Katie Kirk; New Chair of the Trustees at The Hypatia Trust

We are delighted to welcome Katie Kirk as our new Chair on the board of Trustees. Katie’s relationship to Melissa and her involvement with The Hypatia Trust go some way back and we are thrilled to have her on board as we carry forward Melissa’s legacy.

Katie says: “I am honoured to be asked to join the Board of Trustees at The Hypatia Trust having witnessed the organisation blossom steadily over many years. I am looking forward to our journey of co-discovery in this new chapter for The Hypatia Trust.”

Katie developed an early interest in the visual and performing arts, nature, charities and campaigns; themes which have continued to drive her work ever since. After completing an Environmental Science degree, she worked for former MPs Andrew George, Matthew Taylor and former MEP Robin Teverson before becoming a Parliamentary Campaigner for Friends of the Earth in London working collaboratively with MPs from all parties.  

Upon returning to Cornwall, Katie applied herself to grassroots project development, helping groups to focus their ideas and to form project plans, which was when she first met Melissa, Phil Budden and Andrew Bell. At around this time, Katie undertook a PGCE studying feminism and postmodernism in her spare time whilst continuing to support projects such as Hypatia House, the Exchange Art Gallery, the Penwith Centre on Parade Street, the Solomon Browne Memorial Hall in Mousehole, Chough’s Cafe and overseeing the build phase of The Centre of Pendeen.  

Her creative appetite has led to her to form a folk duo, lead creative writing workshops at The Writers’ Block, perform poetry, stories and songs with The Story Republic, Wildworks, Golden Tree, Perthi Kov and the Minack, as well as undertaking oral history and archive research to inform script writing as a solo and community theatre practitioner. She also combined her creativity with her Environmental Science background in facilitating creative consultation events for Professor Jane Wills at the Exeter University ESI.  

With this hugely rich background she is currently Chair and Chief Development Officer at Bosavern Community Farm near St. Just, and remains committed to her dual role there, whilst embracing The Hypatia Trust as new Chair.

Phil Budden, Vice-Chair of the Trustees and Treasurer of The Hypatia Trust:

“A little while before Melissa died, we had a discussion together about the future of The Hypatia Trust. She made a short list of people who might succeed her as the leader of the Trust. She styled herself as Founder/Director, which was obviously not a title that could continue, so we would be looking for a Chair of the Trustees. Katie Kirk was high on her list of possibilities. Both Melissa and I have followed Katie’s activities for many years, and we were both full of admiration for her boundless energy, enthusiasm and abilities. I am delighted that Katie has accepted the challenge of becoming Chair and helping to take the Trust into the future.”

The team at Hypatia wish Katie all the best as we welcome her on board!