Our board

Hendrika Santer Bream - Chair

Hendrika has been a Trustee of Stitches in Time since 2013, an organisation to which she was drawn by her commitment to community development and interest in creative engagement.

She has over 30 years of experience within the NHS and currently works as a Senior Organisational Development Consultant, supporting the development of organisational and team cultures that are caring, inclusive, and focussed on continual improvement.

Hendrika has previously served as both a school governor and a hospital governor, and she was the Chair of Mind in Tower Hamlets. She is also an active member of her local church, in which Stitches has occasionally held exhibitions and activities.

Hendrika an enthusiastic knitter, sewer, crocheter and general crafter, and is always keen to take inspiration from what is going on in the studio.

A resident of Limehouse since 1997, where she raised her family, Hendrika is committed to supporting the wellbeing and resilience of the local community.

Teresa Hare Duke - Vice Chair

Teresa has been a trustee of Stitches in Time since 2003. She has worked for over thirty years in east London in arts centres, participatory practice, theatre design and museums. Since 2002 Teresa has been the community development officer at the V&A Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green where in 2007 she began curating the Front Room Gallery a dedicated community gallery space at the museum which weaves together the work of established and emerging artists with the designers of tomorrow from primary school to higher education students. She was a one time employee and subsequently a trustee of Chats Palace Arts Centre for many years. She lives with her family in Hackney.

Annie Gargya - Secretary

Annie Gargya has lived in Bow for 25 years and has been a Trustee of Stitches in Time for some 15 years. She taught in 2 primary schools in Tower Hamlets for 20 years and her schools participated in several Stitches in Time projects.

Retirement has allowed her to devote more time to Stitches and, in particular, to work with Chris Sibley (former chair of Stitches ) to archive the extensive and unique material relating to the Millennium Tapestries and post Millennium work of Stitches.

Meg Mitchell

Meg has lived in Tower Hamlets for over 40 years. She has been an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teacher for most of that time, mostly at the then Tower Hamlets College. Meg has also been on the committee of a local playgroup and on the parish council of a church. She has volunteered with school age children in various settings. She is impressed by  the inclusiveness, energy, friendliness and creativity she witnesses at Stitches in Time.

Jeba Maleque - Treasurer

Jeba was born and raised in Tower Hamlets, and her lifelong commitment to this community has driven her involvement in various volunteering and community development initiatives, particularly focusing on BAME communities in East London.

Over the years, Jeba had the privilege of collaborating with a diverse range of individuals, both professionally and through her volunteer work, including coordinating projects aimed at raising awareness about crucial health and mental health issues within marginalised communities, such as a tenure as a project coordinator at Social Action for Health. In a voluntary capacity, Jeba has provided essential support services, including advice, guidance, and interpretation.

Jeba’s deep-seated passion lies in community development, where she actively seeks to inspire individuals and groups to drive positive change within their communities.

The work of SIT has captured her interest, as it empowers disadvantaged women by nurturing their creativity and imparting essential life skills. Jeba has been deeply impressed by the transformative impact SIT have on the lives of their beneficiaries.

Judi Burger

Judi has over 20 years’ professional experience in change management, strategic planning and process improvement. She works in academic publishing, where she focuses on digital transformation, improving operational efficiency and delivering practical, sustainable change.

Drawn to Stiches in Time's work around creativity, women’s empowerment, access to language skills for marginalised communities, and sustainable approaches to fashion, joining the board of Stitches in Time felt like a good fit.

She enjoys textile crafts and is an enthusiastic (if amateur) clothes upcycler, embroiderer, crocheter and knitter. As a trustee, she hopes to contribute her experience where it is useful, while learning from others and developing her skills in a new context. She has lived across East London for the past 20 years.