Meet our 2026 Cohort
We’re excited to introduce the mentor pairs taking part in this year’s Creative Opps Mentorship Programme.
Each mentee has been thoughtfully matched with a mentor whose experience aligns with their creative interests and goals. Over the next six months, they’ll meet regularly to share knowledge, build confidence, expand their networks and support the next stage of each mentee’s creative journey.
We look forward to sharing updates from the programme as their mentoring relationships develop.
Adeyinka Akinrinade
Adeyinka Akinrinade is an actor and producer whose screen and stage work has earned attention across British TV, theatre and film. As a Creative Producer her credits include Festival Director of The British Urban Film Festival, Assistant Producer for Full House Theatre and Co-Producer of award winning independent short films, Lost Boys, Nāca and Aura. She also produced BFI funded, The Lost Land Girl. She recently was Associate Producer for Nouveau Riche “No More Mir Nice Guy” and most recently Produced “Beats” & “Are We Doing This Right” at Riverside Studios. Last year she produced Flywheel Theatre’s rep season of 6 plays, 6 weeks and 6 actors at The Old Red Lion Theatre.
On television, she is known for her lead roles in Riches (ITV/AMAZON PRIME) and Champion (BBC/NETFLIX). Other on screen credits include Top Boy, Silent Witness, Grantchester, Temple, Everything I Know About Love and A Discovery of Witches. Recent theatre credits include performances in Thanks For Having Me at Riverside Studios as well as roles with The National Theatre, Orange Tree Theatre, Theatre 503 and the Paines Plough Roundabout.
Millie Double
Millie Double trained in musical theatre at London Studio Centre. As well as being an actor, dancer and performer, she is also a keys player and musical director.
Since graduating from London Studio Centre in 2025, she performed in and was dance captain for Vision: The Musical Story of Lourdes in London and France, and also performed in Operation Sleigh Save. Most recently she has performed in and was dance captain for The Graduates: A Brand New Musical. Millie also MD’d Where Did Bailey’s Bark Go?, a new children’s musical.
Credits whilst training include Music Assistant and Ensemble in The Witches of Eastwick, Vocal Captain for an in-house Sondheim project (2025), and Vocal Captain for an extract of Titanic in Dance Overture 2024.
Amelie Snyers
Carmen Mas Franco
Carmen Mas Franco is a Marketing and Projects Coordinator at Synchtank, where she liaises between global entertainment clients and software developers for music catalogue management. She is also an Executive Assistant for live orchestral productions and film-in-concert experiences. Carmen started her journey within the creative sector last year. Not knowing anyone in the industry at the time, she has been incredibly grateful for opportunities like the Creative Opps programme for the chance to meet brilliant mentors like Amélie.
Ewa Lefmann
Ewa Lefmann is a Senior Creative with a strong interest in helping brands become more distinctive, emotive and human. After a decade working across different design roles,
Ewa now runs her own boutique design studio – collaborating with agencies, brands and charities that believe in design as a thoughtful, ethical practice. Her client roster includes PROPER Snacks, Haringey Council, Cool Earth and Youth Music, as well as with independent studios such as LOVERS, The Liminal Space and Praline.
Vivian
Ibrahim Salawu
Ibrahim Salawu is screenwriter with a strong interest in genre experimentation and socially conscious storytelling. Since completing Channel’s 4Screenwriting programme in 2019, he has written an episode of slasher comedy Wreck, participated in writers’ room for various projects, and developed his own projects with Sky, Disney, and Channel 4. In 2023, he joined Creative Opps as a trustee, and has recently become one of the charity’s mentors.
Luca Capelle
Luca Capelle is a screenwriter fascinated by the psyche and metaphysical drama. Her work often takes the form of surrealist coming-of-age narratives and combines experimental storytelling with a distinctly kitchen-sink sensibility. She is currently developing her feature How To Ride Horses, scheduled for production in California in October 2027.
Maria Lajuwomi
With experience across Film, TV and Live Events, Maria Lajuwomi is a Live Events & Production Assistant with a passion for creating engaging audience experiences. Having supported live tours, studio productions, festivals and large-scale events, she has developed skills in event logistics, production coordination and audience management. She enjoys bringing people together through creative experiences and is particularly interested in creative engagement, facilitation and live event production. Through Creative Opps, she is excited to learn from industry professionals and continue building a career in the events sector!
Megan Brewer
Megan Brewer
Rachel Goacher
Rachel Goacher is a screenwriter and script editor with a passion for developing compelling stories. She holds a Master’s degree in Screenwriting from MetFilm School and further specialised in script development through Screen Yorkshire’s ScriptEd scheme. This culminated in a placement with the script editing team on Coronation Street and the opportunity to go behind the scenes at Emmerdale. As a mentor, she loves to cheerlead other writers, encourage them to find their voice, and build confidence in their abilities.
Hannah Ali Khan
Hannah Ali Khan is a Bristol-based scriptwriter with a love for the extraordinary stories of ordinary people. Her writing is personal, vibrant and accessible, blending drama with humour to create bold yet familiar characters rooted in today’s Britain. She is particularly interested in writing for and about young adults, British Asians, and women, reflecting the worlds around her and sharing intersectional experiences rarely seen onstage.
Simon Castillo
Simon Castillo is a London-based writer for the stage and screen with a focus on crafting stories where ordinary people find themselves in extraordinary circumstances. He gained experience working at ITV in their Diversity & Inclusion team before being accepted onto the first fully scripted cohort for the year-long Channel 4 Production Training Scheme. He’s since gone on to work in development at a prestigious production company and most receniworked as an Assistant Script Editor on BBC drama, Just Act Normal.
Leon Thompson
Leon Thompson is a Care-Experienced Black British Caribbean Writer and Director, who was raised and based in South East London. He graduated from the University of West London in 2020 with a BA in film production. With his Bajan heritage and him being a father himself, he is passionate about supporting fathers and bringing creative Caribbean people together. Leon likes to tell fictional dramas, stories that take people out of the real world, but also wants to differ from the negative stereotype’s of black people in screen media. While Leon is not busy creating opportunities for himself, in his spare time he enjoys video games, watching films, reading and spending time with his young daughter, friends and family.
Sope Soetan
Monet Harris
Monet Harris is a London based music writer and creative currently working at Beggars Group. She also runs BackBeat Online, a platform exploring music, memory and culture. She is particularly interested in artist storytelling, emerging scenes and the cultural moments that often get overlooked. Through the mentorship, Monet is developing her writing and learning more about building a career in music journalism.
Taaryn Brench
Khadija Babar
Khadija Babar is a 23-year-old illustrator based in Preston, who passionately explores the South Asian diaspora through vibrant zines and illustrations. Drawing from her experiences as a Gujarati Muslim, Khadija brings a unique perspective to the art world, filling a much-needed gap in representation. Recently named one of the ’10 UK Illustration Graduates to Watch in 2025′ by the AOI, her work encapsulates the essence of her culture and aims to inspire young people from similar backgrounds.
Yoana Anastasova
Adi Alfa
Adi Alfa is a multi-award-winning, multi-hyphenate creative working across acting, writing, directing and producing. She is the co-founder of Media Worx Films, founder of Women in Film and Creative Industries, and creative partner of A Room That Looks Like Me. Over the past 18 years, Adi has worked with young people and adults, helping them learn new skills, build confidence and develop their creative voice. Her work is rooted in bold, emotionally honest storytelling, with a focus on identity, culture, resilience and underrepresented voices.
Other pairings in 2026
Alex Stone & Najua B
Hassan Sharif & Maria Enache
Rochelle Adimado & Kaia Charles
Tyler Bennett & Jayda Dawkins
Calling All Creative Industry Professionals!
Become a Mentor (& Mentee) with Creative Opps!
Our Mentorship Programme pairs mentors with a young creative for 1-2 hours per month over six months, supporting their career progression with a personalised plan co-designed together. The programme is for people based in England and Wales) and offers reasonable expenses to support your involvement.