MEET THE BOARD
Meet the board
Fran Michelman - ChairmanFran has worked for many years in both the private and public sectors in the field of public relations and sponsorship. Currently working as a consultant, she has held such varied positions as Vice President of Global Public Relations and Creative Services for the ATP (men's professional tennis); director of Mobil Corporation's international arts and sports sponsorship programs. She has worked for performing arts organisations, in book publishing and has authored two books, one on design, the other on sponsorship. Working for American Ballet Theatre as a publicist, she also created, produced and edited a quarterly magazine, On Point. Prior to that she taught dance at Barnard College and Columbia University and worked as a modern dancer and choreographer in New York City. She has studied Pilates since 1980 and received certification as a teacher from the Pilates Foundation in 2000. She has a BA in English Literature from Wheaton College (Massachusetts, USA) and a Masters in Dance Education from Columbia University (NYC, USA).
Fran joined the Board of Directors in 2003 and is currently its serving Chairman. Fran also jointly leads the PR and Marketing Committee with Jennifer Dufton.
Jock Scott - Secretary
Married to Pilates teacher Suzanne Scott, Jock worked as a designer in Theatre, Film and Television after switching from studying Medicine to Architecture. On moving to Somerset from London in 1991, he embarked on a career as a cabinet maker. As Suzanne's Pilates practise grew busier running two family businesses became too time consuming, so Jock became involved in the day to day running of the Scott studio and in the development of its teacher training programme. Jock was invited to stand for election on the board after attending meetings on behalf of Suzanne and took insurance and trademarks issues as his area of responsibility. He is also keen to develop the identity of the Pilates Foundation outside London
Jock joined the Board of Directors in 2004 and is Company Secretary for the Pilates Foundation.
Jennifer Dufton
Jennifer Dufton has studied Pilates since 1999 and went on to gain qualifications with three Pilates teacher training schools: Alan Herdman Studios, Body Arts and Science International with Rael Isacowitz, and The Pilates Foundation with Anne-Marie Zulkahari. After teaching Matwork and Apparatus Pilates at various studios in London, she opened her own studio in North Norfolk five years ago where she continues to teach today. She is the author of The Pilates Difference (Hamlyn Books) which has sold over 70,000 copies internationally, across Europe, USA, and Japan.
Prior to re-training as a Pilates teacher, she worked for many years in publishing as Group Publicity Director for Penguin Books where she was responsible for corporate PR across Penguin's companies, as well as publicity campaigns for Penguin's authors and their books. She was also Penguin's Commissioning Editor for Mind, Body, Spirit books, and whilst there, published Brooke Siler's The Pilates Body in the UK. She has a B.A. Hons. in French and Scandinavian Language and Literature.
Jennifer jointly leads the PR and Marketing Committee with Fran Michelman. She is also Vice Chairman.
Sarah Doherty
Sarah Doherty was first introduced to the Pilates method in 1997 whilst studying at Laban, graduating in 2000 with a BA (hons) in Dance Theatre. She started her training on the first Pilates Foundation Matwork course at The Place in 2001, and later completed her training on the first Bridging course with Anne-Marie Zulkahari and Hana Jones.
In 2003 Sarah opened Studio Six in Woodbridge, Suffolk. She is committed to developing a network of support for teachers within the region and beyond; organising and hosting a series of workshops at her studio in conjunction with Hana Jones; and mentoring various students and newly qualified teachers. Sarah has been assisting Anne Marie Zulkahari with her teacher training course at Pilates and Yoga Movement. Sarah also leads the Workshop Committee and is Treasurer for the Pilates Foundation.
Sarah has also worked for the Council for Dance Education and Training (CDET), where she was responsible for organising and leading various committees, working with NGO's and Government Departments including the DfES and QCA. She has edited various publications produced by CDET and has contributed to publications for Dance UK and the DfES. Prior to her Pilates training Sarah worked as a manager for a large company establishing new businesses in London.