Amanda Faber – CEO
Amanda works as a producer, writer and director in film, television, theatre and dance. She founded The Soldiers’ Arts Academy and The Charlie F Project (UK) Ltd. and was a director of Combat Veteran Players and Shakespeare’s Soldiers (Soliloquy Pictures Ltd).
Her film her credits include: How the Stage Saved a Soldier (Soldiers’ Arts Academy, 2017); The Covenant (2017); Jadoo (2012) which premiered in official selection at the Berlin Film Festival 2013; and Resistance (2011) nominated for the Cine Vision Award at the Munich Film Festival and for which Sharon Morgan won a Welsh BAFTA 2012 for Best Actress.
Televison credits include: Breaking the Silence, Guilty my Arse, The Race for Everest, Children with a Difference, Crooked Britain and Watchdog (BBC). Theatre includes: Remember and Richard III (2017); Twelfth Night (2016). Dance includes: Muster (2015) and Traces of War (2017).
Jeff Worboys – Trustee
Jeff is a retired Chartered Surveyor. Educated at Whitgift School in Croydon he graduated from the Polytechnic of Central London in 1974 with a Diploma in Urban Estate Management. He trained in the commercial department at Savills, qualifying as a chartered surveyor in 1978. A large part of his career was spent at International Property Consultants, Richard Ellis, where he became an equity partner in 1989 dealing with many of central London's largest office properties.
He started his own firm with two former partners in 1998 and became deeply involved in the voluntary sector, recognising that central London based charities had an endless struggle satisfying their property needs at a price they could afford. Against this background he was instrumental in setting up three major charity centres - 89 Albert Embankment (formerly BT's Camelford House), the Kensington Charity Centre at Charles House in Kensington High Street and the Victoria Charity Centre in Belgrave Road. Specific circumstances applying to each of these properties meant that Jeff was able to negotiate flexible lease terms, including rents and capped service charges well below the market rate which were affordable to most charities. All centres were oversubscribed.
Jeff lives in North London with his wife of 40 years. They have a son and two daughters together with an expanding team of grandchildren!
Jeff joined the SAA as a civilian participant in 2023 and continues to take part in the art workshops with great enthusiasm! His other passions include sailing, walking and tennis.
Paula Johnston – Trustee
Paula has enjoyed an extensive career in both the public and private sectors. From parks management in London to vineyard management in Wiltshire with quite a few things in between.
Born in Scotland Paula moved with her parents and sister to Kent when she was two.
After attending the local grammar school London beckoned and Paula completed a BA (Hons) degree in Social Science.
Whilst a student Paula was a member of the University of London Officer Training Corps becoming a gun commander and spending many happy hours on Salisbury Plain.
The camaraderie of the military is something that Paula still enjoys, maintaining contact with many old comrades and pulling up a sandbag now and then for a bit of reminiscing. The bond of a shared experience remains strong.
Paula lives in Wiltshire with her wife (ex QARANC) and runs her own wine tasting events business.
Chieko Sato – Trustee
Chieko Sato has an extensive 28-year career in professional services. Commencing as a management consultant, she spearheaded projects for diverse clients across Europe, North America, and Australia. Her 15-year tenure as Director of Talent Management encompassed all talent-related strategy and operations, and she served on both the Management Committee and Leadership Team as head of HR.
A Meyler Campbell-trained executive coach certified by the European Mentoring and Coaching Council, Chieko merges business acumen and problem-solving skills with a deep passion for personal development. Her unwavering commitment to individual growth fosters authenticity and transformative insight and healing, enabling clients to flourish.
Chieko's dedication to healing extends to her exploration of individual, ancestral and collective trauma, informed by her work with Mobius Executive Leadership and Thomas Huebl at the Inner Academy of Science.
Her 14 years of piano study instilled in her a deep passion for music. She views music and the arts as a conduit to our higher selves, believing that creative expression fosters connection and shared experience.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from INSEAD. Residing in London, she has two sons aged 23 and 25.