Background: Born and lived over 40 years in East London, moving to St Leonard’s in 2018. I studied Fine Art at De Montfort University in Leicester and have worked in the Heritage, Arts and Culture sectors for over 20 years.

Expertise: Worked for national funders  on strategies to identify and remove barriers to  engagement from diverse communities. Currently developing policy, strategy and projects focusing on community engagement, audience development, diversity and inclusion in the culture sector.

Joy: Passionate in my role as Chair of St Leonards Festival Committee. Enjoy crocheting – mostly blankets for family and loves Middle Eastern and North African dance.

Background: A proud DFLer, moved to St Leonards-on-Sea a year ago and happily encountered 18 Hours as a volunteer at the St Leonards Festival. Professional PA with experience in large and small organisations, in corporate and other sectors. In addition, also a trustee of a charity working with multicultural communities in North Kensington in London.

Expertise: My career has included work in various creative industries, and I am passionate about the arts in all forms (with a particular love of dance). I spent ten years providing freelance business administration services, including committee administration and governance, particularly developing and promoting best practice administration procedures. 

Joy: My interests are varied and include wining and dining and exercising to counteract those. I’m a member of a local choir although I don’t claim to be a great singer – it’s about the enjoyment of participating!

BACKGROUND: I was born into a family of cattle herders, semi-nomadic, pastoralist people in South Kivu in the DRC. I came in the UK as a refugee.

EXPERTISE: PhD researcher in International Conflict Analysis at the School of Politics and International Relations at the University of Kent, UK. I am the author of Not My Worst Day, and Education in a Diverse UK. I have occupied several senior responsibilities in the public and community sector. For the last ten years, I’ve been involved in international research-based consulting services, inc. Political Economy Analyses (PEA). My work supports international agencies and donors (inc. the UK government Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and USAID). My PEA work is used to enhance the effectiveness of international development agencies’ policy support to developing countries. I have been involved in political mediation for civil society organisations in conflict-affected areas, which provides insights into issues of war, security, and cultural insensitivity in conflict resolution.