People Engagement Director at National Trust

Artist in Residence at the Cartoon Museum

This talk will be focused on the residency giving a perspective from Amba the Community Engagement Officer who is organising the residency as well as Jadore an artist and the "Young Cartoonist In Residences".

Director of Strategy and Engagement at the English National Opera (ENO),

Prior to this, Jenny was Director of Creative Learning at the Barbican and Guildhall School of Music & Drama, where she worked for just over a decade on a range of participatory arts programmes across visual arts, theatre, dance, film, music and literature. Highlights include the flagship schools programme, Barbican Box; launching the London training centre for the world’s first disabled-led youth orchestra, the National Open Youth Orchestra, in partnership with Open Up Music; and a National Creative Learning Award for the department’s partnership with The Garden School in Hackney, a school for learners with autism.

Jenny trained at postgraduate level as both an artist and educator. She has a Masters in Theatre Directing from Middlesex University and the Russian Institute of Theatre Art (GITIS), a PGCE from the University of Greenwich and an MA (Hons) from the University of St Andrews. She is a trustee on the Board of the Clod Ensemble.

Head of the Tri-borough Music Hub

He has been Head of the TBMH since September 2014 overseeing the strategic development and expansion of music activity in and out of schools with high levels of engagement. Alongside this, Stuart helped establish a brand-new sister-charity of the TBMH, (Musical Boroughs Trust), launched in May 2019 with the purpose of bringing additional financial future proofing to the Music Hub.

Stuart is a highly focused, skilled, and clear communicator who works closely with leading arts and creative organisations in London, the UK and abroad. He has a deep and broad knowledge of the education sector and is known for having a track-record of trail-blazing innovative arts/music education initiatives and programmes, including several award-winning multi-school performance programmes in the Royal Albert Hall.

He is the Chair of the London region of Music Education Hubs for Music Mark, also sitting on the National Advisory group. In addition, since 2020 he has been one of the original members of the national ‘Challenge, Change and Culture’ group focused on tackling issues connected with representation, equity, diversity, and inclusion in music education.

Stuart regularly speaks at music education conferences; plans and delivers a range of CPD; has strategic links and direct access to Headteachers, governors and senior leaders in Local Authorities, including working with Ofsted / HMI on current issues affecting music education; and is a conductor at high-profile music performances with massed pupils/schools.

Previous roles have been at Tower Hamlets Arts & Music Service, and East Sussex Music Service; and before this a freelance percussionist performing with English National Ballet, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, and various contemporary ensembles.

Founder of Flamingo Chicks

She’s won numerous awards for her contribution to the global community including JCI’s Ten Young Outstanding Young Persons of the World, a Point of Light from the Prime Minister and made the Independent’s ‘Happy List’ for improving the lives of others. Most recently, she was awarded an MBE in the 2022 New Year's Honours for services to disabled children and their families. Katherine is also mum to two children - her daughter has athetoid cerebral palsy.

Creative Learning Director at Graeae Theatre Company

Graeae is a force for change in world-class theatre, boldly placing Deaf and disabled actors centre stage and challenging preconceptions. Graeae presents a unique approach which:

-          Boldly places Deaf and disabled artists centre-stage in a diversity of new and existing plays

-          Pioneers a radical dramatic language by exploring the “aesthetics of access”, creatively embedding a range of tools such as audio description and sign language from the very beginning of the artistic process

-          Explores new territory and theatrical genres – from contemporary classics to musicals, to outdoor circuit… with sway poles and giant puppets!

Campaign Manager for the Disabled Children’s Partnership

Prior to moving to the voluntary sector, Stephen spent 25 years working in the Civil Service, in the Department for Education and the Department of Health.  During that time, he worked on a wide range of policy areas, including being head of Academies policy in the early days of the programme; overseeing school and local authority education funding; and leading the 2014 reforms to special educational needs and disability.

CEO and Executive Headteacher of Compass Learning Partnership a Multi Academy Trust.

Co-founder of Every Child Should.

Currently Executive Director for the YHA Anita has worked for many UK charities and established numerous consortiums to tackle specific issues around speech and language, SEN workforce development and access to the outdoors – often through securing and running seven figure statutory contracts across DFID, Department for Education, and Department of Health. Anita also helps major funders review their approaches to grant making.

Anita recognised that no matter what role her attention was drawn to the needs of the same half a million young people, the country’s most vulnerable. Those who consistently access public capital the least and who would benefit from it the most. Addressing this inequality has become Anita's career commitment and forms the basis of her campaign, Every Child Should.

A Fellow of CIPD she has a long career in organisational development and as a Fellow of RSA she encapsulates their mantra of “think like a system; act like an entrepreneur”

Co-founder, Cultural Inclusion Manifesto CIC

Alongside his teaching he has worked as a consultant and founded the West London Inclusive Arts Festival. Paul is currently writing a book on art, culture, and inclusion for NASEN (National Association for Special Educational needs) Paul is a practicing artist and shows at regularly at art fairs and with his gallery Thomas Spencer Fine Art.

Paul has just completed a book to be published by Routledge as part of NASEN's (National Association of Special Education Needs) on art, culture and inclusion entitled Inclusion in Action in Art and Culture. The book offers practical guidance and case studies to support inclusion and inclusive practices within this space. Paul also sits on the advisory group of the Mayor’s flagship Liberty Festival celebrating D/deaf, neurodivergent and disabled artists and disabled-led arts.

Co-founder, Cultural Inclusion Manifesto CIC

Rachael started her career in Parliament before moving to the voluntary sector, working for national disability charities. She played a key role in shaping the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 and has researched and published influential reports and has contributed to numerous government consultations on disability issues.

Co-founder of Every Child Should.

Matt has particular interest in individual and community resilience, youth led approaches, conflict resolution, disabilities and inclusion, user engagement and humanitarianism.