Trustee

James Grand

James Grand is a former solicitor. In the course of a 30 year City career, he was a partner at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Simmons & Simmons, specialising in derivatives and structured credit, and was a member of the Financial Markets Law Committee from 2008 to 2013. A former soldier, he is a trustee of the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces Charity.

James has long been an avid collector and supporter of UK craft, the Crafts Council, the Art Fund, and Collect, often commissioning work direct from makers and, among other things, collaborating with the Cynthia Corbett Gallery to sponsor the Maylis Grand Ceramics Prize.

“Craft provides visible and physical texture to all our lives: it is an expression of human dignity and what is innate to the identity and legacy of each generation. The search for authentic skill in this technological age offers makers the opportunity of a new and extraordinary prosperity, to which Cockpit can be the bridge. I am proud to be a Trustee of an organisation that will touch many lives to craft a better future.”

Other members of cockpit

Chair of Trustees

Davina Mallinckrodt

Long-standing supporter of craft and makers, Davina is a senior brand strategist, collaborating with many of the most successful international design companies, designers and architects.

Trustee

Bill Amberg

One of the most respected names in contemporary British leathercraft, Bill’s work in architecture and interiors over the last 30 years has grown in parallel with his iconic bag designs.

Trustee

Min Bhogaita

Min is an investor, advisor and entrepreneur. He has a portfolio of start-ups and scale-ups that he supports as well having his own ‘Storytelling with Data’ training company.

Trustee

Nishita Dewan

Director of CollaboratEQ, Nishita transforms organisations into collaborative trusted networks, supporting clients to design future-ready organisations.