Meet Rubicon's Board
AVIJIT BHAGWANT
SENIOR FP&A PROJECTS MANAGER, ADMIRAL GROUP
Avijit is in strategy and finance with Admiral Group’s HQ in Cardiff. With a background in enterprise technology, corporate strategy, and project management, he’s delivered process improvement, efficiency, and capability development initiatives. Avijit spent 11 years in Singapore before completing his MBA at INSEAD and moving to the UK.
He enjoys working with data to develop easy-to-understand narratives and enable good decision making. Having grown up across a number of different countries, he’s also a passionate foodie and loves exploring new cultures.
JOHN CAVANAGH
COMPANY DIRECTOR
John has been a director in multiple organisations such as Airbus, the MoD, a start-up, a turnaround, and the third sector, including developing and running the commercial training division of St John Ambulance. He brings extensive experience from many different contexts and runs his own company providing interim and consultancy services. John seeks to help organisations and the people in them to achieve their potential, whilst enjoying their work and making a positive difference to communities.
John also enjoys managing an investment portfolio, playing golf and snooker, and lives in Bristol.
CHARLIE ELLAWAY
Chief People Officer, Hodge Bank
At Hodge, Charlie is responsible for the creation and delivery of the people strategy spanning Talent, L&D, Organisational Design, Business Partnering, Operations, Facilities and Culture, along with executive leadership direction across the business.
With a Master’s degree in strategic human resources management and over a decade of HR experience across multiple sectors from manufacturing to financial services, Charlie is passionate about creating a work environment where people can bring their whole selves to work, feel valued and ultimately thrive, making this and ED&I a focal point of her people strategy and leadership development initiatives to harness an inclusive and equitable culture.
MICAELA OWEN
HEAD OF SKILLS AND WORKFORCE TRANSFORMATION, NCC
Micaela is a senior manager at the UK's top Composite R&D facility, part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult. With extensive leadership experience, having worked across various sectors including charity, not for profit and commercial organisations, and running teams from 6 to 250 people, she values ethics and innovation, promoting partnerships, teamwork and empowerment.
A compassionate, dedicated and approachable leader with a passion for building and maintaining high standards in training delivery, Micaëla seeks to enhance the learner experience within a supportive organisation.
MATT WILLIAMS
POLICY & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, WELSH SPORTS ASSOCIATION
Matt is an experienced policy and government affairs professional with extensive experience in lobbying all levels of Government in Wales. He is Policy and Communications Manager at the Welsh Sports Association and leads on engagement with the Senedd, Welsh Government and other statutory organisations.
He has a track record of delivering policy and legislative change in a variety of sectors, from the environment and planning to economic development.
Matthew is a Welsh speaker and outside of work, he is a keen cyclist and past chair of Wales’ largest cycling club, Cardiff Ajax CC – managing a team of volunteers delivering a programme of sport across the city and South Wales.
PAUL WHITTAKER
ARTIST, WRITER, FILMMAKER, HEIW
Paul is currently a Lived Experience Peer Lead with Health Education and Improvement Wales, supporting the development of the Lived Experience workforce across Wales.
Alongside his own practice as an artist, writer and filmmaker working across different sectors in Wales, Paul has worked on several commissions from clients including Rubicon Dance, Arts Council Wales, Sherman Cymru, Channel 4, Public Health Wales and the Old Vic. His autobiographical play, Gods & Kings, was received to critical acclaim, as was his Miscellaneous Rules solo art exhibition at the Hearth Gallery.
As part of our board, Paul helps Rubicon find creative ways to present our work across all media and has been key in the incorporation of a digital alternative to our artistic programme.