Meet the 2025 Golden Key Academy Cohort

Ros works in the charity sector. She loves exploring London, both discovering its multi-layered history and secrets which leave their traces all around the city, and seeing modern London evolve and develop. She is looking forward to discovering and sharing new perspectives on her home city.

Hannah has lived in London for most of her life. She works in housing policy for a London borough and is interested in the history of housing, infrastructure, and nature in the city. She spends a lot of time walking and cycling around London and loves the simultaneous feeling of anonymity and familiarity.

Alicia is an art historian and curator, and currently teaches design history at NYU in London. She has always been enthused by the rich and dynamic history of London’s built environment and, after many years of attending Open House Festival events, finally got around to volunteering last year. She is interested in making art and architecture more accessible and inclusive, particularly for neurodiverse audiences.

Fran is a landscape architect specialising in community development and engagement. An experienced urban horticulturalist, Fran has supported organisations in the co-design of inspiring gardens across the UK, creating resilient environments which have sought to enhance sustainability and biodiversity. She is looking forward to this opportunity with Golden Key Academy, seeing it as a chance to unlock stories from within arcane corners of London.

Karen moved to London from Hong Kong after working as a lawyer and teacher. She is curious about people and places. She is interested in discovering and sharing how good urban planning and building design can make a city more beautiful, equitable and lively. She looks forward to connecting with others through her love of exploring places and architecture.

Yukari is a London-based animator and illustrator. She discovered her love for London’s history through her extensive bakery walks. She is fascinated by the intricate connections between present landscapes and historical artefacts.

Pam is an architect who has her own practice mainly working on private dwellings, having previous work experience on many building types. Pam loves to investigate the built and natural environment and has a keen interest in the re-use and adaptability of existing buildings.

Mairi is a built environment professional with extensive experience of both the client and the provider side of implementing lasting change to buildings and places. She has operated at senior leadership level in the public and private sectors, working in roles that covered building design, estate strategy, facilities management, project and programme delivery and developing government policy.

Margherita is a research manager in the biomedical field with a soft spot for architecture and design. Originally from Italy and now based in Rotherhithe, she hopes that the Golden Key Academy will help her refine her storytelling skills, allowing her to share lesser-known areas of London with a broader audience.

Omar believes growing up in London, it's hard not to be curious about what brings communities together. He loves sharing stories of diasporic heritage, radical histories and overlooked narratives -- connecting people to their surroundings and uncovering London’s ever-evolving story.

Ilinca has a background in urban planning and is passionate about understanding what makes cities that are good for people and the planet. Ilinca worked in the civil society sector in London for over ten years, in roles leading on planning policy and campaigns, and supporting community participation in planning processes. She now works as a planning policy officer in a London borough.

Ola is an office manager for an architectural practice in West London while also volunteering for a major London museum. Her educational background is in ancient Classical and Early Modern European history and art. Deeply in love with London, Ola views exploring the city as her vocation and is keen to share London with others.

Polly works in housing in local government. She has a keen interest in the history of London’s government, and the imprint that successive bodies have left on London’s social fabric and built environment. Polly is looking forward to developing her research and storytelling through the Academy so she can spread further the joy and debates of the history of municipal government.

Ben has worked and studied in London since 2002 and recently graduated from Kingston School of Art with a MA In Museum Gallery Studies. He is currently preparing a proposal for PhD exploring at the involvement and contribution of migrant workers to the iconic British cultural centrepieces (for example, the 1951 Festival of Britain and the 2012 Olympic Games).

Nikky was raised in Belfast but has lived in Brixton for over 20 years. A Lambeth tour guide, food writer and make-up artist, she loves the infinite ingredients London has for stories, people and buildings. Interested in social housing she looks forward to learning more about north of the river as part of the 2025 Golden Key Academy cohort.

Carole is a Londoner and passionate educator. She is interested in history and how the urban environment has been shaped by the people who live in it or have passed through it over time. Her fascination with London has made her inquisitive to develop her research and storytelling skills, while along the way she hopes to find more hidden gems about the city she calls home.

Julia works in finance in central London. An avid hiker and yoga enthusiast, she has travelled widely around the world. Since relocating to Westminster, she has been captivated by London’s rich culture and history, enjoying the chance to explore the city’s heritage and uncover its hidden stories. She is excited to deepen her knowledge of London and share her passion for this incredible city with others.

Catherine is a creative director and storyteller with a background in craft,

contemporary design and retail. With a particular curiosity for the specialisms of

people and place, she is looking forward to uncovering historic examples of how

Londoner’s craftsmanship, ingenuity and sense of beauty shaped everyday living,

often presenting solutions and inspiration for today.

Caroline is a freelance walking tour guide and England Athletics accredited running tours guide looking to increase her knowledge and skills through this course. She has an academic background in history and loves dragging her unsuspecting family round any museums she can. She is based in South East London where she does a lot of work with young people as well as raising her three daughters in her spare time!

Tingting is a Master’s student in Media and Communications at LSE with a passion for urban storytelling. During her undergraduate studies in advertising in Shanghai, she developed a strong interest in city branding and urban marketing. Now in London, she is eager to become a curious and passionate guide, uncovering the city’s hidden details and curate immersive tours that bring its stories to life.

Ross is a qualified research professional with a specialist interest in the history of health. Fascinated with London’s hidden histories, he is a one-time London pub reviewer who is looking forward to improving his guiding skills through his participation in the Golden Key Academy.

Roxy has lived in London for over 14 years and is passionate about history, especially old churches and the Saxon-Viking era. She loves exploring the stories behind historic pubs and runs a Hungarian Instagram page focused on British gastronomy and can’t wait to start this course!