Together with Monica Parle, I lead the Forward Arts Foundation, which promotes public knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of poetry in the UK and Ireland. We are a charity committed to widening poetry’s audience, honouring achievement and supporting talent: our programmes include National Poetry Day, the Forward Prizes for Poetry and the Forward Book of Poetry, an annual anthology of the year’s best poems.

I have over 20 years experience in the writing, literature and performing arts sector. I have worked in education and community settings, and designed strategy at Arts Council England. I have founded and led a charity and know what it takes to sustain and grow a business. I bring a thoughtful creativity to my work, balanced with evidence and a human centred approach.

Responsible for strategy and policy design, evaluation of programmes and management of key projects and stakeholders. I worked with a small head office team and national specialist staff across a large, complex organisation. • Introduced Human Centred Design approach to change how we develop policy• Strategic review of cultural education programmes totalling £8.9m • Development of new organisational strategy and its outcomes for children and young people• Management of stakeholder consultation with children and young people, education and cultural sector, to deepen organisational understanding of their needs and wishes • Leadership and development of national team, including online workshopping and cpd• Active Evidence Champion (RSA Learning about Culture programme), improving evidence rich practice in my organisation and using a range of evidence to scope and design new programmes.• Regular negotiation, collaboration and advocacy with partners, including DfE and DCMS• Managing pilot portfolio of 5 programmes, testing outcomes framework and elements of a new business case for national programme of cultural education for young people.

Co-founder and Director of this award-winning creative writing and literacy charity. I developed the organisation from a group of committed volunteers to a well-established, nationally recognised creative education charity. • Set strategic direction. Developed and oversaw the charity’s business plan, making key strategic decisions and directing resources as needed.• Initiated and oversaw strategy to tell the organisation’s story widely and effectively, including audience development, brand awareness and licensing. • Financial accountability, ensuring a responsive budget, accurate reporting and a culture of financial responsibility throughout the organisation• Innovated to find the best legacy for our programmes, to make them sustainable in order to reach more young people/have greatest impact• Managed staff to design a programme that benefits teachers, parents and children and build partnerships with a range of organisations to do this. Set the artistic vision and approach to community engagement.• Built relationships with mix of funders and sponsors to support our work. Inspired, cultivated and stewarded supporters to reach our annual fundraising targets.• Led on HR strategy and procedures with external legal support; designed and oversaw induction, appraisal and performance of all staff; instilled clear supportive line management and a resilient, responsible work culture throughout the organisation.• Supported the trustees to provide excellent governance; with the Chair carried out skills audit and recruitment of new trustees; authored and coordinated board papers.• Championed strong operational management; ensuring legal compliance, sound health and safety practice and a motivated and responsible staff and freelance team.• Strategic direction of retailing at Hoxton Street Monster Supplies, our trading arm.

Designed, developed and produced a portfolio of learning and participation projects and strategies with a literature focus, collaborating with artists, site specific performance, producing digital participation, schools and community projects. • Worked closely with artists in residence Lemn Sissay, Saint Etienne, Simon Armitage to develop and produce their ideas.• Produced projects with a range of size and scope, from small scale family learning in the Poetry Library, to an online interactive map of found poetry, to an outdoor production of the Rime of the Ancient Mariner.• Managed significant project budgets, partnership agreements, risk assessments, wrote contracts and IP agreements with a wide range of project partners.• Developed lasting legacies for projects to enrich the organisation and offer further opportunities for participants.• Produced installations and performances in a range of spaces across the Southbank Centre site and in the local community.

I set up and ran a Writer Development Programme at this inspirational community arts centre. I recruited a cohort of writers and provided a mix of opportunities (mentoring, commissioning, development of networks).

I ran for election and was one of eight Executive Officers responsible for setting strategic direction for this large students’ union, and delivering a programme of welfare and campaigns.