Juliette Baigler

I came to a meeting at Embercombe in 2008; it was love at first sight and I’ve been volunteering ever since.  I’m in my third year as female presiding chief of the Embercombe Council and as a coach in the Apprenticeship programme.

Outside of Embercombe I’m a qi gong practitioner, a painter and a too-seldom dancer. I also work as a coach to leaders in schools, NGOs and businesses where I also facilitate participatory group processes focusing on visioning, leadership and partnership.

Michael Brown

I facilitate the Young Leaders programme which supports young people aged 16-21 in their transition into adulthood. I also provide coaching for an individual on the Apprentice programme

Alexander Butler

I came to Embercombe through hearing Mac speak and coming to Friends' weekends.  Since then I've lived here residentially and then worked for Embercombe since March 2011.  I built and maintain the website and support all of Embercombe's technical needs.  I also sit on the Council as the male chief for Keepers of the Mission.

I'm a weird blend of geek, shaman, mentor, martial artist and social entrepeneur, and I'm a passionate supporter of Embercombe and it's work.

Alex Gater

I work with Embercombe's various youth residential programmes where I run film making workshops, enabling young people to explore communication through film.   The workshops are aimed to help people (young and not so young) become confident using the camera and presenting their story.  Many of their films are available to see at www.bigetc.tv.  I also design and build websites for companies and individuals, and have assisted with Embercombe's web development.  As a producer (of some limited experience) I always enjoy putting on a show.  Being part of the theatre of Embercombe, from sound & light to event design and promotions is all part of the thrill  of being an Associate.

Nick Godwin

I first came to Embercombe in 2008 while helping with a day trip my children were on with their school. It was love at first sight and I have been involved regularly since then. I love to cook and enjoy working with the volunteers cooking together using the freshest ingredients.

Kanada Elizabeth Gorla

Kanada is a facilitator on The Journey, course leader on Catalyst (which she co-created and co-leads with Johannes Moeller) and leads Crossroads, one of our bespoke programmes (originally commissioned by Said Business School MBA students and recently run for On Purpose social entrepreneurs).  As a senior consultant Kanada designs and delivers leadership, team and personal development projects in the private, public and third sectors (recent clients include Hardy Reinsurance Group and Carpenter Oak). Kanada was a founding member of the Embercombe Council and served as Female Presiding Chief in the Council’s first 2 years. Since 2008 Kanada has mentored Embercombe apprentices currently is developing our growing Catalyst team.

Dolly Kary

I am a cook and facilitator in the kitchen on the Journey programme and also a craft facilitator at events.

Nick Kary

I am a passionate believer in the role of design and craft in reuniting us with our true potential and meaningful relationship with the natural world.  I work as a furniture maker, designer, lecturer and facilitator.  I use the media of wood, tools and words to help individuals cross the barrier of self-imposed impossibility and arrive at a place of empowerment.  In this capacity, I facilitate on programmes at Embercombe and have been a consultant there on issue of design for the last 10 years.

Mark Lane

I am a wilderness guide, instructor and mentor.  For those who wish to live in – and travel through – the wildlands.

Sarah Lane

I stand in for Jo holding the garden when I am asked, including facilitation for The Journey.

Tom Lowday

I help facilitate groups with green woodword / rural skills.  I have worked with a number of different clients from primary schools to corporate groups.

Chukumeka Maxwell

My name is Chukumeka which means "Thankgod".  Most people call me Chukes.  I sit on the Council in the seat of the fathers, I work for the NHS, teach at local universities and have set up a multicultural social enterprise in Mental Health and Social Care based on the spirit of UBUNTU, the essence of being human.  UBUNTU speaks particularly about the fact that you cannot exist as a human being in isolation.  It speaks about our interconnectedness.  You cannot be human all by yourself and when you have this quality - UBUNTU - you are known for your generosity.

I believe that our internal and external environments are both important.  Embercombe offers a place to challenge the paradigms that most people live by.  I am hoping, in terms of local communities, to encourage greater participation in Embercombe's life which will inspire people to reflect on the changes we each as individuals and collectively can make.

Alastair Mumford

I have worked as a sustainable business consultant for the last few years and part of my work has been helping businesses reduce energy costs and impacts.  My work with Embercombe will follow this theme and I hope we can make the site and operations even more efficient and low-carbon than they already are through behaviour change activities and technology updates.  My slightly new line of work is setting up sustainable enterprises and I'm hoping we may be able to integrate some of that into the energy work.

Jane Robertson

I first volunteered and fell in love with Embercombe in the December of 2009 and have been returning ever since as a volunteer. Now my work at embercombe is on the wildcraft program, which is 5 days of activities aimed towards 13 to 16 year olds. I've always had a deep love of nature, this love has grown as i've studied the ways of bushcraft and how our ancestors once lived on this planet using only the raw materials that the earth provides.

I'm thrilled at the opportunity to be able to bring these skills to the wildcraft program and see them inspire and empower other people in the same way that they inspire me to live on the earth in a more respectful, sustainable way. 

I also organise musicians for Embercombe events.

Jessie Watson Brown

Jessie joined the Embercombe team in autumn 2009 as an apprentice. She continues to work with Embercombe in a number of ways; she cares for the bees, works in the kitchen, and sits on the council in the seat of the land..

Deborah Ward

Deborah brings together her unique approach to Theatre, her deep appreciation for nature and her study of philosophy in a pioneering new program for young people from London. The Young-people’s Environment and Arts Project, YEAP, combines a series of workshops in performance arts, film, sustainability skills and nature-awareness, culminating in the production of participants’ own theatrical and visual arts production.
 
A graduate of London International School of Performance Arts, LISPA, Deborah has trained in the professional creation and production of devised theatre, now working as storyteller and in the initial stages of developing a new theatre production. Deborah’s passion for performance art as a tool to express pressing social and environmental issues is channeled into her work at Embercombe and beyond.

Joanna Watters

I work to support parents to explore whatever is in the way of us raising the next generation to be empowered, confident, sensitive, trusting, individuals able to lead in their own lives.

Lara White

Lara is part of the Catalyst team with a focus on business development, communication and outreach.

“I am really enjoying being part of such an inspired and motivated team as Catalyst’s - and I love being able to contribute to Embercombe's mission to “touch hearts, stimulate minds and inspire committed action towards a more sustainable future.”

Catalyst inspires young adults to contribute their unique gifts, skills and passions toward the building of a just and sustainable world, which is work that I feel is totally in line with my own purpose. The attitude that Catlyst promotes (vision, inner strength, risk-taking, self-esteem...) is very similar to the one I have been developing for myself over the years. Empowering people to fulfill their potential and to live exciting and meaningful lives is what I have been inspired to do for as long as I can remember…

I would like to develop my facilitation skills in order to do less work behind the scenes and more of it in direct contact with people from all kinds of background – out there, on the field, as it were!”