Batia Ofer is a passionate philanthropist who has supported the Make-A-Wish Foundation since 2008. In 2017, Batia founded ‘Art of Wishes’ and during her eight year tenure as Chair, through spectacular events and partnerships, the initiative raised £15 million and helped grant over 6,000 wishes. Batia has now stepped down as Chair but continues to support Art of Wishes as its Honorary President.
Batia is also the Chair of the Royal Academy Trust, a patron of the arts, and an established art collector. Alongside her role as Chair, she holds Board, Trustee, and Advisory level positions at cultural and educational institutions such as Sotheby’s, the Peres Centre for Peace and Innovation, and until recently, the Victoria & Albert Museum and Harvard Kennedy School. She also chaired the Education Committee at the Serpentine Gallery and has consulted for Frieze Art Fair.
Batia is also responsible for overseeing the ‘Idan and Batia Ofer Family Foundation’, which supports a range of causes across issues of health, education, and culture that are close to her heart. This includes the construction of ‘The Sammy Ofer Centre’ at the London Business School which supports the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs, and the establishment of a scholarship program for Israeli and Palestinian students at the Harvard Kennedy School.
Interim Chair Art of Wishes
Contact - [email protected]
Gia started working with Make‑A‑Wish 25 years ago when she arrived in London. Gia was also a founding member of Art of Wishes and has been on the committee since 2017.
With nearly twenty years of experience in strategic communications and production, Gia has worked with leading organisations including ABC News, DoubleClick, HBO and Warner Music. She is currently a Producer at Luja Productions and Director at the Reuben Foundation. She is a mother of two and founder of Edible School Garden, an initiative that helped primary schools across the UK plant gardens and teach children about nutrition and food provenance.
Gia has served on the boards of Southbank International School, Jewish Cares, the NSPCC and the Bridgehampton Childcare & Recreational Center.
Philanthropy Director
Contact - [email protected]
Julide Troedson is Philanthropy Director at Make-A-Wish UK, with over 25 years’ experience in high-value fundraising and relationship management across the arts, heritage, and charity sectors. She has worked on projects raising over £100m, and is recognised for building strategic partnerships that deliver measurable, lasting impact.
Julide’s career includes roles with leading institutions including Bankside Gallery, Tate, Design Museum, The Royal Academy of Arts, and Sotheby’s, as well as major health and children's charities such as Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, Marie Curie, and Moorfields Eye Charity.
She has a BA Hons and MA in History of Art & Architecture.
Art of Wishes Business Development Lead
Contact - [email protected]
Megan is Business Development Lead at Art of Wishes, where she leads partnerships across the art, culture and luxury sectors, developing high-impact collaborations with artists, patrons, brands and institutions.
She previously served as Head of Business Development at ArtTactic, an art-market research and consulting firm specialising in contemporary art. Among her headline projects was a collaboration with Arts Council England, exploring new models to support regional museums across the UK in acquiring works by contemporary artists.
Earlier in her career, Megan spent a decade at Stephen Ongpin Fine Art, the leading specialist gallery for pre-contemporary original drawings, concluding her tenure as Gallery Director.
She began her career in finance at Barclays Capital in San Francisco, and holds a BA in History of Art and Architecture from Harvard University and a Master’s degree in Art Business with distinction from Sotheby’s Institute of Art.
Art of Wishes & Special Events Lead
Contact - [email protected]
Emily Way is Art of Wishes & Special Events Lead at Make-A-Wish UK, responsible for overseeing the delivery of a programme of events to support the charity’s high-value fundraising initiatives. Emily previously spent over 15 years at Christie’s, holding a senior role supporting the delivery of over 200 events annually across international locations including London, New York, Paris, Basel, Gstaad, Monaco and Moscow.
She has a BA (Hons) in English Literature & Media.
Art of Wishes Marketing & Communications Manager
Jan Finley is Marketing & Communications Manager at Make-A-Wish UK, overseeing all marketing for Art of Wishes. Since joining in 2023, she has supported key events, including two Art of Wishes Galas, a Ladies Lunch, and several brand partnerships.
Jan has over 25 years’ experience in brand management and marketing communications with a career background in several Global corporate businesses, managing well-known FMCG brands and leading integrated communication campaigns.
She has BA Hons in Sociology and Social Policy from Durham University.
Art of Wishes Coordinator
Contact - [email protected]
Hannah Tobin is Art of Wishes Coordinator at Make-A-Wish UK supporting the delivery of fundraising events and relationships with donors and partners. Before moving into her current role, Hannah held another position at Make-A-Wish UK, giving her a strong understanding of the charity and its work. She enjoys working at the intersection of art, philanthropy and meaningful impact.
She studied History at university and began her career in the heritage sector. Hannah has also worked in the Houses of Parliament, gaining experience in a fast-paced, high-profile environment.
Issy is a partner at Lehmann Maupin and a leader in contemporary art, curatorial practice and cultural engagement. Issy has been on the Art of Wishes Committee since 2017.
Based in London, Issy oversees programming, sales and curatorial strategy across the U.K. and Europe. She is a member of the Royal Academy’s Chair’s Circle and serves as a Nominator for the Prix Pictet, the internationally recognised photography prize focused on sustainability.
With more than a decade of experience spanning exhibitions, artist collaborations and gallery leadership, Issy brings strategic vision, curatorial insight and a strong commitment to connecting artists with audiences. She has a demonstrated ability to build partnerships, develop impactful programming and identify opportunities where art and community can meaningfully intersect.
Julia is Director at White Cube Gallery and has been on the Art of Wishes Committee since 2021.
Emily is Founder and Managing Director of Goad Communications and joined the Art of Wishes committee in 2024.
Marine Tanguy is the CEO of MTArt Agency, one of the Sunday Times Power List Companies. She is also a bestselling author with her first book on visual literacy, published by Penguin. A serial TEDx speaker, she advocates for the importance of the arts in our everyday lives and how to better finance and support the creative sector.
Daisy is Founder of DHPR, a London-based communications agency with a global network of clients and partners. DHPR are proudly female-led and deeply values-driven and help brands navigate toward lasting success through a bespoke approach to strategic communication.
Daisy joined the Art of Wishes committee in 2026.
