Inspired by the need to ensure that young people facing disadvantage from east London benefited from the regeneration opportunities offered by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Urban Development Music Foundation (UDMF) was founded as a company limited by guarantee (company number 8071972) on 16 May 2012 and a registered charity (number 1149090) on 25 September 2012, led by a board of trustees including the current chair, Lord Adebowale CBE. Operating in the country’s poorest and most diverse boroughs, the aims of UD are to advance education; support young people by developing their skills; improve opportunities for those in need due to socio-economic circumstances; and relieve unemployment.
We are, and always have been, Black-led.
“UD is an organisation that is working with the future of our society, encouraging, transforming and enabling young people to become that future on behalf of us all. Working with Pamela and the UD team is inspiring, exciting and creative. Who wouldn’t want to work with the future? For me, spending time with UD is a no brainer.”
Victor Abebowale
Lord Victor Adebowale CBE, Honorary President
Victor is a non-Executive Director of the Co-Operative Group, Collaborate CIC, Nuffield Health, Visionable and Leadership in Mind. He is also Chair of Social Enterprise UK and the NHS Confederation. Victor served for 6 years as a Non-Executive Director on the board of NHS England. He has chaired a number of commission reports into: policing; employment; mental health; housing and fairness for The London Fairness Commission; the Metropolitan Police; and for central and local government. He was awarded a CBE for services to the unemployed and homeless people, and became a crossbench peer in 2001.
Austin Daboh
Austin Daboh started his music industry career in 2006 as Music Programmer at BBC Music 1Xtra where he worked for eight years before becoming CEO of the PR, promotion and talent agency, The Hub Entertainment. After a return to 1Xtra, in 2016, Austin joined Spotify as Senior Editor, Shows and Editorial before being promoted to Head of Music Culture & Editorial, Spotify UK. After making a move and being appointed Head of Editorial for UK & Ireland at Apple Music, Austin joined Atlantic Records UK as Executive Vice President in 2020. He also sits on the board for Warner’s internal board of directors for its $100m social justice and anti-racism fund; a global mission to progress the inclusivity of its workforce.
Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE, Chair
Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE is a prodigy. Aged 11, she was the youngest girl ever to pass A-level Computing, and was just 20 when she received her Master’s Degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Oxford. Forging an enviable CV, including positions at blue-chip companies as well a host of Honorary Doctorates, Anne-Marie is co-founder of the Stemettes, an award-winning social initiative dedicated to inspiring and promoting the next generation of young women in the STEM sectors. Since its inception seven years ago, almost 45,000 girls across Europe have experienced Anne-Marie’s vision for a more diverse and balanced science and tech community.
Andrew Missingham
Andrew is a drummer and music producer turned serial entrepreneur, who’s worked in 46 countries. He is currently Executive Director of Consumer Insights at the global innovation and design agency AKQA, based in London, but working closely with their seven studios across North America. He is co-founder and was previously co-director of the research consultancy B+A, and before that was Director of Performing Arts at London’s Institute of Contemporary Arts. He is an alumnus of the inaugural year of the Clore Leadership Programme.
gee davy
Gee is Chief Operating Officer and Head of Legal & Business Affairs at AIM, leading all aspects of the organisation’s operations, with a particular focus on policy and business affairs. She joined AIM in 2017, and has since been instrumental in the development of AIM’s Digital Distribution Switch Code, as well as its support for the independent music community in response to Brexit and Covid-19.
Ella Mbaeri
Ella Mbaeri became the Head of Compliance for Morgan Stanley at Work (EMEA) in 2018, after previously working in the legal and compliance departments at several investment firms. In her current role, Ella is responsible for overseeing and implementing the privacy compliance program, including drafting internal compliance policies and providing regulatory advice and training.
JOSEPH HENRY
Joseph Henry is a designer, urbanist and curator whose practice advocates for a more equitable
built environment through policy and cultural production. His unique multi-disciplinary practice works between public service and art. He has written for Dezeen, Casabella, and the Architectural Review.
In 2022, the British Council selected Joseph to co-curate the British Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2023 alongside Jayden Ali, Meneesha Kellay and Sumitra Upham.
Their pavilion, ‘Dancing Before the Moon,’ explores the need for architecture to look beyond buildings and economic structures and towards everyday social practices, customs and traditions to meaningfully reflect how people use and occupy space.
