Welcoming our new trustees
We are delighted to welcome Holly, Elizabeth, Ewan and Gurjit to our board of trustees.
Holly Conneely
“ I wanted to join the board of Company Three because their work has inspired me for over a decade, and I feel a genuine pull to support an organisation that so powerfully champions young people’s creativity, confidence and agency. I can't wait to get started.”
I am Director of Communications at The Place, with more than 15 years’ experience in marketing and communications across the arts and cultural sector. Previously, I have worked at Royal Court Theatre, Kiln Theatre, Barbican Centre and Michael Clark Company.
My work focuses on building audiences, shaping cultural conversations and helping artists and organisations connect with communities. I am particularly passionate about ensuring all young people have access to the arts and opportunities to be creative.
Ewan Caseman
“Throughout my career, I’ve been driven by the belief that young people achieve extraordinary things when they’re trusted, listened to and given genuine opportunities to lead. Joining the Board of Company Three felt like a natural fit because of its commitment to youth voice, creativity and social impact, and I’m delighted to be able to contribute to its future.”
I am a development and education leader with over 20 years’ experience across national arts, education and community organisations. I currently serve as Head of Youth Development at National Youth Orchestra where I lead strategic work focused on safeguarding, inclusion, youth voice and organisational culture.
Throughout my career, I have held senior leadership roles within London schools and national youth organisations, specialising in safeguarding governance, wellbeing, participation and equitable practice. My work focuses on creating safe, accountable and youth-centred environments where young people can thrive creatively and personally.
With a background in music and creative education, I bring a strong understanding of artistic environments alongside expertise in people management, policy development and strategic planning. I am passionate about supporting values-led organisations to remain inclusive, sustainable and responsive to the communities they serve.
Gurjit Dhinsa
"What drew me to Company Three was its commitment to placing young people at the heart of its decision-making and creative practice, its Social Graces framework and inclusive, collaborative culture. I wanted to join the Board to support the company’s long-term future by bringing my systems thinking and environmental sustainability experience to help create the conditions for current and future generations of storytellers to thrive."
I am deeply motivated by the social impact of youth-led theatre and by fostering positive collaboration between young people and adults, alongside innovation in creative and technical practices and systems. I value Company Three’s mission to create a safe and supportive space where young people can shape ideas into tangible outcomes with professional theatre makers, while upholding the Company’s core principles of inclusion, creativity and care.
I bring experience in environmental sustainability, technical leadership, and collaborative decision-making across complex organisations and projects. During my time within the Sustainability and Learning departments at National Theatre, my work focused on helping teams across the organisation navigate change responsibly, balancing strategic ambition with practical delivery and long-term resilience. Across technical roles at National Theatre and Southbank Centre, I supported the delivery of backstage technical training programmes, strengthening my commitment to youth development, skills-sharing, and inclusive learning environments.
I am inspired by opportunities to contribute thoughtfully to governance while encouraging innovation, accountability, and inclusive participation.
Elizabeth Ascroft
“Growing up, theatre granted me the freedom to be curious, playful, and delve into tricky topics beyond a regular conversation. Those experiences were the building blocks for my sense of belonging and confidence to express myself. Company Three's mission to support young people to explore and tell their own stories is deeply moving, and their co-creative, values-led ethos makes me hopeful for the future. Investing in collaborative, arts-based spaces for youth expression is where we make real difference, and something I've spent my career trying to create. I'm excited and honoured to be supporting their work and I can't wait to see where they go next!”
Elizabeth is an activist, creative facilitator, and researcher. She holds a PhD from The Open University, where her research explored how to build arts-based co-creative processes with young people.
She brings over a decade of experience working with young people on sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender justice, and participation across international development contexts. She has worked with organisations including Girl Effect, IPPF, Plan International, and Brook, designing participatory research, youth engagement strategies, and creative knowledge products. She has facilitated across cultures and supported youth-led advocacy in over 20 countries.
Elizabeth is drawn to the question: whose knowledge counts, and for whose benefit? She builds collaborative spaces where communities shape the research and programmes that affect them. Her facilitation is guided by an ethos of care and a belief in creativity, play, and joy as tools for change.
Elizabeth is motivated by social justice, guided by curiosity, and committed to learning. She takes great pleasure in sharing with others and loves to laugh!
Elizabeth works independently as a consultant, bringing participatory research and creative practice to social justice work. Find out more at elizabethascroft.com