Meet the Board

UKCCA Board

Tony Isles • Chair

Tony has been on the UKCCA Board for 20 years and was appointed as Chair at the 2022 AGM. He has been actively involved in the carnival arts industry for over 20 years, as both a carnival arts practitioner and a member of the Rampage Carnival Band. Tony has also been involved in the delivery of carnival classes and activities to promote health and wellbeing, including leading socaerobics classes. Tony is the Recovery College Manager for East London Foundation Trust, covering the Bedfordshire and Luton area. Tony has been part of the fabric of Luton for many years working and volunteering in a variety of roles from front line staff to managing services, including Education, Community Development, Addiction, Black History Month, and Youth work.

​Louise Allen • Trustee

Louise joined the UKCCA board in 2022. AHuman Resources Professional with over 15 years of experience, Louise has worked across various sectors - public, private, membership organisations and charities. She has developed people-related strategies and policies, supported various organisational change projects and programmes and accreditation initiatives. Louise enjoys the spectacle of Latin America & Caribbean Carnivals. She has had the fortune of taking part in the annual Luton International Carnival in recent years as a volunteer and on the road playing pan.

Roberto Rudie - Trustee

Raised in Church End, North London, Roberto Rudie was born into a lineage of leadership within his Ghanaian heritage.  The most prominent people in Roberto’s life were his father and uncles.  His father and uncle owned Ghana’s largest transportation company, King of Kings. Following their example from an early age Roberto was taught leadership and people skills alongside the importance of education.  He used this knowledge and skills to start his own business in his 20s, making his first £1,000,000 at the age of 21, money which he lost as he failed to understand the importance of financial prudence.  

Undaunted, Roberto continued to pursue his business ambitions and now operates one of the UK’s fastest growing, black-run businesses, AIX Capital, a privately-owned hedge fund based in Central London. AIX holds investments in a variety businesses, ranging from tech, manufacturing, media, fashion, and mental health.  

Roberto is an ambassador for the mental health organisation Think About Mental Health, inspiring others through his own personal experiences of managing depression. Roberto also supports the Martin Luther King Jr Initiative which aims to empower young black people across the globe. He works with The African Nations Football Association, an organisation which builds infrastructures and supports aspiring footballers’ families in grassroots communities.  AIX Capital is also working with the world’s leading filtration system, NKD, providing clean water to schools and villages in poor communities. 

Roberto also heads Ad Labs Digital. This company provides strategic marketing and sponsorship as well as a sustainable NFT service for commercial and not-for-profit businesses and individuals, all services designed to place power back into the hand of leaders, artists and creatives.  

Ivor Etienne - Trustee

Ivor Etienne is a seasoned professional in the radio and broadcast industry, known for his innovative approach and leadership. He began his career as a sound engineer and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a producer and then the first black producer at BBC Radio 1. His work includes creating groundbreaking shows like THE STEVE EDWARDS SOUL SHOW and THE RADIO 1 BLACK ON BLACK LIVE MUSIC WEEKEND. Etienne has also been instrumental in launching successful radio stations and has held various leadership roles, including managing director at Choice FM and Programme Director at Club Asia Radio. His dedication to connecting communities and enhancing opportunities through promotions and live events is evident in his current role as a director of Ultravision TV.

David Boyle - Trustee

David is a Company Director at Venture Security Management, a private security firm operating across South Central England. He took on this role following his retirement from a distinguished 30-year career in policing and law enforcement, where he specialised in strategic leadership, public safety, and multi-agency coordination. Prior to retiring, David served as the UK’s Strategic Lead for Joint Emergency Services Interoperability (JESIP), a national role focused on strengthening collaboration between emergency response organisations.

Having worked closely with UKCCA and Luton International Carnival over many years in a variety of command roles, David has been instrumental in ensuring the safe and successful delivery of several major public events. His experience spans operational, tactical, and strategic command, including at the Luton International Carnival, Radio 1’s Big Weekend (2024), and the Bedford River Festival, among others. His strong belief in partnership working and community-led initiatives aligns closely with UKCCA’s mission.

In addition to his operational expertise, David has played a key role in enhancing community safety, reducing youth offending, and strengthening multi-agency responses to mental health challenges. His leadership positions have included Chair of the Luton Youth Offending Service Board and Chair of the Bedford Community Safety Executive. He brings a deep understanding of how public services can work collaboratively to support diverse communities.

As a Trustee, David is committed to supporting UKCCA’s continued success in delivering innovative, high-quality Carnival Arts programmes. He brings a passion for public service and a strong network across statutory and community partners.