Our Team

Anna co-founded the London Film Academy in 2001 and has led the LFA as joint principal for the past two decades. She is dedicated to inspiring and nurturing new generations of filmmakers through an innovative approach and learning methods.

Anna is also the mastermind behind many special educational programmes worldwide. She is passionate about gender equality, inclusivity and diversity in the industry and, together with her co-founder, launched the LFA Pioneer Award in 2017, which provides a scholarship to an up-and-coming female filmmaker each year.

In addition, Anna has produced and executively produced hundreds of motion pictures, including ‘The Summer House’ (starring Robert Pattinson and Talulah Riley, which reached no.1 on the iTunes sales charts in UK, USA and Canada) and a virtual reality film ‘The Empathy Machine’ (by an award-winning director Avril Furness). Her full list of credits is available on IMDB.

She was also named one of the 30 prominent Londoners with Polish roots featured in the ‘London Creatives: Polish Roots’ exhibition at the Museum of London (October 2009), and was a trustee of the Arts & Music Charity, Concordia Foundation.

Daisy is from a family of artists, writers and filmmakers, and grew up spending as much time as possible in cinemas, cutting rooms and dubbing theatres. Although a maths graduate, Daisy decided not to pursue a career in numbers and to enter the film and TV industry instead. She finds that her grounding in mathematical thought, which combines form and pattern with logic, has enhanced her own approach to filmmaking.

After working for four years in production on a series for Channel 4, then briefly on Richard Eyre’s film 'Iris', Daisy decided to return to being a student, this time of filmmaking. Unable to find a course that met her expectations, Daisy co-founded the LFA with Anna MacDonald. In addition to co-running the LFA, Daisy has produced and directed three short films, including 'The Summer House' (starring Robert Pattinson and Talulah Riley).

Having worked with creative and media businesses and communications businesses such as Hat Trick Productions and Law Business Research, Rachel has over 20 years of working as a leader and Head of People, bringing a combination of an inclusive, collaborative, hands-on approach and strategic direction. In addition, Rachel gained earlier career experience as a management consultant with large international companies which provided a foundation for achieving sustainable organisation development and commercial results.

As Head of People and a member of the Senior Leadership Team Rachel’s role is to align and deliver the People Strategy with LFA’s business strategy, vision and values. Rachel will collaborate with others to lead, shape, create and implement initiatives, strategies and a culture that attracts, motivate and retains great talent for LFA.

Rachel has reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, however splitting her time between the N. Devon coast and London, closer to sea-level Rachel loves hiking along coastal paths and spending time on the beach, especially at sunset.

As head of marketing and admissions, and a leadership team member, Denis plays a key role in shaping and delivering the school's recruitment strategy, brand messaging, and overall student experience, ensuring alignment with the LFA vision and values.

With over 20 years of experience in marketing and digital roles, Denis brings a wealth of expertise from across the higher education, private, and charity sectors. Throughout his career, he has led high-performing teams on national and international campaigns, with a strong focus on strategy, brand development, and audience engagement.

Passionate about creating meaningful and impactful student journeys, Denis is committed to providing an educational experience that meets student expectations and sets the foundation for future success.

Beyond work, Denis is an "avid" cyclist and has completed two London to Brighton marathon bike rides, with more on the horizon.

Gareth is head of education and student experience at LFA, and has worked in higher education for almost 15 years. He holds an SFHEA, PGCertTLHE and an MA in Composition for TV, Film and Games. Gareth spent a decade as a performing musician before turning his attention to composing. You can hear some of his creative work on Spotify.

As head of operations, Kieran leads his team in overseeing LFA's facilities, resources and systems, ensuring a safe, supportive and inspiring environment where creativity can flourish. Driven by efficiency and a deep understanding of LFA’s values, he plays a pivotal role in ensuring operational excellence by streamlining processes, enhancing productivity and driving sustainable growth, aligning with the academy’s long-term vision.

With over 20 years of experience across the cultural, business development, property and education management sectors, Kieran has built a diverse and impactful career.

Beyond his role at LFA, Kieran channels his passion for music, focusing primarily on composition. His personal work spans across projects with Channel 4, MTV, the Football Association and various other media production companies, as well as having released music and toured Europe with his band; Ex Libras, further showcasing his passion and love for the creative arts.

Joanna is a passionate advocate for creative education, with over a decade of experience in the higher education sector. She has worked on course management teams and led modules in critical analysis, cultural debates, and research methods. Joanna is committed to inspiring young people to pursue their creative passions, and outside of LFA runs a thriving theatre school for children ages 3-18. At LFA, Joanna works closely with the Head of Education & Student Experience and the Courses Team to ensure students have a fulfilling and enriching learning experience.

In university, Eldora studied a BA (Hons) Media Production (Moving Image). She loved everything about film theory and world cinema. After university, Eldora fell into education but also found that she enjoyed that too, leading her to LFA where she could combine the two. Each day she's here, she learns more and more from LFA students - so really, her education never ended.

Liv is a senior course coordinator and has a BA in Media, Culture, and Society. Previously, she served as a programme manager at an education charity. Passionate about sociology and film, Liv loves watching documentaries that delve into social issues. 

Nina holds a BA in Film and Creative Writing from the University of Essex and has industry experience as a producer, documentarian, and assistant director, working with organisations like the EY Foundation, the BFI, and the Borough of Hackney. With over five years in arts and film education, she has designed and delivered programs for students aged 5 to 25.

At LFA, Nina ensures the smooth operation of courses by handling curriculum planning, scheduling, and providing logistical and production support to both students and instructors, fostering a seamless learning experience.

Lincoln leads our Filmmaking Certificate; he has a wealth of technical and creative knowledge that he shares with his students to enhance their filmmaking journey. Lincoln joined LFA following a degree in Fine Art, a postgraduate Diploma in Cinematography and a Master’s degree in Cinematography from the National School of Film and Television. He has shot many documentaries and promotional videos and has worked on a range of award-winning shorts. As Director of Photography his first feature film 'Sugar Sugar' won the best newcomer award at Raindance Film Festival.

Nate has worked in film and TV for 7 years. He started his career in practical effects, which included explosions, prosthetics and prop makes, then worked in the art department for HETV and film. Nate currently coordinates LFA's short courses, which are aimed at developing skills that students can apply to a career in film.

Annegret is a cultural studies researcher, cultural consultant and has worked in the creative industries since 2007, including on film, radio, digital gaming and theatre. As Module Leader in Film, Culture and Academic Study on the Courses Team, Annegret helps students familiarise themselves with critical debates on cinema and screen practice to enrich their filmmaking practices. Their latest research project focussed on monsters in experimental German cultural production draws on feminism to explore contemporary crisis moments favourite films use horror to explore themes around gender.

Sara is the first point of contact with LFA and her extensive experience in admissions will ensure that students find a course that suits their ambitions and achieve their filmmaking dreams, supporting them throughout their journey with LFA.

Zara has a background in compliance within the higher education sector. Recently, she transitioned to a new role in the admissions team as a Senior Admissions Coordinator. In her spare time, Zara enjoys reading, hiking, playing tennis and watching films – mainly sci-fi and fantasy.

As Admissions Coordinator, Tabby is responsible for advising and supporting applicants through their journey from the moment they apply/enquire all the way through to enrolment. She has experience working in student accommodation and the student experience, as well as in television post-production. In her spare time she loves to keep things creative, with regular trips to the cinema, and running her own crochet small-business.

Aaron is responsible for supporting the marketing team to develop and deliver the LFA brand and communications strategy. With a background in design and branding, including BAFTA, ITV and BBC, it's his passion to ensure that our visual presence is a true reflection of the LFA vision and values.

During his downtime, he works as a freelance Illustrator.

Abi is the club and events coordinator at LFA, running the Filmmaker’s Club and school events. She has over 10 years' experience working in events and marketing. She enjoys spending her free time with friends and family, cooking and watching movies.

Luke is responsible for helping to deliver LFA’s branding and communications to students, in collaboration with the marketing team. He is a Film Studies graduate, and has a Master’s in Magazine Journalism. In his free time, he loves listening to vinyl, supporting Chelsea FC, and going to the cinema to see practically any and every film.

Khairul is a native of sunny Singapore but in early 2023, decided to swap the warmth of the tropics for the cold, grey skies of London. He's worked more than 15 years in film, mostly in the camera department, and he's in charge of all things kit here at the London Film Academy. He's happiest behind the camera, observing people and experiencing new places. He also thinks cats are better than humans 90% of the time.

Denis is the technical coordinator at LFA, ensuring smooth operation of film production equipment and facilities. With a background in film and creative writing, he also explores storytelling through digital art, photo manipulation, and world-building in his free time.

Ben runs LFA’s post-production, supporting students and tutors to pull together all the elements that make up a finished film. He’s worked in a wide range of roles across industry sectors including TV production, film distribution, video games, and even visual effects (on some Marvel movies). He loves to share his experiences and develop a broader understanding of what it takes to be a professional filmmaker.

Alastair is a former Diploma graduate from the London Film Academy. Since finishing our course Alastair has been working as a freelance filmmaker, making video commercials for various companies, along with recently writing and directing his own project “Osteopathy”. Alastair returned to LFA to offer valuable support and guidance to the newer diplomas, having experienced the course first-hand.

Iveta is part of the post-production team at LFA. She was previously part of the VFX production teams for HETV projects the likes of 'Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' (Amazon), 'Luther: The Fallen Sun' (Netflix), 'Bob Marley: One Love' (Paramount), 'Avenue 5' (HBO), 'Hijack' (Apple TV) amongst others. In her spare time, she loves attending film festivals, plays tennis and does a bit of yoga.

Susana is a dedicated Facilities Manager with a strong background in the Leisure Industry, driven passionately to ensure a secure and safe environment for students and staff alike to be able to thrive in a harmonious environment. Passionate about fostering meaningful connections with her teenage son & daughter and cherishing quality time spent with her beloved partner of 26 years. Committed to promoting a healthy lifestyle through fitness classes and advocating for well-being both at work and in personal life.

As our HR Officer, Hanna is the driving force behind our HR activities, ensuring smooth processes, meaningful team events, and well-deserved celebrations. Passionate about workplace wellbeing, she champions a healthy work-life balance for everyone. Outside of work, you will often find her soaking up the magic of theatre or enjoying a good laugh at a stand-up comedy show in one of London’s pubs.

Aifric holds the role of FOH (Front of House) Coordinator at LFA. She works as part of the Operations Team by providing a friendly, welcoming face, supporting staff and students alike, and being the first port of call for general requests/enquiries. She has a history of working in customer-facing roles, comfortably interacting with a myriad of individuals; she’s essentially a people-person.

Aifric comes from a strong film background and is currently writing/developing a few original projects.

She’d be the first to describe herself as a “proud plant-mother”. Aifric loves caring for plants and has taken FOH’s leafy atmosphere to the next level, by naming them all after prominent figures in cinematic history.