The PRS for Music Foundation Team

Vanessa leads the overall strategic direction of the Foundation and is responsible for our funding policy, partnership initiatives and resource development. Vanessa joined the Foundation in 2008 having worked previously as an independent arts consultant, on Grants strategy at European Cultural Foundation (Amsterdam) and at British Music Information Centre. In 2010, Vanessa was selected by the Cultural Leadership Programme as one of fifty "Women to Watch".

Vanessa specialises in contemporary classical and jazz but enjoys attending a wide range of live gigs, site specific performances and cross art form productions including dance, film and music theatre.

Fiona joined PRS for Music Foundation in January 2011 and as is Operations Director and is responsible for managing finance, governance and HR. She also leads on our partnership programmes, Adopt a Composer and Composer in the House. Fiona has her own arts consultancy and has worked with a variety of organisations including Arts Council England, London Sinfonietta and London Symphony Orchestra, BBC, National Music Council, Music Education Council, Sound and Music, and Sound Connections.

James joined PRS for Music Foundation in August 2008 and manages our applications process, overseeing all grant assessments undertaken by our team and external advisors. James is also responsible for the Beyond Borders and Composer Bursary schemes.

James listens to a wide range of music, but favourites include J.S. Bach, W.A. Mozart, Gustav Mahler, Outkast, Regina Spektor, Four Tet, Joanna Newsom, The Chemical Brothers, Eliades Ochoa, Arvo Pärt, DJ Shadow, Cee Lo Green, Radiohead, Steve Reich, The Prodigy, Pink Martini, Susumu Yokota, Yes, Orbital, Lostprophets, Daft Punk and Rage Against The Machine.

Sarah joined PRS for Music Foundation in September 2011. Responsible for spreading the word about all of PRSF's amazing funding schemes and supported projects, Sarah oversees the website output as well as coordinating press releases, leading on brand management and organising PRSF events. Before joining PRS for Music Foundation Sarah ran her own booking agency, as well as being an artist manager and promoter.

Sarah's music taste covers a spectrum from post-rock to folk to pop. Favourites include A Genuine Freakshow, Mew, Pulp, Simon and Garfunkel and Elliott Smith.

Laura joined PRS for Music Foundation in April 2010. She is Industry and Export Fund Manager, looking after two partnership flagship programmes Momentum Music Fund - run in partnerhsip with Arts Council England - and British Music Abroad - run in partnership with UKTI, British Underground, Arts Council England and Musicians' Union. Both schemes support the creative and commercial development of new UK artists and bands. She has programmed stages at The Great Escape, Camden Crawl, SXSW and Musexpo. Prior to working for PRSF, Laura was a grants assessor at National Foundation for Youth Music and has written music for film and performance.

Her musical tastes vary, but she is currently listening to Barn Owl, Pentagram, Kendrick Lamar, Melvins, Benjamin Britten, Pergolesi, Julianna Barwick, Grouper, Nas, The Cramps, The Gun Club, Diane Cluck and Van Dyke Parks.

Nicole provides administrative support for the PRS for Music Foundation team as a whole and is Project Administrator for New Music Plus…UK. She is first point of contact for general enquiries and is responsible for paying grants. Nicole joined the Foundation first as in intern in September 2011, returning as Administrator in May 2012.

Interests include cultural policy research, new compositions/non-standard notation/experimental/improvised music, current affairs, politics, multiculturalism and good books. On the playlist might be a variety of Schumann and Wolff song, some folksy-pop, self-defined good/interesting music, JS Bach, Mahler, Stravinsky, George Crumb and improv-based work. Big fan of live new opera and new works in new places.