ScreenSkills has welcomed four new members to its Board of Trustees. Sachin Dosani, Sarah Monteith, Stephen O’Donnell and Alex Pumfrey, will join the Board from October and help guide every aspect of the organisation under the leadership of its Chair, Lisa Opie.
The appointments come following a governance review ScreenSkills undertook as part of the Board’s commitment to its five-year strategy, launched in October 2024. They are part of an ongoing process to move to a smaller, skills-based board, ensuring it is representative of the strategic future needs of the organisation in terms of sector experience, diversity and location.
Sachin Dosani is skilled in commercial strategy, business transformation, branded content and advertising. He is the COO and co-founder of Wonderhood Studios and brings a deep understanding of the commercial dynamics of TV production and advertising. Previously he was Managing Director and co-founder of ACF Investment Bank, and Associate Director Mergers and Acquisitions at Grant Thornton.
Sarah Monteith has expertise in TV and film production, brand management and marketing. Her roles include Chief Executive at Baby Cow Productions, where she was Executive Producer of drama and comedy and Chief Marketing Officer at BBC Studios, where she looked after the BBC’s global franchises. She has had charity and fundraising experience as Director of Marketing & Fundraising at BBC Children In Need and lives between London and Warwickshire.
Stephen O’Donnell is based in Scotland and has spent his career leading transformational change across the media, technology, and entertainment sectors. He spent 20 years at STV, most recently as Director of Programme Strategy and Marketing. He is a Member of the Ofcom Advisory Committee for Scotland and a past Chair of the Royal Television Society Scotland.
Alex Pumfrey brings experience in partnerships and the charitable sector. She is currently Director of Strategic Partnerships at ITV where she spearheads ITV’s expansion into major new partnerships which can extend ITV’s reach, including those with YouTube and Disney.
In addition, and as part of the updated Board Terms of Reference, Skills Fund Council Chairs will no longer automatically serve as ex-official members of the Board. Jane Muirhead, Barry Ryan, Thomas Box and Paul Kearney, along with Sarah-Jane Wright and Natalie Bolton, will continue to support the Funds with their deep knowledge and expertise, while helping to steer ScreenSkills’ overarching strategy and championing collaboration across the board.
Lisa Opie, Chair, ScreenSkills, said: “Following a competitive selection process, we are incredibly pleased to welcome four great new members to our Board of Trustees. Each brings with them a vast experience from across the screen industries and will help us further support the UK workforce. Their knowledge and expertise will provide valuable insight into delivering targeted, quality and accessible training. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to those stepping down from their positions on the Board for their significant contributions and dedicated service and we look forward to their continued and highly valuable input into ScreenSkills.”
The new members will join the Board to oversee governance, set strategic objectives, ensure alignment with the charity's mission, manage finances and mitigate risks. Through strategic planning and oversight, the Board maximises ScreenSkills' impact and remains accountable for all actions, including those of the executive team and the Skills Funds.
As part of the ongoing transition, ScreenSkills will be recruiting for another Trustee to join the board in early 2026. The search will focus on candidates with experience in HR and data from the North of England, Northern Ireland and Wales.