The

Team

Eryca Freemantle

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Eryca Freemantle is a globally respected authority in beauty, culture, and creative leadership a woman whose influence is felt far beyond product, policy, or platform. With more than four decades shaping the landscape of business and beauty, representation, and professional advancement, she has become one of the most strategic and transformative voices driving equity, visibility, and cultural exchange.

Her career spans continents and industries, but what defines her most is impact: Eryca has trained, mentored, advised, and elevated thousands many creatives, entrepreneurs, and executives across the UK, Africa, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Europe, and the United States. Her work sits at the crossroads of business, branding, policy, wellness, and identity, innovating and expanding how the world understands beauty, culture, and the global Black consumer economy. A master convenor, Eryca brings together groups who seldom occupy the same room, corporate leaders and creatives, government officials and grassroots changemakers, luxury brands and emerging voices. Her rare ability to bridge worlds has made her a trusted strategic partner to ministries, multinational corporations, creative councils, and pioneering founders.

Edith Williams

E.A.T.O.W Academy Collaborator & Educator

Led international respected Educator Edith Williams in collaboration with E.A.T.O.W, this elevated immersive experience has been carefully curated for individuals ready to expand their visibility, confidence, positioning, access, and long term opportunities within the global creative industries.

Recognised for her artistry, professionalism, industry knowledge, and influential presence within the beauty and creative sectors, Edith Williams has been carefully selected to lead this immersive experience due to her reputation, expertise, standards, and ability to inspire and elevate creative talent at a high level. This is exposure, environment, access, visibility, positioning, and transformation.

Annie Harrison

E.A.T.O.W Academy Collaborator & Educator

Founder of Inform Group | PR, Influencer & Communications Strategist

With over 26 years of experience across communications, PR, talent management, and influencer strategy, Annie Harrison brings a dynamic combination of industry expertise, relationship-building, and modern digital influence to the E.A.T.O.W Academy collaboration. Her career began working with major brands, including Boots, Tesco, Vodafone, and British Gas before transitioning into the beauty and communications sector, where she worked with globally recognised brands including M.A.C Cosmetics, Revlon, and Benefit Cosmetics, part of the LVMH Group

Recognising the growing power of digital influence, Annie later founded Under the Influence Management, a beauty-focused talent agency supporting creators and influencers within the evolving social media landscape. Following its success, the agency evolved into Inform Group, a modern communications and talent management company focused on authentic engagement, influencer relations, strategic partnerships, and impactful brand communication. As part of the E.A.T.O.W Academy collaboration, Annie and Inform Group will support and teach across PR, communications, influencer education, visibility strategy, and relationship management, helping creatives build brands that are commercially visible, culturally relevant, and globally respected.

Dr Olubunmi Aboaba

Mental Wellness Strategist

Dr. Olubunmi Aboaba is a highly experienced professional with nearly 40 years in clinical practice, initially as a Dental Surgeon, and later transitioning into integrative and holistic wellness. Combining ancient modalities with modern science, she helps clients achieve deep, lasting healing. Having navigated her own recovery journey from alcohol dependency, stress, and burnout.

Dr. Aboaba now specializes in restoring balance across the body, mind, spirit, and energy systems. Her extensive qualifications include roles as a Certified Sober Coach, Master Reiki Practitioner, and Advanced Crystal Healing Practitioner, among others. Renowned for her warm, relatable approach, she supports diverse clients, from recovery communities to elite performers. Awarded the Platinum Award for Best Holistic Therapy in 2023, she is also a published author, keynote speaker, and host of the "Your Sober Sweet Spot" podcast, offering tools and insights on addiction recovery and long-term wellbeing.

Verdy Oliver

Director at Stick & Glass

Verdy has had a camera on his shoulder for 20 years.

3 x Olympics, 7 x Tour De France’s, 4 x Champions League Finals, 2 x Active War Zones, 5 x Super Bowls, 1 x World Cup and countless documentaries. As he continues to shoot a range of content, Verdy has also diversified his talents and entered the world of post production and he now runs a Sticks & Glass, a fresh post production facility based in central Leeds. Verdy has also twice been nominated for an Emmy for his work as Director of Photography on the award winning 'Welcome to Wrexham'.

Adam Bennett

Director at Stick & Glass

Adam started out as an editor for small independent television companies. Since then there isn't a job or type of production that Adam hasn't done. Having directed and produced reality, documentaries, comedies and ad campaigns, Adam found himself as Head of Production at a global advertising agency. This helped him marry the practical, tangible skills of Television production with the rigours of running a successful business.

Karen Holden

Solicitor

Karen Holden is a solicitor, and an award-winning practice established nearly two decades ago in the heart of the City of London. Built entirely around offering personal services, SMEs and founders and supporting family offices and entrepreneurs with their due diligence. She helps founders scale, secure investment soundly, expand overseas, and exit successfully.

Gayle-Thompson Igwebike

Creative Curator and Host

Gayle Thompson-Igwebike stands as one of the most compelling new voices redefining what leadership looks like across fashion, media, and technology. A storyteller at heart and a strategist by training, Gayle's career spans industries and continents - from media broadcasting, fashion, and education to software engineering and global community leadership.

As a Director at Next Tech Girls, she has led a movement that has empowered over 10,000 young women to explore futures in technology, driving partnerships with industry giants including Google, PlayStation, Publicis Media, and NatWest Bank. Her true gift lies in connection, linking brands to purpose, communities to opportunity, and audiences to inspiration. Whether on stage at Google for International Women's Day, facilitating workshops at Black Women in Tech events across the UK, or sharing insights alongside global leaders at the City of London Corporation's Women Pivotal into Digital initiative, Gayle commands every room with authenticity, warmth, and vision.

Jonny Lyons

Development Leader

Jonny Lyons is a senior training, business development and workforce development leader with over 15 years of experience designing and delivering high-impact education and skills programmes across the creative, education and employment sectors.

Currently Head of Training & Business Development at Sticks & Glass Skills Hub, Jonny leads the development of industry-focused training initiatives that address skills gaps, support workforce growth and create meaningful career opportunities. His career spans leadership roles at the National Film & Television School, Sticks & Glass Skills Hub and the National Careers Service, where he has successfully built strategic partnerships, developed innovative learning programmes and secured funding to drive organisational growth and learner success.