Connect Co-ordinator
Sasha, a movement director and teacher who co-founded Compass Collective in 2018 and is now a company associate, integrates her Royal Central School of Speech and Drama training with a strong core belief in community and ensemble to connect actors from diverse backgrounds, often exploring how landscapes and architecture live within the body.

Welfare Manager
As a Higher Education professional and Yoga Teacher, Sara joined Compass Collective in October 2021 as the Welfare Support Officer, leveraging seven years of volunteer experience with the Red Cross Young Refugee Services to ensure young people have the wellbeing support they need while integrating into life in the UK.

Welfare Caseworker
Jay is a Welfare Caseworker (currently serving as Maternity Cover Welfare Manager) who brings a trauma-informed, holistic approach to Compass, leveraging their background as a qualified person-centred counsellor and former Actor to combine artistic engagement with pastoral care on projects like Centre Stage and Freedom Academy.

Social Media and Communications Officer
As a graduate in Documentary and Cultural Studies, Bo brings her love of all things digital and creative to Compass Collective, alongside her roles as Senior Digital Officer at PEN International and SEN Creative Facilitator. She blends her passion for digital storytelling with her love of youth work, ensuring young people’s voices and stories reach the audiences they deserve.

Volunteer Co-ordinator
Leigh is a project-loving operations whiz who blends creativity, strategy, and teamwork to help mission-driven organisations shine. With experience across entertainment and the non-profit world, including her work with Spectrum Community Arts, she’s passionate about inclusive arts and the power of creativity to bring people together. She champions accessibility, uplifts underrepresented voices, and brings joyful, thoughtful energy to every project she supports.

Connect Youth Co-ordinator
Yusuf has volunteered with Compass for over a year and recently joined the Horizons project as an Assistant Facilitator. He also delivers music-focused workshops, teaching basic music production and developing rapping skills. His experience across the live music industry led him to Compass, where he’s focused on using his skills to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

Beginners Teacher
As a facilitator and English teacher with Compass since 2020, Ben uses his BA in Chinese and French, acting training from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and TEFL qualification to understand and enhance the importance of language acquisition for both confidence and creativity.

Improvers Teacher
Anna-Sophia, who holds a BA (hons) in European Theatre Arts and performs Bulgarian Folklore, has been a facilitator with Compass Collective since 2023, where she uses her background in diverse traditions to support brilliant young people in building confidence with their English as they integrate into the UK.

Empowered Teacher
Andrew is an Educator, Actor, and Art Facilitator who designs and executes workshop programs, utilizing alternative and critical pedagogy to explore social justice and self-potential primarily with refugees, asylum seekers, and people with migrant backgrounds in the UK and globally, leveraging his MA in International Studies and Diplomacy and BA in Political Science.

Patrick is an experienced Director and Facilitator who, as a Compass founding member and Co-Director, led the creative direction and embedded the trademark Compass joy across theatre programs and the Ambassador, Next Steps, and Centre Stage initiatives for over five years, leveraging his eight years of experience to now oversee the Roundhouse Education Programme.

Eleanor is a highly experienced director, facilitator, and participatory artist trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Royal Central School of Speech and Drama who currently serves as Youth Manager for Hope in Tottenham and Associate Artist for Kestrel Theatre, leveraging her background in international and youth projects to work within the criminal justice system and promote social justice.

Hardi Kurda is a sound artist, curator, and PhD who developed the method of Urgent Listening, exploring forgotten and displaced sounds using radio frequencies, an approach shaped by his personal experience of crossing borders, and as an Associate Artist, he now collaborates with young refugees and displaced artists through sound, memory, and performance.

Hasan Kattan is a producer with over a decade of documentary filmmaking experience, whose work is deeply rooted in themes of justice and human rights, evidenced by his roles as cinematographer for the Oscar-winning The White Helmets and Assistant Director on the Emmy award-winning Last Men in Aleppo, and his recent work producing Death Without Mercy (2024).

Victor Rios is a British Latin American artist and facilitator specialising in theatre and video production. He uses participatory arts to amplify marginalised voices, working with refugees, adults with learning disabilities, BAME youth, and the Latin American community.

Yusuf Baluch is an activist organizer dedicated to amplifying the voices of those most affected by the climate crisis and other intersectional issues. He attended COP26 in Glasgow and COP29 in Baku, working alongside youth activists from MAPA (Most Affected People and Areas) to ensure that marginalised communities are represented at global decision-making tables. A member of Compass Collective since 2022, Yusuf draws on his lived experience to uses storytelling and facilitation to build confidence in young leaders, supporting them to develop their own voices and claim space in conversations that shape their futures.

Yordanos Mengsteab Belay is a facilitator, model, and pageant queen (Miss Europe Continental International Eritrea 2025, Second Runner-Up at Miss Africa Great Britain 2024–2025, and Third Runner-Up at Miss Europe Continental International 2025–2026) who brings confidence, creativity, and compassion to her work. She has participated in various Compass projects, including our short film, "River Friends," with Frank. She holds an MCA in Pharmacy and currently works in a community pharmacy, championing empowerment and community wellbeing.

Frank is a long-time Compass Collective member, bringing a playful approach to the spaces he leads. He has participated in many Compass productions, most recently in the Flip Side with the National Youth Theatre. He is a key member of the Compass Youth Board, acting as Co-Chair, helping to keep the work rooted in what young people actually need.

Massi is a former Red Cross Refugee and Befriending participant and is now a core member of the Compass Community. He discovered his passion for acting after performing in Voice in the Dark at Shakespeare’s Globe, and has since appeared in Imagine, On The Line, and Calling Across Borders. He is now an Assistant Facilitator for Compass Collective and currently supports our ESOL workshops with schools across the UK.

Shanzay is an artist and experienced collaborator with the Compass Collective, having assisted on multiple Compass projects and productions, most recently on The Freedom Academy. Alongside her creative practice, she has supported the Compass Youth Board as Co-Chair, bringing care and leadership. Shaznay joins projects to share her expertise, drawing on her experience across Compass productions. Through this work, she has continued to develop her skills and knowledge as a facilitator, creating a calm and supportive environment in workshops.

Co-director and Social Media
Shanzay is that behind-the-scene dedicated activist, or maybe a die-hard for equality. Her hands are in love with the canvas and the pencil but be careful, she has a big mouth, in English and in Urdu. Only Ferrero Rocher can sway her away from calligraphy. And English tea? “Unbelievable!”

Co-director and Spokesman
Mukisa Nsubuga (but frankly you can call him Frank) – This man is from Uganda, tribe is Muganda, and speaks Luganda. Be careful, he is a man of his words who never gives up, who cares about the world. He speaks out for the people with courage and even has an opinion on British tea. Only football with cheese and onion crisps will distract him from politics.

Wellness and Youth Researcher
Abdisa – A behind-the-scenes advocate, driven by his Oromo roots, While his days are a blend of studying, working, and enjoying grilled chicken, he's fiercely committed to staying connected with his community. If he could have one thing it would be making change, stopping wars, making peace and unity in the world.

Researcher & Consultant
Ahed strives to have a voice, drive change, and positively impact young people. Ahed is passionate about creating safe, judgment-free spaces and addressing issues like homelessness and belonging, challenges Ahed has personally faced. Through diverse perspectives, Ahed contributes to inclusive projects and workshops, and believes in stepping outside the comfort zone as the key to personal growth and shaping identity.

Young Trustee
Having been an active Compass member since 2022 and volunteered with the Shpresa Programme, Florjan now serves as a Compass Trustee to create more opportunities for young people, build bridges, and ensure Compass remains a welcoming and safe space for all.

Vinicius Morfer, or just Vin to his mates (that's you!), is a musician and singer-songwriter who came from Rio to London and is keen to inspire others through his journey of finding home where the heart is, often found exploring riverbanks or crafting sonic masterpieces.

Mohamed is a Youth Board member focusing on fundraising and activities, driven by a desire to create welcoming spaces, especially for refugees—a topic deeply important to him. He brings lived experience, empathy, and energy, having gained confidence through shadowing the team and essential work for Refugee Week. Kind, driven, and thoughtful, he is inspired by those who overcome hardship.

Compass Culture Volunteer
Zoe expertly arranges theatre trips and cultural events, ensuring accessibility for all. With a background as an Access Arrangement Coordinator at a Further Education College, she’s dedicated to inclusive experiences. Holding a BA in French Studies and an MA in Translation, Zoe has a passion for travel and multicultural literature. When not exploring new cultures, she enjoys walking and spending quality time with friends and family.

Compass Culture Volunteer
Mais is a freelance facilitator, theatre-maker, and researcher with extensive experience in community and theatre organizations. As Founder of Theatre of Dissent, a trustee at Babel Theatre, and chair of Equity’s LGBT+ committee, Mais uses theatre for political education and activism, focusing on marginalized communities. They are thrilled to join Compass Collective to support asylum seekers and refugees.

Welfare Volunteer
Kessia provides capacity-building support to local charities across the Scottish Highlands. With a background in interdisciplinary studies, she is interested in how grassroots initiatives collaborate on cross-disciplinary challenges. Having previously volunteered with The Highlands Support Refugees, Kessia is now based near Inverness and looks forward to empathetically contributing to Compass Collective's work.

Welfare Volunteer
With over ten years’ experience in community development, Jennal is dedicated to fostering belonging, well-being, and creativity. Her work bridges the arts, mental health, and social connection — helping people thrive together. Jennal volunteers as a caseworker for Care for Calais, supporting young people through asylum claims and age assessments.

Chair of Board
Wendy has over 30 years’ experience in the charity sector, leading youth engagement and safeguarding work. She has volunteered with the British Red Cross for 47 years, holding multiple roles, and received an MBE in 2013 and the Stephenson Award in 2018. A school governor and member of the National Safeguarding Youth Forum, she is passionate about empowering and protecting young people.

Treasurer
Fatimah is a chartered accountant with a Master’s in Accounting and Finance and 13 years’ experience in audit and strategic finance. Passionate about empowering young adults, she volunteers her skills to support career development, funding access, and coaching. As Treasurer of Compass Collective, she strengthens our financial capacity and creates new opportunities for young adult refugees.

Bruce Goodison is an award-winning documentary and drama filmmaker with over 30 years’ experience. His feature Leave to Remain highlighted the realities facing young people seeking sanctuary in the UK’s adversarial immigration system. The film’s impact shaped his dedication to advocating for asylum as a place of protection, ensuring traumatised young people are treated with dignity and humanity.

Toby is a world renowned television, film and theatre actor. Learning his craft with Jacques Lecoq at the Ecole Internationale du Théâtre. He has taught regularly for the NT and Complicité: actors, writers, directors, singers, devisers and improvisers. Toby is Patron of BAC (Battersea Arts Centre) throughout its recent redevelopment. He’s an Associate Artist at the Bristol Old Vic and an ambassador for Theatre for a Change. And now he’s a proud trustee of the Compass Collective!

Dr. Azadeh Fatehrad is a London-based artist, curator, and advocate for migrant and refugee communities. With a doctorate from the Royal College of Art, her work blends research and art, exploring migration and integration. She has secured major funding from leading institutions and brings extensive fundraising and project leadership experience. As Fundraising Trustee, she strengthens organisational impact and sustainability.

Mohamed arrived in the UK from Iraq as a refugee in 2009 and became a British citizen in 2018. A founding artist with Ovalhouse Theatre’s Paper Project, he grew into an activist and student leader, earning UNICEF Platinum and Croydon Volunteer of the Year awards. He founded multiple student groups and is now pursuing his long-held dream of studying Computer Science at Greenwich.