HQ
Our lean HQ dream team coordinates fundraising, programme development, communications, logistics, social media, partnerships, and all the other things in between helping our Chapter committees to deliver kindness all over the country.
Katy Rowden (she/her) General Manager
- Explain your relationship with baking. With my love for baking rooted in cherished childhood memories of Granny's flapjacks and treacle tarts being wheeled through on the tea trolley, my relationship with baking is one of warmth and nostalgia.
- How are you kind in your day-to-day life? I strive to be kind by following a simple mantra that I use in lots of areas of my life: "little things done well." Whether it's lending a helping hand, offering a listening ear, or spreading positivity, I believe that small acts of kindness can make a big difference.
- Baking disaster / success story? As for my baking adventures, there have been both disasters and successes. From collapsed soufflés to perfectly risen cakes, each experience has taught me resilience and the importance of embracing imperfections in the pursuit of delicious creations (and life!).
Natasha Meynell (she/her) Operations Manager
- Explain your relationship with baking. Baking and the fact I was actually good at it was something I only discovered later in life as an adult. I just love to bake for others, sharing my baking with friends, family and colleagues - I don’t eat anything myself!
- How are you kind in your day-to-day life? I just love the way it is so easy to spread kindness each and every day in very small ways that make such a difference. It is not hard! Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself. No matter what the circumstances I am always kind, it is an easy recipe to follow in life.
- Baking disaster / success story? I discovered I have the patience to be a whizz at making cut out sugar cookies and since then have collected close to 150 different embossed cookie cutters and regularly bake all sorts of fun cookies for sharing with others.
Hannah Molloy (she/her) Marketing & Communications Manager
- Explain your relationship with baking. Complicated. I love it. I prefer to use 2-3 recipes at a time and usually decide I know better halfway through. Baking is an art not a science. I said what I said.
- How are you kind in your day-to-day life? My general approach these days is to try to leave things better than I found them. It’s definitely a work in progress but small things are doable.
- Baking disaster / success story? I made an amazing chocolate cherry caramel cheesecake for some friends. When I made the same cheesecake a few weeks later, it was not the same at all. WHY THOUGH?*
*because I don’t follow the recipe.
Gina Dao-McLay (they/them) Social Media Coordinator
- Explain your relationship with baking. I have a very casual relationship with baking - like a close friend who you don't see regularly, but when you do catch-up it's still great vibes and lots of fun.
- How are you kind in your day-to-day life? Despite busy days, I always try to check in on those close to me, giving them support and reassurance when needed. I do my best to remember the small things, like a go-to coffee order or favourite sweet treat and be extra thoughtful every day.
- Baking disaster / success story? I'm a frequent late night baker - spending a little too much time scrolling on my phone that the baking starts far later than it should have. Despite this, I managed some super cute (although not the most sophisticated) valentines cookies for all my friends in high school which made the lack of sleep worth it.
Sara Mitchell (she/her) Volunteer Coordinator
- Explain your relationship with baking: I organise the school bake sales, rather than contribute to them, which says a lot about my baking skills. My mum used to make afghans with very burnt bottoms, or put bought biscuits in cake tins for shared lunches, and I'm proud to carry on that family tradition.
- How are you kind in your day to day life: "Be kind" is one of my most-used expressions (I have young children...). I try to model this by doing small things for others without expecting anything in return, and treating others the way I'd like to be treated.
- Baking disaster/success story? I have two recipes, a chocolate cake for celebrations and a banana bread for neglected bananas. Neither of my children have ever complained about their birthday cake or asked for a professional one the next year, which I consider a baking success!
Board
Behind the scenes, the Good Bitches Trust is governed by another team of Good Bitches, who volunteer their time to make up the Board.
Simon Thomas (he/him) Chair
- Explain your relationship with baking. My relationship with baking goes as far as making some biscuits every now and then and maybe the odd cupcake too. I do very much enjoy eating it though, as long as it’s not banana or carrot cake...
- How are you kind in your day-to-day life? I try to be friendly to everyone I meet, I am empathetic to those around me, whether at work or more socially.
- Baking disaster / success story? Anytime the kids actually eat anything I bake is a success for me!
Delaney Mes (she/her) Trustee
- Explain your relationship with baking. I love baking. It feels like magic when a few mere ingredients transform into something delicious. I find the process cathartic and it’s a great creative outlet. I also love eating baking and giving it away to happy recipients.
- How are you kind in your day-to-day life? I try and demonstrate kindness to my two daughters as much as possible whether it’s cooking meals for friends with new babies, baking for our neighbours, helping strangers, or donating to charity.
- Baking disaster / success story? I had a food blog in the 2010s and that led to me a regular cooking slot on the Good Morning show. I had a couple of disasters on live television - one was a leaking food processor which meant I made cauliflower purée instead of soup, and the other was trying to ice cakes that were still warm. Total chaos but very funny!
Geoff Willmott (he/him) Trustee
- Explain your relationship with baking. I'm an enthusiastic consumer. I’m not really a baker at all, so hopefully I’m bringing other skills to the GBB Board. I was probably put off baking a bit by a fairly severe Home Economics teacher at intermediate school. I wasn’t so good at cleaning up after myself – too keen to eat the treats without doing the mahi!
- How are you kind in your day-to-day life? I teach at university, have two small kids, and have been involved in club sport for most of my life – all of these activities are primarily about the development of young people. To get results you have to have empathy and give your time, attention, and effort. I think that kindness underpins all of this.
- Baking disaster / success story? I'm pretty good at reheating pies. I once tried a sourdough – as a scientist, I was interested in the idea of catching and using wild yeast. Safe to say it was a failed experiment.
Justine Street (she/her) Trustee
- Explain your relationship with baking. Baking has always been a big part of our family. I have fond memories of baking with my Nana and Mum and even entering into the local AP&I shows. Baking is my happy place and I tend to bake weekly on a Sunday to have tins filled for the week or something new for my colleagues to try and critique.
- How are you kind in your day to day life? I love the saying, ‘It doesn’t cost anything to be kind’, and nor does it take any effort. When walking down the street, I smile to those I pass which makes most smile back, creating a chain reaction of improving moods.
- Baking disaster/success story. I’m loving the journey of learning to make sourdough with varying degrees of success and the one thing I haven’t managed to master after many attempts is a light and fluffy sponge. Dry and rubber are words that come to mind!
Sam Feder (she/her) Trustee
- Explain your relationship with baking.My mum taught me how to bake from an early age. No store-bought in our house! Fresh baking is still my favourite thing to eat - and to share.
- How are you kind in your day-to-day life? A friendly hello and an offer to help.
- Baking disaster / success story? My pies always have a soggy bottom. I’ve tried all the tricks and still, soggy bottom.
Sarah Meikle (she/her) Trustee
- Explain your relationship with baking. Baking is my downtime! There's nothing better than whipping up a cake!
- How are you kind in your day-to-day life? Kindness is very important to me. I was brought up being told that you should always treat others as you want to be treated. I want to be treated kindly!
- Baking disaster / success story? My recent success was teaching my 11 year old niece to make the Funfetti Birthday Cake… It took four hours but looked and tasted fantastic!
Megan Helmers (she/her) Board Secretary
- Explain your relationship with baking. My Grandmother was an avid baker and I spent a lot of my childhood in her kitchen baking treats with her and being able to lick the bowl! She seemed to whip things up and all of sudden there would be an amazing spread for afternoon tea on the table and I hope to be able to do that as easily one day!
- How are you kind in your day-to-day life? I am a strong believer in you never know what others are going through and you never know what goes on behind closed doors, I try to treat everyone how I would like to be treated and I also try to give a compliment to someone at least once a day, as this could be the highlight of someone’s day.
- Baking disaster / success story? I was baking a blueberry vanilla cake to take to an event, and everything was going well until it was time to take the cake out of the pan. The whole top cracked and basically crumbled and disintegrated and I had no time to bake something new, so I tied a ribbon around the middle, made sure the crumble was even and called it a 'Blueberry Vanilla Crumble Cake'.