Robin Simpson Chief Executive, Creative Lives Expand Robin Simpson has been Chief Executive of Creative Lives since September 2005. Robin is the Chair of the Steering Group for the national Get Creative campaign – a partnership between the BBC and hundreds of arts and cultural organisations across the UK. He is also the Chair of Peterborough Presents, the Peterborough Creative People & Places Consortium. Robin was a founding Trustee of Luminate – Scotland's creative ageing organisation. He has been a Trustee of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations and a member of the ChangeUp Volunteering Hub Scrutiny Committee. Robin has served on committees and boards for several Government Departments including: the Office for Civil Society (Cabinet Office); Department for Culture, Media and Sport; the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Robin completed his MBA with the Open University Business School in 2002. Before joining Creative Lives Robin was Deputy Chief Executive of Making Music – the national umbrella body for amateur music making, supporting over 2,000 amateur music groups throughout the UK, including choirs, orchestras, and music promoters. Previously, he worked as General Manager of the British Federation of Festivals, supporting the volunteer organisers of more than 300 festivals of music, dance and speech and drama across the UK. Robin has substantial experience of working with volunteers, having also worked for six years for the Royal National Institute for the Blind, managing a team of over 130 volunteer readers to record academic textbooks onto tape for visually-impaired students. Robin is a keen amateur French horn player, currently a member of the Northampton Symphony Orchestra. He is also a perennial ballroom dancing student, a frequent theatre-goer, an enthusiastic reader of contemporary fiction, an insatiable consumer of classical and world music and a keen blogger at culturalplayingfield.org and culturaldessert.blogspot.com. “For those of us who voluntarily practice some form of arts activity in our own time – and some estimates suggest that this includes almost half the adult population, playing in orchestras, singing in choirs, acting, dancing, painting, lace-making etc. – it’s often difficult to articulate exactly why we do it. But it usually becomes such a significant part of our lives we genuinely feel we couldn’t do without it.”
Lindsey Jackson Finance and HR Director, Creative Lives Expand Lindsey joined Creative Lives in 2009 and has the dual role of overseeing Finance and HR for the organisation, she is a member of both the AAT and CIPD holding qualifications with both. During her spare time, she enjoys reading and wild swimming. “What I enjoy most about working for Creative Lives is the opportunity to work with so many talented individuals both in-house and the organisations we work alongside with, it really is inspiring to see so many diverse and different forms of creative expression”.
Gareth Coles Wales Director, Creative Lives Expand Gareth joined Creative Lives in 2015 and leads the team in Wales. Prior to this, he worked in public services policy for the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA), promoting participation in public services and representing voluntary sector interests to Welsh Government. Previously he worked for the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) as a Development Officer in the Collaborative Working Team, and as a Grants Officer for the Community Fund / Big Lottery Fund. Gareth has a degree in Fine Art and an MA in Medieval Art History from the Courtauld Institute of Art in London. Gareth is a Welsh speaker and lives in South Wales with his wife and son. He is a keen artist, with a particular interest in drawing, and a woefully poor guitarist and pianist.
Jemma Neville Scotland Director, Creative Lives Expand Jemma has been Scotland Director of Creative Lives since 2013. She was previously Communications and Outreach Coordinator at the Scottish Human Rights Commission and has worked in a range of roles connecting the global and the local. During a sabbatical in 2017- 2018, Jemma was the inaugural Community Fellow at The Institute of Advanced Studies in Humanities, University of Edinburgh, researching her debut book, Constitution Street, finding hope in an age of anxiety. Part-memoir, part-social and legal history, the book explores the interconnecting lives of neighbours on one street. It won the Creative Edinburgh City Award 2019. Follow Jemma on Twitter @jemma_tweets
Kelly Donaldson Editor and Scotland Support Coordinator, Creative Lives Expand Kelly has a BA (Hons) in Drama and Media and has been responsible for Creative Live's communication and editorial output in Scotland since 2005, and across the whole organisation since 2021. She has coordinated a number of Creative Lives' projects and exhibitions, including My Time, A Creative Century, Mouth of the River and Scottish Creations. She also works as a freelance journalist and has been The Scotsman’s chief dance critic for over 20 years, is Dance Editor of The List Magazine, writes for a variety of other newspapers, magazines and festivals, and is a regular guest on BBC Radio Scotland's Review show. Kelly is a member of the Love Music Community Choir in Edinburgh and enjoys creative writing.
Phoenix Archer Scotland Community Engagement Officer, Creative Lives Expand Phoenix Archer is a Heritage Professional, Multidisciplinary Artist and Singer/Songwriter. She works for a religious institution, a mental health facility as well as Creative Lives. Phoenix has a history of engaging in the arts, culture and heritage sector in England and Scotland to promote healthy representation. She is a moderator at Queer Heritage Forum, a co-organiser at UnArchaeology and is the Creative Director at Progress in Dialogue. Phoenix runs the Scottish Black Owned and People of Colour Businesses and Opportunities groups. She likes to research diverse ways to increase respectful relationships with all kinds of people and create a more harmonious relationship between humans and the environment. Phoenix loves nature and exploring all things cultural, and heritage based.
Seonaid Murray Creative Places: Edenderry Coordinator Expand Seonaid Murray is a Community Musician, Saxophonist, Pianist. Before joining Creative Lives in December 2022, Seonaid was ‘Outreach Officer’ at The Black Box, Belfast. Black Box Projects are for and by people with learning disabilities. The ethos is to provide a safe, positive environment for people to express themselves Creatively through the Arts. Seonaid was born in Glasgow and grew up in Bangor, Co. Down, Northern Ireland. She attended Lagan College, the first Integrated school in Northern Ireland and learnt the importance of mixed education from a young age. She went on to study English Literature and Music at Bath Spa University and then Community Music at The Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick, Ireland. Seonaid has also lived and worked in New York, Belfast and across Ireland. Music is a Universal Communication tool and Seonaid has found it to be a brilliant conversation starter, an opportunity to get to know people better, break down barriers to the Arts and provide a platform for people’s voices to be heard. Seonaid has worked with and for; Cancer Research UK, Autism Initiatives, The Alzheimer’s Society, The Cedar Foundation, NI Chest, Heart and Stroke, many different Care and residential settings, Community groups, schools and within the Charity and Voluntary Sector. Seonaid plays Saxophone in several bands, teaches Saxophone and Piano and loves to go to live gigs!
Jess Plant England Director, Creative Lives Expand Jess Plant joined the Creative Lives team in September 2020, leading on the Creative Lives On Air programme of work, promoting creativity in partnership with BBC local radio stations. She became England Director in 2022. She previously worked at Clinks as the Director of the National Alliance for Arts in Criminal Justice. During her time there she significantly raised the profile of arts in criminal justice settings by successfully securing Arts Council England, National Portfolio Status and developing a pioneering research project in partnership with the Institute of Criminology at the University of Cambridge funded by the ESRC and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. Jess is a Trustee of the charity Streetwise Opera and supported the development of the newly established charity Arts and Homeless International. Jess has continuously worked to enhance creative opportunities for socially excluded adults and young people. Previous roles include working at Homeless Link, where she developed tools to promote arts opportunities for homeless and vulnerable people. Jess has written numerous good practice guides for the arts and voluntary sector and has significant fundraising and management experience. Jess holds a BA Hons in Sociology from the University of Nottingham and an MA in Art and Design from the University of Brighton. She also completed the Clore Leadership course in February 2017.
Jennifer Vernon-Edwards Creative Lives Producer, BBC Radio Sheffield Expand Simple things bring me great delight; a good heart to heart conversation or a satisfying cup of tea (with a cake accompaniment!)However, I am made for discovery; musical*, people, talents, books, and thought and charity shops! For the longest while I have been making discoveries about the people and places in South Yorkshire and telling their stories on air with BBC Radio Sheffield. I love it when these stories highlight a convergence between the local and the global; which is surprisingly often. I’m looking forward to pleasure of further discovery as I attempt to unearth some the hidden creative delights of Sheffield! Along the way I’m hoping to meet a craft loving someone who can help me in my lifelong knitting saga of only being able to (badly) knit scaves! *today I discovered Takoshi Inomata and his 1970s Japanese Jazz piano playing ways.
Rachel Teate Creative Lives On Air Producer, BBC Radio Tees Expand Rachel is a presenter and producer from Middlesbrough, she has had a passion for creativity ever since she begged her parents for tap dancing lessons at age 3 and still goes to tap class now! Rachel hosts the Upload show on BBC Radio Tees and loves sharing creative practices and ideas with others. She is very excited to make more of an impact on the culture scene in the North East with this role.
Rosa Torr Creative Lives Community Producer Expand Rosa Torr is Creative Lives Community Producer. Since graduating from her Masters in Dramaturgy and Scriptwriting at Goldsmiths University, Rosa uses her passion for storytelling to produce a podcast, create short documentaries and platform artists. Having worked as Creative Content Producer for the last 5 years for an international arts charity, Art on a Postcard, Rosa now uses that experience to seek out other arts initiatives to platform on the radio. Rosa has worked as a theatre maker for the last 10 years creating politically driven comedies.
Breda Forrest Creative Lives On Air Producer, Cork's Red FM Expand Breda joined the team as the Creative Lives on Air Producer for Red FM in Cork, Ireland in January 2023. She is a broadcast journalist and has been involved in amateur performing arts for many years. Breda also enjoys crochet, embroidery and writing. A proud Cork woman, nothing makes her happier than travelling the length and breadth of the county listening to people’s stories. She’s always eager to chat – so feel free to say hello!
Abi Bliss Creative Lives on Air Producer for BBC Radio Leeds Expand Abi joined Creative Lives in July 2022 as the new Creative Lives on Air Producer for BBC Radio Leeds. With more than 20 years’ experience in journalism, editing and copywriting, Abi specialises in covering the arts but has also written about walking, food, graphic design, the sights of Yorkshire and much more for publications including The Guardian, Metro, The Wire and BBC Online. In 2015 she co-founded Yorkshire Sound Women Network, an organisation aiming to increase women and people of minority genders’ participation in music technology through workshops, education and advocacy. Since YSWN became a Community Interest Company in 2018 she has served as a voluntary director and also carries out coordination, communications and project work, including producing YSWN’s podcast, Audio Club. Originally from Dorset, Abi lives in Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire, where she enjoys playing violin and synths with friends, organising activities with YSWN’s Huddersfield branch, serving as Treasurer for a local community and environmental group and stretching her legs among the wonderful Pennine scenery.
David McDonald Scotland Policy and Partnerships Coordinator, Creative Lives Expand David joined Creative Lives as Scotland Policy and Parnerships Coordinator in January 2023. His experience and community expertise spans 25 years across a variety of sectors. David spent 15 years in elected office, holding senior political roles in Scotland's largest local authority and served as the Chair of the UK's largest cultural trust, helping to shape cultural and creative opportunities ranging from international festivals and events to supporting community activity. Away from politics, David is passionate about the power of communities, he is a Community Education graduate of the University of Strathclyde and has worked in the community, third and non-governmental sectors in Scotland and across Europe. David retains an active involvement as a volunteer with a number of community, arts and heritage organisations, including those he helped found within his own local community and in 2022 he was appointed by the Scottish Government to the Board of the national sports agency, Sport Scotland. David lives in Glasgow, he finds joy in walking, music and travelling to new places.
Emily Sherwood Communications Officer, Creative Lives Expand Emily joined Creative Lives in May 2023. She has a background in arts marketing, arts administration, and corporate events. Prior to joining Creative Lives, she worked at the Stay At Home Choir, Primary (a contemporary visual arts charity), and the University of Exeter. Emily is also a freelance theatre-maker and playwright. In 2022 she received a Developing Your Creative Practice grant from Arts Council England to upskill in digital theatre-making. She’s an Associate Artist of Chronic Insanity Theatre Company, and most recently worked with them as one of the first writers commissioned by their digital literary department. Emily also enjoys roller skating (badly), coding (slowly), and reading (lots).