Our People

Kirsty McHugh - Chief Executive 

Before joining ERSA in November 2010, Kirsty spent nine years at Business in the Community (BITC), the national charity dedicated to responsible business, where she was Director for Regeneration and Social Policy. She was previously Director of Partnerships, a role in which she held responsibility for BITC’s national delivery programmes.

Prior to joining Business in the Community, Kirsty worked as a senior policy analyst at the British Chambers of Commerce, where she led on local and regional affairs, employment and training policy.  Her previous employment includes spells in consultancy, a trade association and work for an MP.

Kirsty served as an elected councillor between 1998 and 2010, where she held portfolios for crime prevention, housing and regeneration. She has chaired the board of a major PFI housing scheme and currently serves as a board director of a not for profit housing company and a trustee of an international enterprise charity. Kirsty has degrees from the University of London and Birkbeck College, London.  She has two children and lives in South London. 

Email: kirsty.mchugh@ersa.org.uk

Phone: 020 7960 6318

Philip Curry - Policy and Communications Manager

Prior to joining ERSA in February 2011, Philip worked for a PR agency implementing corporate and public affairs programmes for a range of different clients. He previously worked as an External Relations Advisor for the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), the trade association for the UK’s private recruitment industry, where he assisted in developing high profile campaigns targeted at politicians and policymakers in Westminster, the devolved nations and the EU.

He also has experience working in government and used to work for a Member of Parliament.  He holds a degree in History from University College London and a Research Masters in Government, Policy and Politics at Birkbeck College.

Email: philip.curry@ersa.org.uk

Phone: 020 7960 6317

Philippa Russell - Executive Officer

Prior to joining ERSA in March 2011, Philippa was Senior Training Organiser at NCB, a leading children’s charity.  She previously worked at GMJ, a company specialising in architectural visualisation where she managed the office and became a director of client accounts.  Prior to that she was a Course Administrator for the Evening MBA Programme at City University Business School. 

Philippa was on the Management Committee of a local community nursery for 5 years and is involved with fundraising at the School her two children attend in North London.  She has a degree in Modern European Studies.

Email: philippa.russell@ersa.org.uk

Phone: 020 7960 6808

Anna Robin - Membership and Communications Officer

Prior to joining ERSA in February 2012, Anna worked as a Network Consultant for the charity the Consortium for Street Children, whose members work with street children across the world. She previously worked as a Staff Writer for Asian Trader magazine.

Anna has a degree in History and Social Science from the University of Birmingham.

Email: anna.robin@ersa.org.uk

Telephone: 020 7960 6808