Board
Peter Donaldson (Chair)
Peter has been professionally involved with books since 1978 when he and his wife Sarah founded Red Lion Books, Colchester’s award-winning independent book shop. He has always believed that books and reading play a hugely important part in building a healthy and happy society. He is proud to be Chair of Essex Book Festival whose inspiring events and projects help make Essex a great place for book lovers.
Sade Fadipe
Sade is a published children’s author and educationist. Her picture book fascination was ignited by Sir Quentin Blake’s visit to a school where she taught in the early 90s. Her passion for literacy enhancement initiatives and in giving back to society, led to her conceptualizing and convening CALFE – a Children and Authors’ annual Fanfare. Her love for community motivated her three-year voluntary service at Essex Library Services.
Tony Fisher
Tony Fisher is a writer and BBC broadcaster. When he’s not behind the mic he’s tapping away on the keyboard or interviewing guests on the art of the written word.
He’s hosted many events for the Essex Book Festival and has a passion for promoting reading among young people, starting with his own children.
Pat Gaudin
Pat loves books, has belonged to her book group for over 20 years, and has attended the Festival since its inception. A career in public relations/communications, most recently as an independent consultant in the local public sector across East Anglia, London, Hertfordshire; lecturer on PR degree and diploma courses; Director of Purple CIC; until recently a Trustee of Theatre Arts Action Trust (TAAT); and member of Chelmsford Mildmay Rotary.
Hana Loftus
Hana Loftus is a planner, architect and writer based in Essex. She co-directs HAT Projects, an award-winning architecture and planning practice based in Colchester. Her first full-length book, Sixteen Acres, will be published by Profile Books in 2027 and she was shortlisted for the Fitzcarraldo Editions Essay Prize in 2025.
Jim MacDonald
A career in finance might appear an unlikely background for a lover of books; although, government circulars do have a degree of intrigue! Jim brings his professional experience and enthusiasm for books to the board. A wide reader, he enjoys recommendations of The Times and Independent and keeps a keen eye on the Booker Prize.
Kimberley Sheehan
Kimberley was born in Chelmsford and is a former teacher who then completed a MA in Creative Writing and Publishing. Since 2016, she has worked for national reading charity, The Reading Agency. In her current role as Senior Programme Manager she specialises in audience development, strengthening partnerships and running wide-reaching campaigns with publishers.
Camilla Shestopal
Camilla is passionate about books, being involved in publishing throughout her career. She has been involved in selling rights in all areas of publishing on authors and children’s brands and formerly was a director at Peters, Fraser & Dunlop focusing on Estates to bring well-known names of the past back into the public consciousness. She now runs her own agency called Shesto Literary.
Helen Wakeham
Lover of the countryside, history, gardening and hugely passionate about music and the arts.
Helen has always loved reading and collecting books, even from a young age one of her favourite places was the library. Her favourite author is Terry Pratchett. She is currently building a library in her spare room after recently moving to Heybridge. Helen looks forward to getting involved in the community and voluntary sector in Maldon and north Essex.
Lu Williams
Lu (they/them) is an artist and Grrrl Zine Fair founder exploring queerness, neurodivergence and working‑class identity through research, collaboration and collecting. Their work celebrates the overlooked and questions hierarchies of value. They founded Grrrl Zine Fair CIC in 2015, a platform for self‑publishing and DIY feminist culture, and established the Grrrl Zine Library in 2017, now home to over 1,500 queer feminist zines at The Old Waterworks in Southend.
Photo credit: Lu & Poly by Eliza Hatch