I joined the Centre for Life to oversee a £3million exhibition redevelopment, replacing about 1500sqm of the permanent exhibition. The "Human Life" galleries opened in 2006 and 2007 and after 8 successful years have been retired to be replaced by a new generation of exhibitions.In February of 2011 we opened a £300k gallery for under 7's after a 18-month development process. This space uses techniques from the Childrens Museum movement to stimulate creative play.In May 2012 we opened a £900k gallery called "Curiosity" following 2 years of development, including the creation of an exhibit-building workshop at Life. This exhibition sets out to stimulate specific behaviours and thought-processes through interactive exhibits, rather than deliver information. Building on the Curiosity experience, I lead the centre's participation in research activity around Informal Science Learning, Design and Creativity. Current research includes a study of the environmental influences on creativity and innovation, with colleagues from Durham University.In March 2015 we opened "Experiment Zone", a family laboratory that boosts people's sense of identification with science through an authentic lab experience. In 2016 we opened "Brain Zone", bringing visitors into active neuroscience, psychology and anthropology research. In 2019 we opened the "Making Studios", a 2-storey maker space, and "Space Zone", an 800sqm exhibition about space exploration that highlights the research and industry based in North East England.In November 2019 I was appointed as Head of Development to apply my experience of capital projects and the STEM engagement sector to fundraising and more recently partnership building for the long-term development of the science centre.From 2013 I shared the development and delivery of our MSc course in Public Engagement with Science. In addition, I contribute to the organisation's digital strategy, and represent it on a number of collaborative projects in the region with community, cultural and academic partners.I was accepted into the Noyce Leadership Institute at the start of 2013 as part of their programme of support to the international science centre sector. I completed my 2 years as a Fellow on the Clore Leadership Programme in 2009. I was Chair of the British Interactive Group until July 2013, having been vice-Chair for two years.