About Us

Kerstin is passionate advocate for crafts and founder of 1720, a social impact organisation.

1720 creates limited-edition craft pieces to showcase specific craft skills in modern designs, runs education and networking events and works to influence public policy-making to ensure crafts and their cultural heritage will live on.

Rory Sutherland is not your typical ad man—thankfully. As Vice Chairman of Ogilvy UK, he’s spent decades proving that the most effective solutions are often the ones that defy logic. Drawing on behavioral economics, psychology, and a generous helping of wit, Rory champions the idea that humans are delightfully irrational, and that embracing this quirkiness in marketing leads to success. He’s the kind of person who will tell you that a tiny change in context can be more effective than millions spent on data-driven strategy—and then back it up with a brilliantly obscure example from evolutionary biology or the London Underground.

Author of Alchemy: The Surprising Power of Ideas That Don’t Make Sense, Rory has made a career out of questioning the conventional wisdom of business and economics. Whether he’s penning columns for The Spectator or Wired, or delivering a TED talk, he makes the case for creativity over efficiency, emotion over reason, and humor over dull, algorithmic thinking.

In his talks, podcasts, and endless stream of insights, he dazzles with his ability to connect dots no one else sees. And, as anyone lucky enough to meet him in person will confirm, he’s every bit as charming and enthusiastic in real life as he is on stage or behind a microphone—if not more so.

Donata Wenders was born in Berlin in 1965. She studied film and theatre in Berlin and Stuttgart and began her artistic career as a cinematographer for feature films and documentaries.

Since 1995 she has been working as a freelance photographer. Her images are characterised by a classical, mostly black and white visual language. With photography’s digital transformation, Donata Wenders has been developing audiovisual short film installations since 2015. This fusion of photography and moving image lead her back to her roots and also marked an evolution in genre.

In 2006, her first book „Donata – Islands of Silence“ was published. This was followed in 2016 by the artist book with painter Robert Bosisio „Vanishing Point – Donata Wenders and Robert Bosisio“.

She has published several other books with her husband Wim Wenders, including „Leiko Ikemura in conversation with Donata and Wim Wenders“ (2018), „PINA – The Film and the Dancers„ (2012), „Don’t Come Knocking“ (2005), „The Buena Vista Social Club“ (2000), „The Heart is a Sleeping Beauty“ (2000), and „Beyond the Clouds/My Time with Antonioni“ (1995).

Her photos have been published in international magazines such as Egoiste, BLAU Magazine, The New York Times, Vogue, W, Deutsch, Rolling Stone, Kult, Esquire Pen and Let’s Panic, in addition to CD and book covers for Bono, Jon Hassell, Sam Phillips, BAP, ZweiRaumWohnung and Die Toten Hosen and Peter Handke. She has also been a set photographer for her husband Wim Wenders‘ films since 1995.

A graduate of Durham University, Michael is the Special Adviser and Skills Ambassador at City & Guilds, a global leader in technical education and training. He has spent over 40 years in technical education including designing programmes to help long term unemployed people and former psychiatric patients return to the workplace.
During his almost 30 years at City & Guilds, Michael has been responsible for public relations, marketing and senior stakeholder engagement.
Particular highlights include his involvement with WorldSkills and the British Council, taking him to every continent on earth as an ambassador for skills and the impact acquiring them has on individuals, employers and local and national economies.
He was instrumental in delivering the 60plus nations, 250,000 visitors WorldSkills London 2011, one of the largest global skills events to date.
Recently he has worked with the City & Guilds Foundation breaking down barriers for individuals and supporting the least privileged in society acquire the skills they need for sustainable employment and economic independence.
In 2015 he designed and established the Princess Royal Training Awards on behalf of City & Guilds President, HRH The Princess Royal, recognising employers who invest in their people and who can evidence the impact it has. To date almost 500 awards have been made and they are recognised as the most robust and yet accessible training awards in the UK and Ireland.
He is a passionate supporter of skills and has a particular interest in heritage and craft skills and their importance to society.
He is a Trustee of the City & Guilds Pension Scheme; the City & Guilds of London Art School; the music charity, Song in the City and advises the Heritage Craft Association and VIY, an organisation that supports young people make the first step into the construction sector.
He sits on the Livery Companies Skills Council in the City of London.

Tim Reading is the CEO and co-founder of Volunteer It Yourself (VIY), an organization he helped establish in 2011. With a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Tim has a deep passion for promoting practical, vocational trade and craft skills while safeguarding important local community places and spaces.

Tim brings over 25 years of experience in creating and developing cross-sector partnership projects that drive social impact. He is also the originator of the Build-it programme, a pioneering initiative that engaged unemployed young people and retired tradespeople in refurbishing empty, derelict homes to be used as social housing. The Build-it programme was highly successful, winning multiple awards, including the Grand Prix at the 2014 UK Corporate Engagement Awards.

Earlier in his career, Tim had a strong background in sponsorship, partnership marketing, and public relations, working both in the UK and Australia. Notably, he served as Head of Sports Sponsorship at Hill & Knowlton in Sydney. His international experience also includes roles with youth development charities such as Skillshare Africa and Raleigh International.

Tim currently resides near Oxford in the UK. A unique aspect of his life is his participation in the opening ceremonies of both the Sydney 2000 and London 2012 Olympic Games.

Franziska Stalleicken is a Munich lawyer specialised in art & inheritance law, certified family officer, certified executor of wills and holds a Master's degree in art history which she completed with distinction.
She currently works as a lawyer in the foundation department of an international NGO. Previously, she worked as a lawyer in a Munich law firm specialising in art law. She spent 8 years of her career in London, firstly at Christie's auction house (valuations department), followed by positions as legal art counsel in the single family offices of renowned art collectors Maja Hoffmann and Joe Donnelly. She is a member at Rotary Club Lake Starnberg International, The Lunch Circle London, SeeSalon Starnberg and has a passion for opera, architecture and furniture.

British artist Chris Jones creates sculptures and wall works composed of fragmented images from magazines, books and photographs. Jones meticulously selects, cuts out and re-forms hundreds of these photographic images before piecing them back together, allowing their various shapes, colours and subjects to suggest their own understanding of their environment. In this way Jones draws out
narrative scenes and objects that open up parallel worlds, where scale, time and physical logic are all malleable. Jones' work reminds that everything around us comes with a deeply embedded history and a multitude of interconnected stories to tell. Born in Preston, North West England and based in London, Jones has participated in numerous exhibitions throughout Europe, North America, and Asia. Notable museum presentations include Hudson Valley Museum of Contemporary Art, NY; The Oakland University Art Gallery, Michigan; Prague Biennial; Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery; Manchester Art Gallery; and the Knoxville Art Museum.

Dr Ritu Sethi, editor, Global InCH Journal of living heritage (www.globalinch.org) in addition to overseeing Asia InCH Encyclopaedia on the heritage arts, textiles, and crafts of India and the wider South Asian region (www.asiainch.org)
Her research interests examine the cultural histories of textiles, arts and crafts, and their contemporary continuities and interpretations in design, fashion, and the everyday. Her publications include Handmade for the 21 st Century: Traditional Indian Textiles (pub: UNESCO), Embroidering Futures - Repurposing the Kantha (pub: India Foundation of the Arts (IFA)); Designers Meet Artisans - A Practical Guide (pub: UNESCO - trans: Spanish and French); Painters, Poets, Performers – The Patuas of Bengal (pub: IFA); among other writings on policy, cultural history and sustainability.
She is founder-trustee of Craft Revival Trust, India, and Director, League of Artisans, UK.
She works on policy, serving on advisories in India, Japan, Sri Lanka, and Argentina. Most recently being appointed on the editorial board for UNESCO’s State of the Education Report with a focus on Culture and Arts Education.

Miles J. Rice is the creative force behind Rittergut & Runnymede, a design house renowned for its unique approach to designing objects as a form of art. Born and raised in the historic region of Runnymede, England, Miles founded Rittergut & Runnymede with the conviction that every aspect of live should be as meticulously curated as an art collection. His designs are a bold blend of British creativity and German engineering precision, resulting in pieces that are both visually striking and masterfully crafted.

Miles's passion for design is deeply rooted in his admiration for craftsmanship. He seeks to create pieces that marry organic forms with precise engineering, embodying both sophistication and playfulness. His work often features sculptural elements, reflecting his love for nature, architecture, and art.

In addition to his work at Rittergut & Runnymede, Miles Rice extends his creative vision to support The ARCH. Through this collaboration, Miles brings his expertise in sculptural design and his commitment to excellence to help ensure that the art of craftsmanship continues to thrive in the modern world.

Miles's work has been showcased in prestigious venues such as Rolls Royce Mayfair and selected for the Formed x Future Heritage exhibition at the Design Centre Chelsea Harbour, cementing his reputation as a stand-out figure in the world of bespoke design.

Zuhura is currently a Chairperson of Tanzania Heritage Pro-Development (TAHEDO), a youth-led organization. She has also served as the Co-chair of the Indigenous Culture Heritage Program for the ICOMOS General Assembly in 2023. She also volunteers for the
African Heritage Inventory Working Group and represents the Emerging Professionals for the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee for Interpretation and Presentation of Cultural Heritage Sites (ICIP). Her expertise is based across several areas, which include museums,
heritage studies and African Studies. She is also a member of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the International Council of Museums (ICOM).

Leonor  is a passionate cultural manager dedicated to social impact and community development. Currently, she volunteers with 1720, helping to preserve cultural heritage, and co-organizes book clubs and events at Corte dei Miracoli in Siena, empowering international students through intercultural activities. With skills in marketing, copywriting, and social media strategy, Leonor has also contributed to projects at Università degli Studi di Siena and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. She is pursuing a Master’s degree in Public and Cultural Diplomacy at Università di Siena.

Atakan is a Master's student in Public and Cultural Diplomacy at the University of Siena, Italy, specializing in international relations, cultural heritage, and diplomacy, with a particular focus on the Mediterranean region and the Balkans. He has a deep interest in folklore and traditional practices, and is dedicated to preserving cultural heritage, enhancing cross-cultural understanding, and utilizing cultural initiatives to strengthen international relations.

Justine recently completed her Bachelor’s degree in Human Geography at the University of Exeter and will continue her studies with a Master’s degree at University College London this autumn. She is passionate about ensuring social and environmental sustainability and aspires to pursue a career in which she can contribute towards a restructuring of our society, concerning a more just and equitable future. 

Justine is currently contributing to a public awareness campaign at The ARCH, focused on engaging younger generations in intangible cultural heritage and heritage crafts. Her dedication to preserving cultural heritage and fostering awareness among youth is a driving force behind her efforts.

Kübra studied English Translation and Interpretation in Trakya University. She has found her passion and interest in cultural heritage and values, craftmanship and her country's culture when she started to work in K'ai&Vrosi. K'ai&Vrosi is a slow based, hand loomed fabric focused and craftsmanship centered designer bag brand with limited stock. From internship to a full time employee, her role is to create content for social media, website, newsletter and blog. She keeps finding herself digging into the crafts and culture of a region in the other side of the world. Always curious and fascinated by her discoveries. She is also a writer and editor in a publication at Medium.

Kimberley has been working in the Heritage sector for just over 10 years and is currently doing MSc Conservation Practices at Cardiff University. Following the completion of her Masters she hopes to work as a Conservator. In her free time, Kimberley is a passionate weaver and loves creating new pieces. She has also grown up around many crafts and enjoys seeing the variety of objects that are created using these traditional and renewed skills. Kimberley also hopes to merge her two passions of heritage and crafts, by helping to perverse these traditional crafts.