Staff

Dr Thom Keep

Our Librarian and CEO Thom Keep has a doctorate in History from the University of Sheffield with a specialism in 20th-century American History. He has led on the Library’s Strategic Development since 2018, managing ambitious projects with partners including the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Zochonis Charitable Trust, and Manchester UNESCO City of Literature.

Do you have a question for Thom? Contact him at librarian@theportico.org.uk.

Dr Debbie Challis

Our Creative Producer Debbie Challis has worked in archives and museums, including Royal Museums Greenwich, the National Portrait Gallery, the BBC Archives, the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology at UCL and the Library of the London School of Economics (LSE). She is also a cultural historian and Fellow of the Royal History Society. She has published widely on the history of archaeology and the legacies of the ancient past in the modern world as well as on the emotional impact of working with historical archives and objects.

 Want to get involved in our public programme? Contact her at events@theportico.org.uk

Ruth Estevez

Our Project Coordinator for the Portico Sadie Massey Awards for young readers and writers is a published author who has also worked in theatre and television. She began her career as actor, stage and company manager, props maker and driver for theatre companies from Opera North, Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Harrogate Theatre-in-Education Company to YTV’s Emmerdale. 

Writing includes being a script writer on the Children’s TV series, Bob the Builder, to her current career writing YA and Adult novels. She strongly believes in place and voice in books, and sets the majority of her novels in her native Yorkshire.

Please get in touch with Ruth if you have questions about The Portico Sadie Massey Awards: psma@theportico.org.uk

Michelle Hill

Our Admin Assistant Michelle Hill worked for over 30 years in Finance and Customer Service with NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland including international placements in the Netherlands before joining the Portico team in 2017. She is the Treasurer of Penketh WI and Secretary of North Cheshire Group of Wis both belonging to Cheshire Federation. Since joining the Portico she has added Wedding Planner to her list of skills and can be found most weekends hosting weddings under the Portico’s beautiful Dome.

Are you looking for the perfect venue? Speak to Michelle today at admin.assistant@theportico.org.uk

Joe Fenn

Our Kitchen Manager Joe Fenn has worked in bars and restaurants around the world, from Amsterdam to New Zealand. He holds a BA in philosophy from Cardiff University and is currently studying for his MA in creative writing with the Manchester Writing School at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Joe is always happy to hear any suggestions or recommendations. Contact him at kitchen@theportico.org.uk

Alice Measom McMahon

Our Collections and Access Librarian Alice Measom has over 15 years’ experience working in library and archives collections management working for organisations such as Tate, the British Library, Channel 4, the BBC, the English Folk Song and Dance Society, Goldsmiths College, and the University of Roehampton. In 2017 she co-produced the documentary ‘The Ballad of Shirley Collins’ .

Alice is currently leading on collections care at The Portico, making sure that all our historical books and treasures are preserved for future generations. 

Want to chat to Alice? email her at collections@theportico.org.uk

Carol Ann Whitehead

Carol Ann is our Operations Manager. Carol Ann is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Co-founder of agency The Zebra Partnership, a member of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and Deputy Chair of their Women’s Board. She was also a Portico Trustee for two years. Alongside ensuring the smooth running of the Library, she will be managing the Portico staff, the building and will continue as Chair of the Public Programme Committee. Please say hello to here when you’re next in the Library and if you’d like to send her a message in the interim her email address is operations@theportico.org.uk

Dynamic Collections project staff

Participation Lead

Polly Anna Steiner

participation@theportico.org.uk

Community Cataloguer

Dr Imogen Durant

cataloguer@theportico.org.uk

Apapat Jai-in Glynn

Our Exhibitions and Volunteers Coordinator Apapat Jai-in Glynn has an MA in Contemporary Curating from Manchester School of Art. She joined the Portico Library team as temporary Exhibitions & Events Production Assistant in spring 2020, having previously worked as a Curator at Kinjai Contemporary and at the National Museum of Thailand in Bangkok. She also has teaching experience at Mahidol International College in Thailand, where she taught and worked with young emerging artists internationally.

Pat is passionate about co-producing and creating exhibitions with communities. She is excited to expand our relationship between South East Asian people and the Portico through creative collaboration.

Apapat would like to hear from you if you would like to volunteer. Contact her at engagement@theportico.org.uk

Erica Tucker

Our Kitchen Assistant Erica Tucker began as a volunteer here at the library in 2018. She has since assisted in many events put on by the Portico including some of the beautiful weddings often held under the dome. Currently, she is working on improving her skills in the kitchen and hopes to take part in future projects created by the library.

If you want to get in touch with Erica, contact her at kitchen@theportico.org.uk

Ellie Holly

Ellie is our Welcome Desk Assistant, joined our team in 2022. She also look after our renowned Adopt-a-book scheme, giving our collections new lives, passing on to future generations.