Meet the Team
CEO & Chair of Trustees
Daryn
Daryn has been part of Zinc for over 10 years and is our CEO & Chair of Trustees. With a background in management consultancy & change management, he has helped grow Zinc into a thriving education centre, community hub, & creative safe space. He champions a transparent, collaborative culture that shapes everything we do.
Chief of Operations
Sonia
Sonia has been with Zinc for over 30 years, progressing from participant to leading the organisation’s outreach programmes as well as running the behind the scenes. Sonia is well and truly the heart & glue of Zinc, & we all love her signature red lips & crocs!
Daryn has been part of Zinc for over 10 years and is our CEO and Chair of Trustees. With a background in management consultancy and change management, he has helped grow Zinc into a thriving education centre, community hub, and creative safe space. He champions a transparent, collaborative culture that shapes everything we do.
Head of Education
Mike
Mike joined Zinc in 2022 as Head of Education. With over 15 years’ experience in SEN & a background in performing arts, he combines high-quality education with creativity and fun. Previously a professional actor, Mike brings energy, humour, tasteless Hawaiian shirts & the occasional questionable dad joke to ensure Zinc is a great place to learn & grow.
Daryn has been part of Zinc for over 10 years and is our CEO and Chair of Trustees. With a background in management consultancy and change management, he has helped grow Zinc into a thriving education centre, community hub, and creative safe space. He champions a transparent, collaborative culture that shapes everything we do.
Chief of Finance
Graeme
Graeme is Zinc’s Finance Manager & one of our longest-serving team members, having started as an apprentice. Now based in Doncaster, he still regularly visits the centre & plays an active role in mentoring students, sharing his knowledge of finance & building valuable life skills.
Daryn has been part of Zinc for over 10 years and is our CEO and Chair of Trustees. With a background in management consultancy and change management, he has helped grow Zinc into a thriving education centre, community hub, and creative safe space. He champions a transparent, collaborative culture that shapes everything we do.
Operations & facilities manager
Kelsey
Kelsey has a background in interior design & interior design project coordination, working on projects across the UK & abroad. She now brings those skills into the day-to-day running of Zinc, coordinating the building and facilities, alongside managing admin & all the little moving parts that keep things ticking over smoothly.
Daryn has been part of Zinc for over 10 years and is our CEO and Chair of Trustees. With a background in management consultancy and change management, he has helped grow Zinc into a thriving education centre, community hub, and creative safe space. He champions a transparent, collaborative culture that shapes everything we do.
Project Manager
Ryan
Ryan is a Team Leader within Zinc Education, with over five years’ experience in SEN. A passionate creative, he has a degree in illustration & leads impressive art-based learning across the curriculum. Outside Zinc, he runs D&D groups & continues to bring his brilliant, nerdy, creative brain to everything project he does.
Daryn has been part of Zinc for over 10 years and is our CEO and Chair of Trustees. With a background in management consultancy and change management, he has helped grow Zinc into a thriving education centre, community hub, and creative safe space. He champions a transparent, collaborative culture that shapes everything we do.
Facilities Coordinator
Anthony
Anthony has been Zinc’s Facilities coordinator since 1999 & knows the building inside out - including all its quirks. From plumbing to carpentry, he keeps everything running smoothly. If something’s broken, chances are Anthony is already underneath it fixing it!
Daryn has been part of Zinc for over 10 years and is our CEO and Chair of Trustees. With a background in management consultancy and change management, he has helped grow Zinc into a thriving education centre, community hub, and creative safe space. He champions a transparent, collaborative culture that shapes everything we do.
Project Facilitator
Louise
Louise is a creative community artist specialising in crafts & hands-on making. From paper mâché to large-scale projects, she brings ideas to life & inspires students to explore their creativity. With a background in Art History, she supports learners to grow with confidence & imagination.
Daryn has been part of Zinc for over 10 years and is our CEO and Chair of Trustees. With a background in management consultancy and change management, he has helped grow Zinc into a thriving education centre, community hub, and creative safe space. He champions a transparent, collaborative culture that shapes everything we do.
Outreach & project manager
Graeme
Rhianna joined Zinc in 2024, initially supporting youth clubs in Ongar & Sheering. With a background in theatre & costume, she brought fresh creativity & ideas to Zinc’s arts projects.
Now a full-time member of staff, she helps deliver outreach programmes, workshops, respite weekends, & new community projects. She is passionate about making the arts accessible to everyone.
Daryn has been part of Zinc for over 10 years and is our CEO and Chair of Trustees. With a background in management consultancy and change management, he has helped grow Zinc into a thriving education centre, community hub, and creative safe space. He champions a transparent, collaborative culture that shapes everything we do.
Outreach & Project worker
Alisha
Alisha joined Zinc in 2025 & supports a wide range of outreach projects, with a particular passion for sport. Her background in professional dance & teaching has inspired her commitment to helping young people build confidence & achieve their potential.
She brings fantastic energy, positivity, & enthusiasm to the team every day.
Daryn has been part of Zinc for over 10 years and is our CEO and Chair of Trustees. With a background in management consultancy and change management, he has helped grow Zinc into a thriving education centre, community hub, and creative safe space. He champions a transparent, collaborative culture that shapes everything we do.
Project facilitator
Laura
Before joining Zinc, Laura worked as both a full-time nanny & a healthcare assistant in operating theatres, supporting nurses & surgeons during procedures.
At Zinc, she combines her love of education, gardening, music, art, dance, & theatre. She is also a professional singer & performs with her 1940s/50s Rhythm & Blues band, Laura B and her Band!