Trustees – Pen Portrait.
Sarah HK Barley-McMullen
Sarah HK Barley-McMullen is a dynamic leader and advocate, devoted to advancing inclusion, equity, and community empowerment. A professionally qualified Youth and Community Worker, and HE academic Sarah has spent her career creating safe spaces and nurturing a sense of belonging for marginalised communities.
Her professional journey spans both academia and activism, including her roles as a Senior Lecturer in Youth Work and Community Development and Diversity and Inclusion Lead at the University of Derby. In these positions, she taught at post UG and PG levels, as a programme and module leader. Sarah encouraged the development of Staff Employee Networks across the University in her role as Diversity and inclusion lead and was awarded many whole staff awards including Change Maker of the Year, and Outstanding Contribution to Liberation. She was also made a Stonewall Role Model of the Year in 2019. Despite navigating the personal challenges of Long Covid, Sarah continues to champion change, offering her expertise as a Patient Partner with the Post Covid Clinical Society UK and volunteering with the charity Long Covid SOS.
As Chair of the charity board of trustees for Kinetic Youth, Sarah supports the CEO and Trustees to develop and deliver transformative youth work services. She also leads Pride in Belper, voted one of the UK’s most inclusive Pride events, which welcomes thousands annually and embodies the principles of accessibility, sustainability, diversity, and inclusion. A proud gay Christian, Sarah is married to her wife Helen, and together they remain unwavering in their shared mission to amplify voices, break barriers, and inspire meaningful change
Esther Horner-Aird
‘With over 25 years of experience in youth work, Esther has worked across local authority youth services, the voluntary sector, and the private sector. This diverse background has given her valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities youth workers face today, as well as a deep understanding of the complexities involved in building strong, effective, and collaborative cross-sector relationships.
Esther began her career as a part-time youth worker at the London Borough of Bexley, where she gained her JNC qualification and progressed to the role of Youth Development Officer. She went on to lead the national social enterprise Kinetic Youth Ltd for over a decade, overseeing the development, delivery, and evaluation of youth services against measurable outcomes.
In 2022, Esther joined the NYA as Deputy Director of Youth Work, with a focus on Quality and Standards. Passionate and proactive, she is committed to ensuring the sector has access to relevant, achievable, and well-funded opportunities that enhance the quality of youth work practice across the country. She now serves as the Strategic Youth Voice Lead for the NYA while also leading the National Youth Council to the UK, overseeing youth voice engagement across the UK, Europe, the Commonwealth, and the UN.
Esther is also a trustee at Kinetic Youth Ltd, supporting the growth and development of youth work within the Youth Justice sector. She brings a wealth of senior management experience, backed by a Level 7 Chartered Management qualification.
At her core, Esther is a youth worker—driven by a vision of a fairer, more equitable, and progressive society for young people.’
Hannah Smithson
Hannah is Professor of Youth Justice at Manchester Metropolitan University. She has over 20 years of experience undertaking research with justice-involved children. Her work is underpinned by advocating for children’s rights. She brings her considerable experience of working in the youth justice system to the Kinetic Board.
Outside of work she likes to drink gin whilst camping in the family camper van.
Liam James Ward
Liam James Ward is the Founder & CEO of Something Something, a UK digital‑native content studio working across 40+ countries with a global network of 100+ creatives.
Something Something’s worldbuilding approach has attracted leading artists including Billie Eilish, Jennifer Lopez, Lewis Capaldi, The 1975, Laufey, Fatboy Slim, The Chainsmokers and revitalised catalogues for The Clash, Pulp, and Sex Pistols.
The studio also owns 400+ social pages, powering real‑time cultural distribution and breakout moments for Alex Warren, Good Neighbours, and Lola Young.
The team delivered content for the Oasis reunion to 500M+ people in real time, becoming a benchmark for live event marketing, and now works across the UK/EU festival circuit with Superstruct, Live Nation, and 50+ Glastonbury 2025 artists.
Something Something is LadBible’s only external content partner, producing content for the BAFTAs, Wimbledon, FIFA EUROs, FIFA World Cup, and more. Liam advises Meta on music strategy for Threads and works with partners including TikTok, Google, Soho House, and Dazed. A COP30 project in the Amazon reflects the studio’s expanding global scope.
Awards include Music Ally Agency of the Year 2025, Social Media Strategy of the Year 2025, The Drum Award, multiple Lovie Awards, and Sandbox Campaign of the Year mentions. Liam was named a Hits Daily Double Noisemaker in 2025.
Before founding the studio, he led digital campaigns for Stormzy, The Script, Tom Walker, The Wombats, and award‑winning work for Andrew Lloyd Webber, as well as high‑impact digital moments for Peppa Pig and Warner Music’s Indie Mixtape. His early recognition of TikTok’s shift in culture shaped the studio’s approach, later applied to global hits like Glass Animals’ “Heat Waves” and Djo’s “End of Beginning.”
Liam co‑created Rip It Up to support underrepresented young creatives (100+ alumni) and regularly speaks at BIMM, Berklee, and other institutions to provide practical industry guidance.
John Taylor
John has been working in Scotland for over a decade and is currently the Youth Work Manager for the Highland Council Youth Service.
He also serves on the board of Developing Young Workforce for Inverness and the Central Highland region.
John is a Registered Member of the CLD Standards Council, the professional body for Community Learning & Development, covering Youth Work, Adult Learning, and Community Development. He was recently elected Vice Chair of the CLDSC Approvals Committee, which oversees the approval of qualifications and training within the sector.
Before moving to Scotland in 2015, John worked for Kinetic as Senior Youth Work Coordinator. He maintains a strong interest in Kinetic’s work, particularly its delivery model, both within and beyond the secure estate, and its positive impact on young people.
John has a passion for outdoor learning and enjoys spending time with his dogs, hens, and children.