The Board

OLIVER 'HOOCH' WHITTLE

President

Hooch is the founder of the UK's longest running breaking event, the UK B-Boy Championships which he started in 1996. His event was the first of its kind to attract major brand sponsorship and prime time showings on terrestrial television. Hooch is also part of the Undisputed World BBoy Series which he helped to create as part of an alliance of global breaking events where seasoned breakers have the chance to compete to become the World BBoy Series champion. 

SARAH EVANS

Chair of the Board

Sarah Evans has a background in finance, management consulting and education. She founded Westside School, in Hammersmith; a small school model for excluded young people aged 11-16 years, and continues as a Governor. Sarah set up AP Challenge Trust to help Alternate Provision Schools across the UK work together to support each other, and bring a voice behind disadvantaged young people. Previous Governor at Wellington Academy for 8 years with focus on Safeguarding, Child Protection, and Vulnerable Youth. Safeguarding Protection Level 2. Founded Oxford Youth Lab, enabling multi-stakeholder practitioners and academics to come together in order to understand the complexity of current youth issues and work together on new solutions at grass-roots levels. Sarah has 3 university degrees. In Canada, she sits on the boards of Ivey Business School, Ivey Sustainability Centre, and Alpine Canada. For ACA, Sarah chairs the HR, EDI and Safe Sport committee. In the UK, she is an Advisor to Springboard Foundation, trustee of London Interdisciplinary School (LIS) Foundation, board member of Sadler?s Wells, advises two newly launched social enterprises, is a Member of Institute of New Economic Thinking (INET) Council.

ROB POUNTNEY

Chief Operating Officer

Rob has worked in the breaking & dance industry since 1998 as both a performer and later as an agent. He is the director of ProDance and Tribe Talent, and was the co producer of the UK B-Boy Championships for over 10 years. Rob has a wealth of experience with connecting global brands to breaking culture and has brokered numerous sponsorship deals for events and individuals.

MICHELE LONERGAN

Head of Finance

Michele is a chartered accountant who has worked with small and medium sized enterprises in the television production and communications sector for the majority of her career. When not doing that she worked as a television line producer making entertainment and comedy shows and as social media manager for a fund raising platform. Michele has been Chair of the Finance Committee for two local schools and a trustee with responsibility for finance at: Stop Funding Hate, an organisation which campaigns against hate speech on social media; and The Mama Youth Project which works to increase representation of minority groups within television production.

BECCI EDGINTON-HARVEY

Elite Performance

Becci is Performance Manager for GB Boxing (Olympic Boxing) with a role that involves strategies for qualifying to the Olympics. Part of the senior leadership team. A large world class programme, this includes 42 funded athletes. Worked full time in elite sport for 17 years, part of 3 Olympic Games. Becci has also been a b-girl for over 15 years.

KEVIN GOPIE

International Relations and Advisor

Kevin, also known as DJ Renegade, has been a part of the UK hip hop, dance scene and culture since the 80s. He is one of the most influential DJs on the scene, regularly working at the most prestigious dance events across the globe. The founder, coach and mentor of the UK?s national breaking champions, Soul Mavericks crew, and the renowned popping crew, Monsterz, Kevin also lectures and teaches workshops. In 2018, Kevin was a part of the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, co-heading the Breaking Judges Selection Committee, and co-creating the official judging system used at the games, the Trivium Value system.

JONZI D

Culture & Community Advisor

An MC, dancer, spoken word artist and director, he is the foremost advocate for hip hop who has changed the profile and influenced the development of the UK British hip hop dance and theatre scene over the last two decades. The founder of Breakin' Convention in 2004, Jonzi has triumphed in raising the profile and giving a platform to hip hop disciplines, which has gained worldwide recognition as being at the vanguard of the development of the art form. Through professional development projects Open Art Surgery and Back to the Lab, Jonzi has supported hundreds of hip hop dance and rap/poetry artists on their journey to creating theatre.

JONATHAN DEMBO

Lawyer

Jonathan's career began as a solicitor with renowned media law firm Mishcon de Reya, where he specialised in film and television. He then made the transition into the music business, spending a decade immersed in label business affairs at three of the industry's major companies; initially Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG), then Sony Music and subsequently Warner Music where he was Senior Director of Business Affairs. Since co-founding AOB in 2003, Jonathan has developed AOB?s business affairs activities across various, converging sectors, such as sport, fine art, fashion and branding, alongside his legal work in music and entertainment. Jonathan has also produced  live events such as the World Freerun Championships and has co-produced theatrical comedy shows through regional tours  and at the Wyndham Theatre in London's West End.

Jonathan is committed to supporting young people explore their creativity in the arts and is a founding director and chief commercial officer of Young Voices International, a company which stages the largest children's choir concerts in the world. He is also a trustee for the House of Fairy Tales which is a charitable foundation set up by Deborah Curtis and YBA artist, Gavin Turk to give children from all backgrounds opportunities for engagement and immersion in the arts. Jonathan has also previously served on the Advisory Board of the Notting Hill Carnival, Europe's largest street festival.

PHIL YOUNG

Diversity & Inclusivity Advisor

Phil Young is a familiar name in the world of outdoor and culture having spent several years as a TV broadcaster presenting seminal sports and lifestyle shows for the BBC, Channel 4, Euro Sport and ITV. He has used his experience in the industry as a rider and storyteller to carve out a behind the scenes career, working with brands to help shape the way outdoor sports culture is seen in the mainstream media, doing it with great subtlety and sympathy. 
Phil is a the founder of The Outsiders Project, director of agency The Mighty-Mighty and co-founder of community sports groups Black Trail Runners and Colour Collective, focusing on diversity in Trail Running and Mountain Biking respectively.

TRACY WHITTAKER-SMITH MBE

Performance Coaching Leadership Advisor

Tracy Whittaker-Smith MBE has a passion for sport and helping people to develop. 
Currently a senior leader and Head National Coach (Trampoline) at British Gymnastics Tracy has been instrumental in leading the team to winning 2 Olympic medals and numerous World and European titles. Tracy has a wealth of Olympic experience having represented Team GB at 5 Olympic Games and is also a master coach on the UK Sport?s Female Coaches Leadership Programme mentoring the up and coming coach and leadership talent in our sports system. 
Previously, Tracy worked for Barclaycard and was the Managing Director at Northamptonshire Trampoline Gymnastics Academy, a community club with a 1000+ members.

PAUL MARTIN

Safeguarding Advisor

Paul Martin aka P has been on the UK breaking scene for over 25 years. He is a member of the renowned Bad Taste Cru from Newcastle and is also an accomplished graffiti artist.

Paul works for Newcastle United football club.