Founded in 2018, We Are Bridge began as an aftercare programme for the cast of ROCKS, by a collective of the filmmakers behind the film.

Since then, WAB has evolved into a wider serving industry body committed to ensuring the legacy of new and emerging talent.

We primarily support underrepresented screen talent in Film & TV who have entered the industry via street casting or alternative pathways.

Our presence offers a supportive hand - from their first major credit in a lead or supporting lead role towards a lasting, sustainable career. We do this through our flagship talent development & aftercare programme, Sustain; on-set safeguarding & chaperoning services; production consultancy; industry partnerships and training workshops.

Our core team of directors & the wider group of co-founders - Anu Henriques, Theresa Ikoko, Lucy Pardee & Malinda Kaur - continue to exist as powerhouses, creating work that is as award-winning as it is conscientious of those same goals.

We work collaboratively alongside agents and industry stakeholders to support new talent. Our values are rooted in the practice of: ‘it takes a village’.

Meet the Team

Axa Hynes

Co-Founder & Managing Director
Axa has consistently worked towards improving positive representation in the creative industries. Her work is focused on empowerment through arts engagement and has led the Education & Learning departments at Platform Youth Hub, the Kiln, National Theatre, Young Vic and Talawa. She was previously Director of Access and Participation at RADA and is a Trustee at the Unicorn Theatre & Uproot Productions.

Her role at Bridge is to oversee the organisational strategy, programmes and partnerships.

@axahynes
Jessica Straker

Co-Founder & Creative/Operations Director
Jessica is a casting director, writer and producer. Her work includes BAFTA-winning projects ROCKS, SMALL AXE & GRIME KIDS. She specialises in street casting, community-focused empowerment and authentic representation. She is currently developing a TV series & feature film and was an associate board member at the radical arts organisation & festival, Abandon Normal Devices.

At Bridge, she manages the operational systems, collaborations and communications.

@jess.icastraker
Warda Mohamed

Co-Founder & Special Projects Director
Warda is a BIFA-nominated writer-director. She began her career as production assistant on ROCKS, where she consulted on the elements of Somali representation within the film. Since then she has worked with Nira Park & the Complete Fiction team, as the assistant to Roger Michell on THE DUKE, and in the AD team on Edgar Wright’s latest – LAST NIGHT IN SOHO.
Her debut narrative short, MUNA, premiered at London Film Festival was nominated for a BIFA & Critics’ Choice Award before heading to the prestigious Berlinale. She’s currently developing her debut feature, MOON.
Claire Wilson

Co-Founder & Special Projects Director
Claire is a BAFTA-nominated screenwriter with a diploma from Vancouver Film School. She wrote multiple episodes and executive produced on shows such as GANGS OF LONDON, THE POWER & was co-writer of ROCKS.

Currently, Claire is developing serveral TV commissions with Netflix, Wiip and See-Saw Films. She is attached to direct her first feature in development with House Productions and BBC.
Jessica Pentney

Programme Manager
Jess is an actor and writer who trained at the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama. She is currently developing her upcoming plays TRAMP., LOVE BITE and HALLE BERRY: BOND GIRL. In 2022, she also co-produced HERE IS GOOD and HERE IS GOOD 2.0 for the Bush Theatre Studio.
She has previously worked at the Bush Theatre, RADA and Black Apron Entertainment.
Jess connects all the dots between our cohort programmes, industry sessions and partnerships.