Head shots of Tom Palakudiyil (left) and Silaja Birks (right)

Tom Palakudiyil (left) and Silaja Birks (right)

Changing Faces

Paul Hamlyn Foundation welcomes new trustees

Arts Professional
2 min read

The independent grant-making charity, Paul Hamlyn Foundation (PHF), has appointed SILAJA BIRKS and TOM PALAKUDIYIL as trustees.

Birks currently leads the strategic partnerships portfolio at Wellcome Trust. Before that, she was part of UNICEF’s private sector partnerships team in New York and previously led UNICEF UK’s work with philanthropic organisations. 

In the arts, Birks has worked at Tate and Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation and held board positions with Black Cultural Archives, the Migration Museum and Book Works. 

Palakudiyil, an academic turned international development professional, was Regional Director of South Asia for Water Aid and has also worked for Christian Aid. 

He is a trustee at Anti-Slavery International and Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP-India). Until recently, he was also the Vice-Chair of the Dalit Solidarity Network UK. 

PHF offers grants to individuals and organisations in the UK with an emphasis on supporting disadvantaged children and young adults in pursuit of the arts.

Chair of PHF, JAN HAMLYN, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Silaja and Tom to the board. They bring talent, fresh thinking and a breadth of skills, experience and perspective that will help enrich our discussions and decision-making — we look forward to working with them.”