Meet Jemma, Head of Philanthropy & Engagement in EMEA and APAC

Meet Jemma Read, Head of Bloomberg’s Philanthropy & Engagement Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Asia Pacific (APAC)

Jemma is a Bloomberg veteran with two Master’s degrees, one in English and Classics, and one in Anglo-American Literature from Oxford and University College London. She joined Bloomberg in 2000 to help build the international philanthropy program, a role that was so made-to-match, she still holds it today. Jemma and her team run hundreds of projects across 86 cities spanning 4 continents.

In this Q&A, we speak with Jemma about Bloomberg’s philanthropy program and learn about the must-see cultural attractions in London this summer.

What is Philanthropy & Engagement at Bloomberg and how does it fit with Bloomberg Philanthropies?

Our team is part of Bloomberg Philanthropies, the umbrella under which all of our founder Mike Bloomberg’s personal, corporate and foundation giving is organized. Philanthropy and Engagement has been at the core of the company since Mike first set up Bloomberg, and he has publicly committed to giving the vast majority of our company’s profits to philanthropy. So it’s important our employees feel a strong connection to our philanthropic program.

Our team provides an essential link between the company and the foundation, including helping run some of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ programs outside of the Americas.

The Bloomberg Philanthropy & Engagement team oversees the company’s charitable and cultural partnership programs and not-for-profit collaborations in the key areas of arts and culture, education, the environment, government innovation and public health. This includes strategic grant making, supporting local communities and initiatives through charitable partnerships, organizing employee volunteering, and leading fundraising initiatives to support disaster relief efforts.

Along with our colleagues in the Americas, we provide opportunities for employees to engage with and support their local communities, both through skills-based and hands-on volunteer opportunities. We offer employees opportunities to make donations to charity based on the number of hours volunteered and an employee match program to help employees support charities they are passionate about. We also help create opportunities for our employees and their families to access exciting world class culture – music, theater and the arts— through our extensive cultural programs.

What does your day-to-day look like?

My incredible team and I plan and execute events and volunteer opportunities on behalf of our business, foundation and charity partners.

We also run Bloomberg SPACE, our gallery adjacent to the London office, which is quite unusual. We do everything from commissioning exhibitions to arranging installations and organizing events and workshops for each new show.

We are fortunate enough to be regularly meeting many interesting people – from senior clients to artists, teachers, and inspirational people in our own company. One day I could be meeting with a Royal patron of a charity partner and the next be down on my hands and knees, working with children in a local school. It’s the mix that makes it so exciting.

Jemma Read and the London-based Philanthropy team

What is going on in your world, and are there any must-see projects in London this summer?

Absolutely. Arts and culture has always been one of the key strands of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ program because of its power to transform cities, strengthen community bonds and drive economic growth. We are passionate about increasing access to culture and strengthening arts organizations, as well as supporting emerging artists and public installations.

Earlier this summer, to help increase access to and engagement with the new Tate Modern, we unveiled our expanded Bloomberg Connects digital engagement program at the new Switch House. Technology and innovation underpins everything we do at Bloomberg so helping museums stay current with the latest technological trends while expanding access to new audiences is a natural extension for us.

And last month, we unveiled eight new art installations in our London office as part of our Waste Not Want It program. We commissioned emerging and acclaimed designers to create informal meeting areas and installations almost entirely from Bloomberg waste.

I also recommend stopping by Jorge Otero-Pailos’ public art installation in the halls of the Houses of Parliament. We partnered with non-profit organization Artangel to commission Pailos’ creation of a 50 meter long latex cast of a wall within Westminster Hall. By cleaning the walls with latex and peeling it off to trap centuries of pollution, dust and dirt, you can’t help but pause to think about time and history. It’s free to visit and has received rave reviews.

Jorge Otero-Pailos, The Ethics of Dust Installation at the Houses of Parliament

What keeps you excited about working at Bloomberg?

We work in a unique environment that supports talent, innovation and creativity, and the variety of high-impact projects that we work across is truly exciting. I am never bored with the amount of variety or the volume of projects.

My favorite part about my role is getting to work with inspiring people and with my team, helping to make a difference. We see a direct correlation between the work we put in and the positive impact that comes as a result, which is exciting and empowering. The constant change and growth of the business and the various sectors we support also keeps me on my toes. Spending time with amazing people and being at the forefront of new ideas and new initiatives – that’s what I personally love.

Learn more about Bloomberg Philanthropies.