Team
Black Excellence Team
At the heart of Black Excellence CIC is a dynamic team committed to building lasting impact through culture, commerce, and community. With visionaries like Tricia Blake and Natalie Royer at the helm, and a powerhouse team driving operations and stakeholder engagement, we work collectively to uplift Black voices, nurture local talent, and create transformative spaces of empowerment. Every project is a collaboration—with each team member bringing purpose, passion, and deep community care to the table.
Tricia Blake
Managing Director / CEO
Tricia Blake is the heart of Black Excellence CIC, serving as Managing Director and CEO with a clear, community-first vision and a deep passion for purposeful impact. From the outset, Tricia has worked closely with co-founder Natalie Royer, whose creativity and strategic insight were instrumental in shaping the organisation’s foundation, values, and identity.
Together, they transformed a shared vision into a growing movement one that uplifts Black culture, supports local entrepreneurs, and creates meaningful spaces for connection and empowerment. Tricia leads with both purpose and presence, working across strategy, partnerships, and day-to-day operations to ensure that Black Excellence CIC continues to grow while staying rooted in the communities it serves.
Her leadership is collaborative, grounded, and deeply inspired by the people the organisation exists to support. Tricia is more than a leader, she’s a builder of opportunity, a connector of people, and a fierce advocate for Black excellence in all its forms.
Natalie Royer
Co-Founder & Head of Marketing &
Cooperative Development
Natalie Royer is the Co-Founder and Head of Marketing & Cooperative Development at Black Excellence CIC. As one of the driving forces behind the creation of the organisation, Natalie helped shape the vision, voice, and values that continue to define Black Excellence today.
With a background in strategic marketing and a deep commitment to community empowerment, Natalie leads the organisation’s outreach, branding, and member engagement efforts. She also plays a key role in supporting and growing the CIC’s cooperative network—working closely with vendors, creatives, and small businesses to elevate their visibility and confidence.
Natalie’s creativity, clarity, and passion for impact make her a cornerstone of the organisation. Whether building a campaign or mentoring a new member, she brings intention and care to everything she does. Black Excellence CIC exists not just because of her ideas—but because of her dedication to seeing them through.
Charlene Samuel
Operations Director
Charlene Samuel is the behind-the-scenes powerhouse making sure everything at Black Excellence CIC flows just right. As Operations Director, she keeps us organised, on track, and ready to deliver events that bring people together and make a real difference.
Whether she’s mapping out logistics, supporting vendors, or handling the finer details that make our markets and festivals shine, Charlene does it all with heart and precision. She’s known for her calm presence, problem-solving skills, and genuine commitment to making sure everyone involved—team, partners, and community—feels supported and seen.
Charlene is the kind of leader who makes things happen—and makes it look easy.
Garry Huggan
Stakeholder Director
Garry Huggan is the Stakeholder Director at Black Excellence CIC, where he plays a key role in connecting people, building partnerships, and making sure our work always stays rooted in community.
With a natural ability to bring people together, Garry works closely with our collaborators, vendors, supporters, and local organisations to keep our events meaningful and impactful. He’s passionate about creating spaces where voices are heard, opportunities are shared, and everyone feels like they belong.
Garry’s approach is all about trust, transparency, and genuine connection — helping Black Excellence CIC grow in a way that stays true to our values and the people we serve.