Gillian Easson Email & Phone Number

Dundee

Co-founding Director of Creative Dundee, a network organisation which supports creative talent to base, grow and sustain their practice in and around Dundee, by connecting and amplifying the city’s creativity. Working locally and internationally, Creative Dundee has an active online platform, events programme and works closely in partnership with others to nurture the city’s vibrant creative community. Creative Dundee led the development of Dundee’s Creative Industries Strategy 2017 -… Show more Co-founding Director of Creative Dundee, a network organisation which supports creative talent to base, grow and sustain their practice in and around Dundee, by connecting and amplifying the city’s creativity. Working locally and internationally, Creative Dundee has an active online platform, events programme and works closely in partnership with others to nurture the city’s vibrant creative community. Creative Dundee led the development of Dundee’s Creative Industries Strategy 2017 - 2021, co-designed with the sector; they produce the 99 Things to See and Do in Dundee crowdsourced city guide; and run the largest Pecha Kucha Nights in the UK. Creative Dundee has been cited as influential catalyst for the increase in the profile of the city’s creative scene in an external review of creative city networks. Starting life as a side project blog back in 2008, Gillian has grown Creative Dundee from the ground up and 10 years on, Creative Dundee joined Creative Scotland’s Regularly Funded Organisation (RFO 2018 - 2021) network, supporting their ambitious programme of work.Gillian has led practical workshops in cities across Europe, Russia, Malaysia, Philippines, Romania and Poland; and has collaborated with UK and international partners to develop collective thinking on the value and future of the creative industries and creative communities - including co-authoring the Creative HubKit resource, commissioned by British Council.Selected to join Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity’s inaugural Cultural Leadership Programme in 2017 as the only non-Canadian representative; and named in Creative Review’s 2018 Creative Leaders 50, acknowledging people driving change within the creative industries.Led the development of a digital platform We Dundee in 2013 which enabled over 4,000 citizens to crowd power the city’s cultural identity and share their collective pride in the city. Part of the core team supporting the UK’s only UNESCO City of Design Dundee. Show less

Dundee City, Scotland, United Kingdom

Trustee with Leisure and Culture Dundee, a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) responsible for the delivery of high quality leisure, sports, library, cultural and learning experiences within Dundee. LACD's diverse portfolio includes The McManus, Dundee's Art Gallery and Museum; Mills Observatory; fifteen Libraries; Olympia Leisure Centre and many more.

Running projects and developing strategies for audience engagement, business model innovation and place-making. Collaborating with others to create innovative products and provide design, innovation and enterprise strategic support. Worked with organisations such as V&A Museum of Design Dundee; National Galleries of Scotland; Glasgow School of Art; and British Council and have collaborated with a number of amazing individuals on a wide range of projects.

Managed projects supporting innovation and growth in the creative and cultural economies. Projects tested new methods of support, capturing learning and ensuring it was shared sector-wide:- Creative Enterprise Toolkit and Train the Trainer programme, UK/International: Developed concept and directed production of the toolkit, a collection of tried and tested design-led enterprise resources, Nesta's first commercial product which is now sold internationally. Developed a strategic… Show more Managed projects supporting innovation and growth in the creative and cultural economies. Projects tested new methods of support, capturing learning and ensuring it was shared sector-wide:- Creative Enterprise Toolkit and Train the Trainer programme, UK/International: Developed concept and directed production of the toolkit, a collection of tried and tested design-led enterprise resources, Nesta's first commercial product which is now sold internationally. Developed a strategic relationship with British Council to run training worldwide in emerging creative economies - BRICS and ran commercial programme in the UK.- Digital R&D Fund for the Culture Sector, Scotland: Managed £500,000 partnership Fund with Creative Scotland and AHRC, supporting digital innovation. Designed programme content, application processes, ran large-scale networking events, managed fund, budget and strategic relationships. - Starter for 6 and Peer Mentoring: 210 innovative start-up businesses were supported through this pilot, with training, coaching and grant investment. In 2009, Starter for 6 was mainstreamed by Scottish Govt/Creative Scotland. Role: programme design and delivery, supporting creative entrepreneurs, liaising with agencies, contracting services, event management, co-ordinating press, marketing and case studies. Also responsible for Insight Out programme management, working with University and enterprise support partners in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. - Age Unlimited Scotland and Rooted - Managed the two year initiative and development of a practical guide with UnLtd, Rooted, reaching and supporting people in later life to design and deliver innovative new community run ventures. Invited speaker at the Social Innovation Seminar on Ageing in Stockholm in 2012. Show less

North East Scotland

Responsible for supporting 29 secondary schools in Scotland with the design, start up, delivery and sustainability of the xl programme - xl supported 14-16 year olds, not yet achieving their full potential to give increased confidence, self awareness, communication and enterprise skills.

North East Scotland

Training and assessing work-based NVQ qualifications with young 16-25 year old learners. Worked with a number of young employees and a range of employers, from SMEs to large national companies, to design and tailor training packages to meet individual needs of the young learner employees.

Cabramatta, Sydney

Employment during one year period spent travelling throughout South East Asia, New Zealand and working in Australia. Based in Cabramatta, Sydney at AMES (Adult Multicultural Education Services), role involved assessing client's experience, skills and barriers to work; and identified employment opportunities and work based placements to meet Australian Govt objectives.

Part of a small team responsible for design and delivery of new large-scale employment training initiatives including New Deal Gateway to Work aimed at 18–24 year olds, New Deal 25+ and New Deal 50+. Co-ordinated learning resources; designed and delivered training to large groups of up to 30 people. Promoted to Employment Officer to work on one-to-one basis with clients, finding them sustainable employment/work based placements.