Governance Now 2024: Imagine it Different – Speakers, Facilitators and Contributors

Malcolm John, Founder, Action for Trustee Racial Diversity

Malcolm is the Founder of the UK wide campaign, Action for Trustee Racial Diversity, aimed at addressing the significant under-representation of individuals from Black and Asian backgrounds on trustee Boards. He is currently a trustee of three charities; the Association of Chairs, (the membership body for Chairs of charities across the UK), the British American Drama Academy and the Charles Dickens Museum. He chaired the Young Harrow Foundation and was vice chair of Nacro and Anti-Slavery International. He also sits as an Independent Panel Member of the Ministry of Justice Public Appointments Panel and is a Companion of the Chartered Management Institute. His most recent appointment is as the Panel Chair for a new initiative Charity Hall of Fame.

Charlotte Jones, CEO, Independent Theatre Council

Charlotte Jones is CEO of ITC  (Independent Theatre Council). She read English and Philosophy at York University and Law at the College of Law Chancery Lane. She trained as a solicitor and worked as a legal advisor at Brixton Law Centre and the Interchange Studios. She worked at York Rape Crisis and Women’s Aid as a counsellor and in the arts and voluntary sectors as a trainer and facilitator since 1991, specialising in company management, contracts and negotiating skills. As CEO of ITC since 2000 she also delivers advice, training and facilitation in leadership, governance, management, strategic planning, contracts, and negotiations. She was Chair of Governors at a large Southeast London Comprehensive school for ten years. 

David Jubb, Co-Director for Citizens In Power; Independent Director for Sortition Foundation

David co-founded Citizens In Power with Saad Eddine Said in 2023. He was Artistic Director and CEO of Battersea Arts Centre from 2004-19, Chair of Kneehigh Theatre from 2008-13, inaugural Chair of London Theatre Consortium from 2012-2015, inaugural Advisory Council member for Creative Industries Federation 2015-16 (now Creative UK), panellist on the inquiry into the Civic Role Of Arts Organisations by Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation 2017-18; member of Arts Council England’s Ten Year Strategy External Reference Group from 2018-2019. David is an Honorary Fellow of Central School and has an Honorary Doctorate at Roehampton University.

Joanna Moriarty, Partner, Green Park

Joanna is a Partner at Green Park Executive Search, and sits in the Civil Society and Government Practice, where she focusses on work in Arts, Culture and Heritage, and with Trusts and Foundations. Her recent clients include the Royal Court Theatre, the National Trust and the Barbican. She has a background in the third sector, and a deep interest in governance, especially how the board can influence culture and creates conditions for change. She currently sits on the board of an INGO and a large Multi-Academy Trust.

Andrew Morris, Founder, New Wave Trust

Andrew is founder of the New Wave Trust, which was largely influenced by serving an indeterminate prison sentence under the now abolished (Indeterminate Public Protection) IPP regime.

On release from prison, Andrew was employed at the Ministry of Justice, working for the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman for 4 years.

Andrew has a deep desire to see long lasting and meaningful change within prison reform and in the landscape of the way policy is shaped and realised.

He has is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Raphael Rowe Foundation and has recently been appointed to the Board of the Howard League for Penal Reform.

Tonya Nelson, Executive Director, Enterprise & Innovation, Arts Council England

Tonya Nelson is Executive Director, Enterprise & Innovation at Arts Council England, having been appointed the first Director of Arts Technology and Innovation in 2019. She sits on the board of Trustees of National Gallery in London and Royal Collection Trust. She was formerly Chair of the International Council of Museums (UK), Bomb Factory Art Foundation and a member of Christie’s Art World Professional Advisory Group. She worked for UCL for nine years, rising to the level of Director of Museums and Cultural Programmes.

Prior to entering the cultural sector, she was a barrister and management consultant in Washington, DC.

Nicola Nuttal, Director of the Charles Causley Trust and the Ken Stradling Collection

Nicola has worked in the wider cultural sector for 30 years, starting her career in archaeology and the built heritage, before specialising in museum and gallery strategy, governance, advocacy, engagement and fundraising.

Since setting up her own consultancy since 1997, Nicola has worked with over 90 clients ranging from national museums and heritage organisations to small volunteer led charities and universities. She is currently the part-time Director of the Charles Causley Trust and the Ken Stradling Collection, a mentor, trainer and advisor to the Association of Independent Museums, Heritage Compass, Cause 4 and the Universities of Exeter, Plymouth, and Falmouth.

Matt Peacock MBE, Co-Director, Arts & Homelessness International

Matt Peacock MBE is Co-Director of Arts & Homelessness International, the global network for the arts and homelessness sector. He is passionate about the arts being a key part of a holistic support structure for homelessness and for the voices and ideas of homeless people to be a greater part of decision-making in civic and civil society. Formerly a Clore Leadership Fellow, Matt was founding CEO of Streetwise Opera, one of Evening Standard’s Most Influential Londoners, a Southbank Centre Change Maker and was featured in Gordon Brown’s book Britain’s Everyday Heroes. 

Shonagh Reid, Director, Spotlight Inclusion LTD

Shonagh Reid is Director of Spotlight Inclusion LTD, a national and international Culture, Diversity, and Inclusion consultancy. 

Shonagh is a classically trained musician, having trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama as a flautist, and has worked in the arts for many years. She has an extensive background in senior and executive leadership and is Chair of MishMash Productions, and Vice Chair for Talawa. 

With clients including The National Theatre, The RSC and Music Mark, Shonagh uses her leadership skills to support organisations to implement a strategic and measurable approach to culture change and inclusive practice. 

Moira Sinclair OBE, Chief Executive, Paul Hamlyn Foundation

Moira Sinclair OBE is Chief Executive of the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, an independent grant maker whose vision is for a just society in which everyone, especially young people, can realise their full potential and enjoy fulfilling and creative lives.

Moira is Chair of Clore Leadership and Chair of Factory International in Manchester. She is also a member of the Investment Committee for the Arts & Culture Impact Fund and a Visiting Leadership Fellow at Exeter University Centre for Leadership.

Previously, as Executive Director London and South East for Arts Council England, she oversaw a portfolio of 322 funded cultural organisations and contributed to national policy development. She played a key role supporting the cultural programme for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and continues to support its legacy at home and internationally. Before joining Arts Council England, she was Director of Vital Arts, an arts and health charity. She has also worked in local government, and in theatre and production management. A graduate of Manchester University where she studied drama, Moira became a Clore Fellow in 2004/05

Prue Skene, Chair, Carboard Citizens

Prue has wide experience as CEO and Board member of a range of arts organisations: her term of office as Chair of Cardboard Citizens ends in October 2024. She initiated Clore Leadership’s Board Development programme, and facilitates governance sessions and reviews for many cultural organisations. She is co-author of A practical guide https://culturalgovernancealliance.org/practical-guide and her book Capital Gains: How the National Lottery Transformed England’s Arts, based on her time as Chair of ACE’s Lottery Panel,was published in October 2017. She was awarded a CBE in 2000 for services to the arts.

Amanda Smethurst, Independent Facilitator, Coach and Consultant

Amanda is an independent facilitator, coach and consultant with a focus on reflective practice and peer learning within the cultural sector, and a love of supporting people to understand what makes their heart sing. 

Communities, culture and place has been a passion. Throughout her career, initially as a community artist, as the director of Artlink in Hull; and in a range of roles including director London at Arts Council England, within cultural and HE sectors, and local government; and now as a freelancer, she has always championed ways for people to shape the culture and places around them.

She’s also always been committed to supporting the development of individuals and organisations. This is still what excites and intrigues her now and has been core to her freelance work since 2010, working with clients from the British Council and Streetwise Opera, to the Greater London Authority and Arts Council Wales, and Creative People and Places.

Amanda is a Clore Fellow, and is the chair of Middle Child Theatre in Hull. She’s also a mum, a potter, a gardener and a keen swimmer, which all make her heart sing.

Nola Sterling

Nola is a passionate advocate for social justice and brings over a decade of leadership experience in the voluntary sector to her work. As a research associate at the Design Against Crime Lab, University of the Arts London, and a freelance researcher and consultant, she focuses on social justice, intersectional feminism, and decolonised methodologies.

Nola supports organisations in creating system change through equitable, co-created practices. She co-designed the ELEVATE CJS leadership programme and contributed to national policy reforms to improve outcomes for women in the criminal justice system. Additionally, Nola produces and presents the Beyond The Lens podcast, offering social commentary on issues affecting the Black British Diasporas, giving voice to topics often overlooked by mainstream media.

Her dedication to equity and social justice drives her impactful work in research, consultancy, and advocacy.

Tanya Tracey, Co-chair, Agenda Alliance

Tanya, a strong and compassionate leader, has recently transitioned into the role of co-chair for Agenda Alliance. This change follows her nine-year tenure as co-chair and trustee at Clean Break Theatre Company. Agenda Alliance, a feminist organisation, is dedicated to breaking the cycle of harm to ensure the thriving of all women and girls. Clean Break Theatre Company, on the other hand, uses theatre to shed light on the injustices faced by women at risk of criminalisation due to domestic abuse, sexual violence, unmet mental health needs, and substance use as a coping strategy. Tanya is also the Criminal Justice Services Manager for Birth Companions, an organisation that supports and advocates for perinatal women with multiple unmet needs, managing staff and projects across prison and probation. Tanya’s values of collaboration and her belief in flattening power hierarchies to amplify voices often excluded from decision-making are evident in her roles as co-chair and her commitment to centring lived experience. 

Raj Tulsiani, Founder/CEO, Green Park

Raj Tulsiani is one of the UK’s leading figures in executive and interim search, workforce planning and diversification. Over 20 years of experience moving the dial on leadership, talent and diversity, author of ‘Diversity and Inclusion for Leaders: Making a Difference with the Diversity Headhunter.’  The founder/CEO of one of the recruitment industry’s few minority-owned businesses, a passionate advocate of the power of diversity as a source of competitive advantage. Raj has led Green Park to become an award-winning talent consultancy, recognised for its consistent attraction of diverse and appointable leadership candidates and with a global footprint spanning 55 countries. 

Dhikshana Turakhia Pering, Head of Creative Programmes, Museum of London

Dhikshana has dedicated over 18 years to the vibrant world of museums, galleries, and the broader creative and cultural sector, significantly shaping her personal and professional journey. Driven by a belief that arts and culture should be accessible and reflective of society’s diverse tapestry, she is a passionate advocate for inclusivity. As the Head of Creative Programmes at London Museum, Dhikshana continues to champion this vision, drawing on her extensive experience with leading institutions such as the Science Museum, London Transport Museum, Brent 2020 – London Borough of Culture, and Somerset House.

Her career is marked by a commitment to fostering creativity, collaboration and innovation, where she leads teams in developing and delivering dynamic and inclusive programming. Beyond her professional role, Dhikshana is dedicated to advancing representation and equity in the workplace. She has served as a Trustee for the Museums Association and currently holds the position of Vice Chair for Clore Leadership. And finally she is mama to a very chatty six year old called Seth.

Linden Walcott-Burton, Culture Policy Officer, Greater London Authority

Linden Walcott-Burton works as a Culture Policy Officer for the Mayor of London for the Greater London Authority, in the Culture, Creative Industries and 24 Hour London Unit. He is the lead official for artificial intelligence in the creative industries and theatre in London.

In early 2023, he conducted a piece of research to explore the impacts of AI across the creative industries. His work explored the opportunities and risks of AI across 7 major sectors – music, performing arts, visual arts, videogames, film, fashion and museums; as well as the impact of chatbot technologies.

He has since presented the findings over 15 times to over 1,000 people, including to global cultural leaders for the World City Culture Forum in Sao Paulo, Brazil. His online December presentation had attendees from 29 countries from 55 cities outside the UK.

He is now working with the creative industries to inform them of the current and future impacts of AI, to support them in maximising the benefits of the technology, while preparing for its challenges.

Michelle Wright, CEO, Cause4, and Programme Director, Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy

Michelle Wright started her career as a violinist and after leading marketing and fundraising departments in the charity sector, she set up B-Corporation and social enterprise Cause4 in May 2009. She has since undertaken major strategic and business development projects, including campaign developments with a number of national charities and consultancy work for FTSE 100 brands, as well as running national programmes such as the Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy Programme and the Trustee Leadership Programme. Michelle has recently worked with Arts Council England to support the delivery of the Transforming Governance Programme.