Rhiannon is the Associate Professor (Civic Practice)/Head of Civic and Communities at the University of Derby.
She leads CivicLAB™ an Institution-wide centre on participatory culture, creative dialogue, and civic practice and leads the curation and delivery of the Civic flagship programmes.
She is a PASCAL Associate and Chair of the International Contemporary Working Art Group for Cumulus, the only Global Association in Art and Design.
She is a member of the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement, stakeholder for Bolton Arts CIC and Trustee of New Art Exchange, a ground-breaking, Global Majority, NPO for Arts Council England and an award-winning and internationally recognised Gallery.
You can read Rhiannon's full academic profile on the University of Derby website.
Barend is a Senior Lecturer for the BA (Hons) Interior Design programme.
Originally from South Africa, he has taught both in Cape Town and London before joining the University of Derby in 2017. He specialises in exhibition and stage-set design and formed part of the design team for the 2015 World Expo in Milan in 2012.
He is also a judge for the annual International LIV awards, and Design Director for Designing Dialogues. He is passionate about social design projects, teaching and upskilling people.
“What I love most about S.H.E.D is the connections it helps to establish between people, by creating a network of creatives and allowing one to be part of a ‘family’."
Previously an original Director of Designing Dialogue, Sarah manages the CIC’s finances. With a background in arts management and now specialising in finance for arts and culture.
Sarah is Finance Administrator at Northern Broadsides Theatre Company and works as a freelance bookkeeper and consultant for a portfolio of clients.
Photo credit: Hayley Salter
Will is the Community and CSR Director at Port Vale Football Club. His previous roles included Business Development Manager at Derby County Community Trust. Will brings extensive experience in strategy development and implementation, strategic partnerships, income generation and evaluation.
He has worked with a wide variety of commercial, commissioning and community partners. Will was previously Director at Sporting Futures, best known for the Derby 10k for 3 years prior to moving to DCCT. Will is passionate about helping people and using the power of sport, arts and music to transform lives and to better connect people and their community.
Jennifer Spencer is a freelance management consultant with a particular interest and expertise in arts driven cultural tourism.
Her background is wide and varied having, over the course of her career, worked in the pharmaceutical, education and tourism sectors. Based in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire she has worked at a senior level across both counties for the last decade.
Jennifer is currently Chair of the Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust. She is also Deputy Chair of the National Justice Museum as well as being a stakeholder in the University of Derby’s first spin out company that runs the community interest group S.H.E.D.
Adam is Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor of Careers and Employer Engagement at the University of East London, prior to which he worked at the University of Derby as Head of Business Engagement and Employability.
Adam has experience of employer and industry engagement across research, skills, graduate talent, and facilities spaces. He has sat on various external committees, including town deals, regional skills development committees, start-up and scale-up initiatives, and manufacturing networks. He chaired the University of Derby’s Business Engagement Board and chairs the University of East London’s Employer Partnerships Oversight Committee and co-chairs the London Higher Enterprise Network.
Having begun his career teaching trusts law at King’s College London, Adam has also taught at BPP University. His role at as Programme Head of Law School Partner Centres gave him the opportunity to teach students in Bangladesh, Mauritius, Pakistan and Trinidad.
Adam is also an advisor for the Junior Lawyers Club, a group that assists young people from all backgrounds develop skills and understanding of future careers in law.
Callum is the Civic Operations Officer at University of Derby. He has a background of working with charities and arts organisations, most recently looking after RSA Fellowship Engagement in Central England. He has a strong passion for community-focused work, social action, and the role arts and culture has to play in this.
Fabienne is Digital and Content Lead at Ravensbourne University managing a team to oversee all content for the University. She worked at Nickelodeon as Shared Assets Manager and was TV producer for HSBC delivering strategic programmes through the TV channel in support of the business strategy. Providing expertise to ensure consistently high-quality TV across stakeholder groups.
She is also a DJ performing in the UK and Internationally for Argentine Tango and is also a trained Argentine Tango dancer.
Alix is Director of Culture Derby. Her previous roles included the Local Area Programme Manager for Derby’s Opportunity Area and leading the City of Derby's Family Hubs programme.
She worked alongside the Department for Education Opportunity Area (OA) team, the OA Board and Derby City Council officers to ensure that the Derby OA programme drives and enables social mobility through measurable, tangible outcomes, with local responsibility for robust programme management, budget monitoring, financial procedures and procurement arrangements.
Master Builder
Harry is the Building Coordinator at Backlit Gallery in Nottingham.Harry is a Midlands-based artist and freelance art technician. He is a resident artist at One Thoresby Street and Director of Gasleak Mountain, an artist led artspace and CIC in Nottingham. After studying a BA in Fine Art at Nottingham Trent University, Harry went on to not only explore his own art, but support artist exhibitions, residencies, shows and talks across across the Midlands and beyond. Harry’s work across Nottingham in spaces such as Backlit, New Art Exchange and Primary Studios led him to S.H.E.D (or us to him) and now he’s a vital member of our design and touring team.
Technical Assistant
Chris Preece graduated from Nottingham Trent University in Fine Art. He is currently a member of staff at Nottingham Castle. He has worked at many galleries and with established artists, run group exhibitions, coordinated the marketing and budget for events and held workshops. He has also travelled and undertaken international work experience as a studio assistant.
Project Coordinator
Technical Assistant
Master Builder
Simon has 25 years of cabinet making experience within his own business. He has fitted some of the most luxurious spaces in Nottingham and London with the most beautiful bespoke designs. Simon however, always wanted to pursue his affection for photography. He decided to go back to study and applied for a place at Nottingham Trent University to do a master’s degree in photography. He has successfully exhibited at 3 separate venues within Derby Format festival 2019 and also as part of the Bauhaus centenary in the Wallner Gallery at Lakeside Arts in Nottingham 2019.
It was during the curation of the first year’s degree show that Simon’s practical skills were spotted and subsequently was asked to join the S.H.E.D. project. He has earned the title of “Master Builder” through the design and build of S.H.E.D and continues to be an active team member.
Technical Assistant
Mark is a performance artist and technician based in Manchester. As a graduate of MMU’s Contemporary Theatre and Performance degree he has since become a part of the touring show, Concerto with Michael Pinchbeck, technician & dramaturg for Ryan O Shea’s solo show, I_Ran and was also a front of house volunteer at the Flare Festival in 2014 and 2015, performing with El Conde De Torrefiel as part of the 2014 event.
Being a part of S.H.E.D has allowed Mark to hone in a plethora of skills such as stagecraft, video production, networking and problem solving and gave him the knowledge and skillset to help facilitate the Progress Performance’s 2019 Scratch night in Manchester. Mark is currently a supply teacher for schools in Manchester.
Technical Assistant / Producer
Ollie is a theatre maker based in Nottingham. He is co-director of contemporary performance partnership LaPelle’s Factory (CLOUDCUCKOOLANDERS; Desperado; The Black Cat; Shuck) and makes work as half of Pinchbeck & Smith (Solo; A Seventh Man; At the edge of the world). He is a theatre and performance lecturer at De Montfort University (Leicester) and the University of Lincoln, specialising in devised theatre, post dramatic performance and live art practices.
Ollie first worked with S.H.E.D when co-directing the Pinchbeck & Smith site-based performance A Seventh Man (2019), which was created to be performed to limited capacity audiences inside S.H.E.D itself. He was then invited to join the team as a technical assistant to Master Builder Simon, before being asked if he was interested in programming and producing work for the space alongside Rhiannon and Sarah; an opportunity he enthusiastically embraced.
Sam currently studies Applied Theatre and Education with Derby University at Masters level. She is also known professionally as Sam Beckett Jr and as a practitioner in theatre, is the lead artist of Purple Theatre. With Purple Theatre, Sam wrote two plays which toured in 2018 and 2019. She performed one and directed the other whilst also producing both shows. Two years ago, Sam took up post at the Century Theatre in North West Leicestershire as their venue manager and has been growing the artistic programme of the theatre.
Her hope after the Masters is complete later this year is to establish a permanent outreach programme at the theatre which embodies the Applied Theatre ethos. She also hopes to begin a PhD in 2021. Sam’s other loves are poetry, which she has performed in various venues, dance (which she is terrible at) and sunbathing on the beach.
“SHED is conversating, illuminating, straight up facilitating
Talking, resolving, problem solving
In person or not, get involving
In the box, out the box, creative thinking
Open, closed or upside down, we are linking
People, places, all kinda different faces
Shedding: one day running the human races”
Dr Victoria Barker has over 10 years’ experience in education, policy research and analysis, fundraising, and business development. Her academic research focuses on the cultural and creative industries, exploring the concept of the creative ecosystem and how this can influence policy and support to creative micro-enterprises. She is currently a Research Assistant at Coventry University on City of Culture and related creative economy projects, and also work as a consultant in the arts and culture sector, producing impact evaluations, marketing plans and audience engagement strategies.
Victoria is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and Trustee of Hubbub Theatre, an integrated ensemble of learning disabled and non disabled performers who create original and innovative theatre. Victoria has been involved with S.H.E.D from almost the beginning, as an evaluation adviser and more hands-on in the building and transporting of the physical S.H.E.D. She was our Business Development Director from Nov 2020 – Jun 2022.
Victoria's profile on LinkedIn
Victoria's profile on Coventry University Website
Trevor has worked in the creative industries for 40+ years. Starting as a management trainee at Selfridges he became an IP Licensing specialist. He has led domestic & international music, sport, celebrity, film, TV, publishing & branded projects for UK based Publishing companies, working with hundreds of IP owners including the likes of Warner Brothers, Walt Disney, Manchester United FC, Universal, Aardman Studios, BBC & ITV etc.
His experience covers an awareness of consumer trends, IP selection, product development, sourcing, marketing, talent liaison & contract negotiation. Published ranges have received many Awards & in 2009 Trevor was the recipient of an Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award from the UK Licensing Industry. He was Fellow of the RSA 1990 – 2009 & director of T.R.A.P. (Rights Owners Against Piracy) a music merchandise anti-piracy organisation 2016 -2019.
He is Chair of The Light Fund www.lightfund.org – the UK Licensing Industry’s registered fundraising charity that has raised over £1.6M since 2004 funding hundreds of charity projects. He is also Chair of the Character Exchange – an informal group of UK based companies who manufacture Licensed Character products such as apparel, gift, food, books & magazines.
“The first time I saw the “S.H.E.D effect” was at last year’s “This is Derby” event when a youth group started out very timidly, in the safe performance space, but soon became confident performers in front of the audience. #Shedding”
Keith is the Pro Vice-Chancellor/Dean for the College of Arts, Humanities and Education at the University of Derby. Keith joined the University in January 2018 from Canterbury Christ Church University where he was Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities while prior to that appointment he served successively as Lecturer, Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of History and Archaeology at the University of Chester. An early modern military and naval historian of Britain and Europe who has published on war and warfare from the 17th to the 20th centuries, Keith holds an MA and PhD from the University of Glasgow, an MSc from the London School of Economics & Political Science and an Executive MBA from the University of Edinburgh.
“I’m passionate about the S.H.E.D because as a historian I believe narratives, their telling and retelling, are central to our understanding of place and self and S.H.E.D provides a flexible, engaging and collegiate space to foster conversations, stories, tales and narratives amongst the widest range of participants.”
Formally trained visual artist, Ruchita Shaikh, is the CEO of Artcore, a rapidly developing international centre for contemporary art delivering a vibrant programme of cultural and creative activity for Artists and the community. Artcore is passionate about creating a positive social impact regionally and internationally. She is appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Derbyshire and is the Chair of Community Action Derby.
Ruchita is passionate about increasing cultural representation for ethnically diverse and under-represented groups in our communities, creating opportunities for influence, growth, learning and participation. She increases awareness through her leadership involvement in a range of arts, community and local governance organisations. As an ethnically diverse female, Ruchita is relatable to the communities Artcore serves, she understands the invisible barriers and boundaries of the cultural landscapes, the challenges within them and influences stakeholders to generate change, insight, understanding and commitment to improve opportunities for all. Ruchita is an experienced change leader, confident facilitator and speaker.
“The S.H.E.D project is a really fantastic opportunity where it bridges the gap between the arts and higher education."
With a background in aerospace and defence strategy, Uma Palaniappan brings experience in services, systems thinking and leadership across complex sectors.
As a stakeholder for Designing Dialogue CIC, she supports the organisation’s strategic development and long-term vision. Uma is passionate about collaboration and using design to create meaningful social impact. She believes in the power of dialogue to connect communities and drive positive change.
Stakeholder May 2020 – March 2022
Creative and Executive Director at Lincoln Performing Arts Centre, Ben is an art professional, with extensive experience in artist development, large-scale project delivery and budget management, festival management, tour booking, fundraising/development, programming.
“It’s been amazing to see S.H.E.D at every stage from initial design, to the launch event, to the various locations it’s toured to and art it’s been home to since. My S.H.E.D memory is moving it from the market place in Derby to Derby Theatre ready for Departure Lounge at midnight and realising just how this crazy idea became something real.”
Stakeholder May 2020 – Feb 2022
Director of Policy and External Relations at CHEAD the Council for Higher Education in Art and Design.
“The S.H.E.D project to me is a compelling collective endeavour, demonstrating innovation and passion in inclusive community arts participation, underpinned by an academically robust and ever evolving significant methodology.”
Stakeholder May 2020 – March 2022
During his time as a stakeholder for S.H.E.D, David was the Head of the School of Arts and Deputy Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Education at the University of Derby.
“I am a strong advocate for S.H.E.D – full stop. Or rather, three full stops! S.H.E.D (or to give its grander nomenclature ‘Social Higher Education Depot’) is simple in its aim but far more significant that its simple structure suggests. Look beyond the shiplap and supporting cross members and you will see a significance that belies its simple timber frame. By looking deeper, you will start to understand its role and function as a flexible venue that offers a place to discuss and engage in meaningful dialogue. Its flexibility and configuration appeals to me as a designer and its ambition is admirable.”
