MEET THE HYPATIA TRUST TEAM
Jen McDerra - Director
Jen (PhD, FRSA) is a writer and literary life historian who uses archives and oral histories to reunite people, whose voices and stories have been denied a place in history, with their considerable achievements.
She has an MA in Migration from the University of Sussex and a PhD from the University of East Anglia which explores mid-20th century literary women from the Caribbean, for which she was awarded the Caroline Spurgeon Prize by the British Federation of Women Graduates. Jen is also a Fellow of the Clore Leadership Programme, and a Trustee for Cornwall Pride.
Jen has been involved in the literary world for 20 years. This includes experience working with Barefoot Books, Commonwealth Writers, BOCAS Literary Festival (Trinidad & Tobago), The Reader, The Charles Causley Trust where she organized the poet’s centenary celebrations in 2017, and most recently with The Writers’ Block, where she was Creative Director.
Her book ‘Keeping Memories’ is based on a collaboration with the charity rYico, which gathered testimonies from Rwandan refugees who had made their home in the UK following the 1994 genocide.
Jen’s doctoral thesis reinstating the legacy of the BBC Literary Representative in Jamaica, Gladys Lindo, resulted in ‘Finding Gladys Lindo’ a production created for The Essay on BBC Radio 3. She is currently adapting her thesis for publication with representation from Aitken Alexander Associates.
In her role as Director of The Hypatia Trust, Jen shapes the overarching vision for our work, and is leading the launch of our international residency programme for writers, artists, and thinkers interested in coming to Cornwall to collaborate.
Contact: jen@hypatia-trust.org.uk
Cat Belshaw - Director of Operations
Cat is a photographer, writer, editor, and not-for-profit leader based in Cornwall and Toronto, Canada. Her work is rooted in the art of noticing, connecting and sharing alternative perspectives on the world -- perspectives often overlooked due to their marginality, smallness, and hiddenness.
Cat has an MA in History from the University of Arizona where she studied the history of colonialism, and over 15 years of experience working in the arts, publishing, and social services sectors. She leads the fund development and government relations activities for one of Canada’s largest Indigenous social services organizations and was a founding member of the Festival of Literary Diversity. Her photography has been featured in PhotoEd Magazine, Women Street Photographers, Decode Gallery, and Gallery 44.
In her role at The Hypatia Trust, Cat supports the development and implementation of our vision and mission, and works closely with team members, partners and funders to ensure that we have the systems and resources in place to carry it out.
Contact: catb@hypatia-trust.org.uk
Lally MacBeth - Events
and Communications Lead
Lally is an artist, writer and curator based in Cornwall. Her work takes in history, folklore, performance, ritual and artifice – and the links between high and low culture. She is the founder of The Folk Archive and co-founder of Stone Club. Her book The Lost Folk will be published by Faber in June.
In her role at The Hypatia Trust, Lally runs our events programme and heads up our social media.
Contact: lally@hypatia-trust.org.uk
Alice Mount - Engagement and Partnerships Lead
Alice is a researcher, writer and editor working across various art, performance, social-research and archival projects. With a background in literary studies, oral history and life-writing, her current areas of interest include hidden social histories and contemporary feminist writing practices.
Alice develops and maintains The Hypatia Trust's collaborative partnerships and facilitates engagement with our collections, resources and our spaces. Alice is also managing editor of our online archive, Women in Cornwall.
Contact: alice@hypatia-trust.org.uk
Marisela Chapman - Bookshop Manager
Marisela is a writer, editor, and content designer, as well as an Integral Master Coach™ a strategic business leader, and mentor. Since moving to Cornwall in 2023, Marisela has worked closely with The Hypatia Trust and manages our bookshop.
Contact: marisela@hypatia-trust.org.uk
Maggi Livingstone - Lead Archivist
Maggi is our lead archivist, archiving the correspondence, notebooks and original manuscripts in The Hypatia Trust collections so that they can be preserved for the long term and made accessible for future generations to enjoy.
Contact: maggi@hypatia-trust.org.uk
HYPATIA TRUSTEES
Katie Kirk - Chair of the Trustees
Katie developed an early interest in the visual and performing arts, nature, charities and campaigns; themes which have continued to drive her work. Katie applies herself to grassroots project development, helping groups to focus their ideas and to form project plans, which is how she first became involved with The Hypatia Trust. 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 and more.
Read more about Katie here
Miki Ashton
Project Co-ordinator of The Gardeners’ House
Doreen Pinfold
Retired Head of Library & Information Services at Falmouth University, Cornwall
Philip Budden
Retired dental surgeon, Treasurer of the Trust
Andrew Bell, OBE
Retired Company Director, Cornwall
Dr Jane Royle
Retired Consultant in Public Health, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
Dr Judith Davidson
Retired Principal Clinical Scientist, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
+ VIEW HYPATIA'S FRIENDS REMEMBERED:
John Ryton Andrews, 2008
Wilhelmina Barns Graham, 2004
Andrea Garrihy, 2016
Dr James (Jim) Gibson, 2005
Lady Mary Holborrow, 2017
Jessica Mann, 2018
Frances Partridge, 2004
Dr Elspeth Pope, 2013
Hilary Richings, 2015
Professor Charles Thomas, 2016
Hon David Treffry of Place, 2000
Eva Tucker, 2015
Marion Whybrow, 2015
Veronica Janas, 2016
Esme Stanford, 2017
Sarah Fermi, 2018
John Sansom, 2019
A BIG THANK YOU TO:
We are immensely grateful to the following people and organisations who have made significant donations to The Hypatia Trust since its foundation in 1996.
+ VIEW CURRENT & ONGOING SUPPORTERS:
Budden family (Cornwall)
The 20-40 Project (London and Cornwall)
Andrews-Westlake family (Exeter, Devon & Cornwall) 2009
Community Chest (Penwith Community Development Fund) 2006
Cornwall Council (Arthur Q Couch Fund)
Cornwall Counselling Service (C & J Leigh)
Eric and Deirdre Dare (Truro)
Exeter University Special Collections & Libraries
Healthy Living Initiative (Small Grants fund) 2006
The Heritage Lottery Fund (History 51) 2012-13
The Heritage Lottery Fund (Morrab Stables development) 2017
Home Front Recall (2006) Heritage Lottery Fund (The Land Girls of Cornwall)
Norna Jamieson (London & Shetland) and family
Daphne & James Laing of St Andrews Scotland
The Millennium Fellowship Programme (2000) National Lottery
Friends of the Morrab Gardens Penzance
Penwith District Council
Penzance Town Council
Dr Elspeth Pope and Professor James Holly and their family 2013
Tabb House Publishers (Padstow) 2012
The Tanner Trust (UK and Cornwall) 2007, 2013, 2016
Architectural Heritage Fund 2018
Langdale Trust 2018
The Hypatia Trust is one of very few organisations in the UK dedicated to promoting education and research in women's studies, and supporting the intellectual endeavours of women so that their contributions are maximised.