Peter De Haan, Chairman
 I'm responsible for the running of IdeasTap. I do this by helping and guiding my senior staff. We have a plan and we try to ensure that every aspect is covered. I am also responsible for the funding of IdeasTap, without which it wouldn’t exist. My interests are photography, graphic design, all issues around colour and modern furniture.
Favourite things on the site: I particularly like the member responses to the briefs and all our competitions as I love to see the creativity and energy that comes from our members.
 I look after the editorial, marketing and digital teams and oversee the site in general. I started out as a print journalist a frighteningly long time ago, but fell in love with the immediacy of working online when I moved from The Sunday Times to MTV.co.uk (and later ITV.com). It was a major culture shock, but I was blown away by how informal the relationship with your readers can be and how you can instantly track what content's being read. I’ve been working online ever since. Outside IdeasTap I like taking photographs, travelling to unusual places with my wife and son, art, literature and TV of occasionally dubious quality.
Favourite things on the site: Have a read of IdeasMag – it's filled with fascinating interviews, features, opinion and news.
We've created a series of homepages for some of our most popular disciplines - from acting to photography. They're a quick way to find content relevant to you, and you can find a list of them in the Your Home section.
Finally, I'd recommend setting your personal URL within your Settings - it gives you a nice, short URL for your profile. Mine's ideastap.com/people/james.
Amanda White, Strategic Partnerships Director - see Amanda's profile
 It is my job to create opportunities and build partnerships with organisations working in the world of performing arts and I also manage our funding opportunities. I really enjoy working with our current performing arts partners: the Old Vic New Voices, National Student Drama Festival and the National Youth Theatre. I also spend some time looking for new partners in the dance world, generating links with dance organisations and creating dance and movement opportunities for the site. I have always worked in the creative industries: setting up my own theatre company in the stone-age, teaching drama and working for the last fifteen years in film and moving image at Film Education, working with Channel 4, Maverick TV and Rich Mix. My main interests outside work are music, theatre, cinema, dancing and cooking.
Favourite things on the site: I really admire the work of many of our members. For example Tom Chick who I met in Edinburgh and is making a film, after winning our Shorts Award, which I’m looking forward to seeing. And Holly Parker, who is an inspiration in that she studies accountancy and loves the arts.
Rachel Segal Hamilton, Assistant Editor - see Rachel's profile
 My role at IdeasTap mainly involves interviewing photographers and filmmakers and writing about these industries.
After graduating in French and Italian, I worked in communications for education charity Envision before freelancing as a journalist, copywriter and production assistant for the Guardian, the Evening Standard, Time Out, Outline Editions and Future First, among others, while doing an MA in Cultural Studies.
Outside work, I love visual culture, preferably with a social or political angle, reading - everything from fiction to philosophy, sitting in the dark watching movies and getting up to random japes in London or beyond.
Favourite things on the site: Having been an intern myself (haven’t we all?) Intern X’s column always makes me chuckle. The Opportunities section is great - it reminds me there are so many exciting things out there for our members to do!
 Like many journalists I live on a fairly strict diet of reading, adrenalin and full-caffeinated tea. My job is to look after most of the theatre content for IdeasTap, which is a real treat for an English graduate. I first heard about IdeasTap when a friend suggested I apply for The Columnist brief. It was such a popular brief that I was amazed to even be shortlisted, let alone chosen.
Favourite things on the site: I came to IdeasTap as their columnist, and so I suppose that section will always have a very special place in my heart (not to mention browser). I think the Events page is an incredibly useful way to find out about things that you might not otherwise hear about. If I were starting my career over again I would also certainly make more use of the Editor's Briefs – they are an amazing way to find inspiration and get your stuff seen.
 My main role is responding to any questions our members might have, moderating the notice boards, forum, and groups, as well as various other jobs around the site. I also write the odd article. My main interest is creative writing and I am currently struggling with various scripts, all unfinished. I am also a fan of Leyton Orient, Roald Dahl, and fast food.
Favourite things on the site: I thought our interview with Anthony Head was fascinating, vital viewing if you're a budding actor. Ideas Fund Innovators is open all year round and can provide a useful cash injection to your latest project. Our Columnist is Nicola Robey and I really enjoy reading her articles, start with the first one.
Favourite things on the site: IdeasMag.
 My role involves organising and marketing the IdeasTap Spa events programme and increasing IdeasTap's profile among education and design sectors.
When I’m not at work I enjoy visiting galleries, exploring new places and seeing friends. I also like old shop signs and fancy dress. I studied Design at uni so the sight of a beautiful piece of furniture sends me weak at the knees.
Favourite things on the site: I particularly like Job of the week, as it’s inspiring to read about the diverse range of careers that are out there. The fact that members can build their own portfolio on the site is pretty neat too.
 My role involves developing and supporting IdeasTap’s communications strategy. On a-day to-day basis, this could be anything from researching contacts and coordinating events to handling our social media – so if you need a creative project promoting on Twitter, I’m your gal!
Having studied playwriting at Central, my first love is theatre. That said, I’m also a big fan of BBC Radio comedies (such as Mark Watson Makes the World Substantially Better, which does exactly what it says on the tin), playing the piano, Guernsey fudge and tea.
Favourite things on the site:The winning films from last year’s Ideas Fund Shorts make me want to go out and pick up a camera – The Museum of Miracles is beautiful. Nell’s interview with the poet Tim Key particularly tickles me, as does the weekly offering from our rather brilliant columnist John Nugent.
 I work for National Youth Theatre, one of IdeasTap’s partners, three days a week but also spend two days a week working on IdeasTap press. I try to be a bridge between the two organisations and in return get included in both tea rounds. I enjoy seeing my friends breaking through in the creative industries (especially when I get to see things for free), am a geek when it comes to politics and take brunch every weekend religiously.
Favourite things on the site: The National Youth Theatre Partner Page which features all the latest news, films and photos of what’s happening at NYT. I’d particularly recommend checking out the S’warm portfolio to see our most epic production yet. I was also blown away by the standard of this year’s IdeasTap Photographic Award.
Will Davies, Director of Programming - see Will's profile
 Ostensibly my job is two fold. I am responsible for organising, scheduling and hosting the IdeasTap Spa, our programme of professional development and career advice events. I also manage our relationships with existing partners such as HighTide Festival Theatre, the British FiIm Institute, NSDF and mac Birmingham.
Since leaving university I’ve worked in the film and television industries in various guises; casting, development, screenplay writing and production. I’ve also worked for actors database Spotlight, the National Student Drama Festival and East 15 Acting School.
Favourite things on the site: I'm a huge Twitter fan and think that our Twitter profile @IdeasTap is an invaluable way of finding out not only about IdeasTap but also the creative industries as a whole, plus it’s damnably witty too!
Laura McFarlane, Partnerships Manager - see Laura's profile
 My job at IdeasTap has many aspects. I help to coordinate all of the funding that we give through the site, dealing with the winners and keeping everyone here up to date with the projects as they happen. I also support the development team with projects on the site like the IdeasTap Photographic Award, which can involve everything from hanging pictures to designing books. I studied Fine Art at Newcastle where I lived for 6 years before moving to London and starting at IdeasTap. I also run a curatorial collective called Space In Between in my spare time and occasionally, when I have a moment, I still practice as an artist. Interests obviously include all the arts, design, Mad Men, film, my bike - Terry, food - especially meat served with fruit and Deptford Market…
Favourite things on the site: Hattie’s Pick and Mix, and Member Round Up pieces, the Columnists – Jamie and Nell and flicking through member portfolios
Sarah Lucy Smith, Director of Digital - see Sarah's profile
 I joined IdeasTap at the very beginning to lead the creation of the website alongside our developers Cimex. My job is to know the site inside out, to keep it running smoothly, and to understand how to make it better all the time. My background is in digital and design and I have run my own award winning creative social enterprise so I understand the challenges of starting out and getting funding. I am passionate about all things digital and web and using my skills to create opportunities for the young people we work with.
Favourite things on the site: I love the design of the site and the feeds bringing user content to the surface. Our members are the most exciting thing about IdeasTap so everything that brings them to the fore makes me smile!
 My role at IdeasTap is to help with the running of the website, send the newsletter and occasionally dabble in a bit of design. It does mean that if something on the site breaks, everyone points their finger and/or shouts at me! Away from the Tap I follow Norwich City and funny people on Twitter. I also pride myself on having one of the most varied iTunes libraries ever, which is not always good when you’ve got company. No one looks cool when Another Level comes on your laptop!
Favourite things on the site: IdeasMag is great, really interesting. Some blinding interviews, advice and laughs, Nell’s Upstaged is always good for a slow day.
The search function is really useful. If you do a blank search you can click the tabs to the left to refine what you want to see, so from briefs or articles and even disciplines and interests. While I’m on that, you might as well go to your profile and choose your discipline and rate your interests, it’ll allow the site to show you more of the content you’re interested in.
Dagmar Walz, Executive Director, the Peter De Haan Charitable Trust
 My role is all about the long-term viability of IdeasTap – identifying new funding sources, developing ideas for earning income, making sure we do things in the most efficient way possible etc.
I’m from Germany, and originally came here because of my love for English drama, with the vague but hopeful intention of finding a job in theatre. As luck would have it, the RSC took me on, and I’ve never looked back. I’ve worked in all sorts of different areas of the theatre business, including the restoration of some famous old ones and the building of a couple of brand new venues. As you may have guessed, going to the theatre is still one of my favourite pastimes, although these days opera tends to be at the top of my list. I also love, in no particular order, modern design, especially ceramics and jewellery (a bit tougher on the budget, but easier to store), Paris, macaroons, Stefan Zweig, good chocolate and loose leaf tea.
Favourite things on the site: Browsing the magazine is great fun. So much info and entertainment! And I enjoy checking out what the members themselves get up to – the scale and range of talent and creativity out there is so impressive.
 My job is to build relationships with trusts and foundations, corporate organisations and bodies like the Arts Council, to develop and fund new projects and opportunities for IdeasTap members. Originally from Scotland, I started my career working in the Scottish Parliament as a political assistant, before moving into fundraising for National Museums Scotland. I am still a big politics geek and I still love museums, so working in London where there are a lot of both makes me very happy.
Favourite things on the site: Has to be the Funding section. Between Ideas Funds and the vast directory of external funding I’m sure just about every creative idea could be catered for. My best tip? Read, then re-read, then read again the criteria. Not meeting them is the main reason applications fail.
As a lover of both technology and stationery I also always get a few new ideas about helpful bits and bobs from the fabulous ‘5 Essentials’ series in IdeasMag, where creative people tell you what items they couldn’t be without.
Simon Johnson, Finance Director
 My role as FD is to run the financial side of IdeasTap as efficiently as possible, ensuring that all spend is in line with our objectives and we continue to comply with all the regulations of the Charities Commission. I have been a FD for the past 15 years in various commercial companies, mainly in the technology sector. I am really enjoying the switch to working in a charity, where the drive is to make sure we get the maximum benefit from the funds invested in all our projects. Outside work, I am married to Fiona with 2 daughters, Emma & Sophie, and we also have 3 cats. I am a big Liverpool FC fan and run, cycle and play 5-a-side football. I drive my family mad by constantly listening to hard rock/metal with the vain hope that my kids may take some on board, but it’s a tough battle against the likes of JLS when they’re 8 and 10 years old!
Favourite things on the site: The Magazine is my favourite area on the site, I enjoy reading about different people and their experiences. It’s great to see people like young festival producers making the bold step of setting up their own business, and interesting to see how they find the admin/finance part of running the company a challenge when I would struggle with the creative aspects of the role. Also I like editorial around the Coming Up project in the Old Vic Tunnels and Paul Roseby’s idea of getting Bob Crow down there. The idea of turning the Tunnels into a library that plays Homer appeals as well.
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