Trustee

Darla-Jane Gilroy

Darla-Jane Gilroy is a British academic, fashion designer, futurologist and author. After graduating from Saint Central Martins, she set up her own design label, sold through outlets worldwide.

Her work has been considered exemplary of what the new wave of British designers brought to mainstream British fashion in 90s, and early 2000s and has been featured extensively in the global fashion media, and in fashion exhibitions at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum and the ICA,.

Gilroy has had a long involvement with design education, both undergraduate and postgraduate.

In 1995 she became the Course Leader of the BA Hons in Footwear and Accessories Design and Product Development at Cordwainers College and in 1999 she became Head of Department and Subject Leader in Fashion at Winchester School of Art, before moving to The Royal College of Art in the School of Fashion and Textiles in 2005 as Senior Tutor in Footwear and Accessories. She became Programme Director for the Craft group of courses at London College of Fashion.in 2011 and is currently the Associate Dean of Knowledge Exchange at Central Saint Martins.

I am delighted to deepen my relationship with Cockpit, for me craft making is not just about creating objects; it’s about infusing pieces with something tangible, that tells our stories, and holds our memories, and traditions.

Darla-Jane Gilroy

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

Nishita Dewan

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

Trustee

Lee Gage

Lee Gage is solicitor with broad commercial, data protection and intellectual property law experience, having worked with creative businesses in many sectors, most notably in the retail fashion.