Conference speakers

Emma joined HCT in 2019 after returning to the UK from Australia, where she worked as the Executive Director for Heritage Perth. After 3 years managing venues, she now leads the central collections and exhibitions team; and together they help all HCT venues use collections in their public programming.

An experienced Heritage and Cultural leader, specialising in leading transformational, inclusive restoration and development projects.  I enjoy improving governance, sustainability and finance processes and for the past 30 years have showcased honest and kind leadership when developing effective staff and volunteer teams. I also love travelling, exploring and food!

Lynn undertakes much of the background work that oils the cogs of the British Glass Foundation, having propelled the development of the Museum through each of its milestones. She is a former local councillor and in 2015, she was awarded an MBE for Services to the Community of Wall Heath. 

Isabel Churcher, currently Strategic Partnerships Manager in the Archives Sector Leadership team, working to secure support from national partners to benefit the 2,500 archives in England.  Previously extensive experience of museums and investment through Arts Council England and managing museums services, both rural and urban.

After 20+ years in museum learning and engagement, Sarah has tried every possible speed evaluation method going. These days, she is converting her grassroots understanding of audiences and communities into content for successful funding bids from ACE, Art Fund and more. 

Lynnette joined Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust in 2019, leveraging her background in destination marketing. Leading the Trust’s marketing and communication efforts, she raises awareness of The Historic Dockyard Chatham, working to increase footfall to the museum. Lynnette also drives the public engagement and ED&I strategies, ensuring everyone feels a part of the Dockyard’s story, proactively removing barriers for underrepresented groups.

Lucy is a consultant, curator and writer who works with museums, arts institutions, artists, and community groups in the UK and internationally. Passionate about history and storytelling, she is particularly drawn to commissions that give voice to those who might otherwise remain unheard, and to projects that connect museums to communities.

Joseph Galliano-Doig is the Director and Co-Founder of Queer Britain, the UK’s first LGBTQ+ museum. He is a former editor of Gay Times magazine and in a peripatetic career, has been a book editor, major donor fundraiser, third sector celebrity liaison manager and was deputy CEO for an LGBT+ Business leaders network.

Naomi Garnett is General Manger of the Quaker Tapestry Museum based in Kendal. Prior to this, she worked at the National Justice Museum in Nottingham as the Learning Manager. Naomi was formerly a Trustee for a domestic abuse charity and a founding member of the Safer Museums Network.

Alexander has an MA in Heritage Management from the University of Birmingham. He took up the position at Stourbridge Glass Museum in October 2022, and grew up locally. He is passionate about environmentalism, and is working towards pursuing net zero at the Museum through solar panels and changes to the Museum’s fit-out.

Sarah Hartshorne is Site Manager for Nottingham Castle. A founding member of the Safer Museums Network, Sarah was formerly Vice Chair for a domestic abuse charity. Sarah has supported organisations across the East Midlands as Museum Development Officer, and operationally for the National Trust and English Heritage.  

Rowena heads up Shortwork, a Liverpool-based social-enterprise that specialises in community-driven research projects. She is passionate about empowering people to take an active role in research, particularly on topics that affect their lives. Over the past three years, Rowena has partnered with arts and heritage organisations to train and work with community researchers. Together, they’ve explored the challenges people face when engaging with arts and culture, as well as their interests and ideas for events and activities. Through this work, Rowena strives to ensure that community voices are heard and valued, informing more inclusive and accessible programming. 

Sarah Lawrance is a freelance curator with a special interest in age- and dementia-friendly collections programming. She collaborates regularly with creative ageing charity Equal Arts, with whom she has launched a new dementia-friendly arts and heritage publishing initiative. Sarah is also a member of ACE Designation Panel and an AIM Mentor.

Rose is head of operations at the National Civil War Centre – Newark Museum. Having been at the museum for nine years, Rose is spearheading the evolution of the museum’s approach to gathering, understanding and utilising data. So of course, she loves a good spreadsheet! 

Katherine McAlpine has been Director of the Brunel Museum since January 2021. She leads the small team to deliver the Museum’s mission to share the Brunel’s London story in Rotherhithe and beyond. In August 2021, the Museum launched its Sustainability Plan. She has over ten years experience with a specialism in learning and audience development. She has previously held roles at Imperial War Museums, Royal Museums Greenwich and the Royal Institution. 

Rebecca splits her time between freelancing and her role as Creative Community Builder with Make/Shift, a Creative People and Places project in Derbyshire. Her career has included roles from front of house to leadership. She is working with Domestic Abuse Education to develop and deliver training sessions for museums.

Stuart has worked in museums for over 20 years, the last six as curator of the Cromwell Museum in Huntingdon, an independent museum in a tiny medieval building with an internationally important collection on a complex and controversial story, described as a “national museum in a matchbox” (BBC Radio 4).

Jacob has worked at Museums Galleries Scotland since 2016. He is responsible for supporting museums in the management, care, and interpretation of collections, as well as support for Intangible Cultural Heritage. Previously he has worked as Curator at the Highland Folk Museum and with Visitor Services at Manx National Heritage.

Naomi’s love of museums and historic houses led her to a career in the heritage sector with a focus in collections and engagement. Currently Project Officer for the ‘Interpreting Kiplin for 400’ project at Kiplin Hall and Gardens, Naomi is working with local communities to co-curate new and exciting interpretation. 

Abby Pendlebury was the Music Heritage Trail Project Officer at the Museum of Croydon in 2022-2023 and now works as the Heritage Engagement Manager for Capital Theatres in Edinburgh. With a background in project management, archaeology, and research, her focus is making heritage accessible and engaging for diverse audiences. 

A dynamic senior leader experienced in strategic development of Learning, Audience Development, Engagement and Visitor Services.  Bringing people, stories and ideas together, I have a successful track record in designing innovative engagement strategies across arts, heritage and culture settings.  Yoga, cooking, and walking with my dog are my other loves!

Kelly Robinson is Dulwich Picture Gallery’s Senior Learning and Participation Manager. She specialises in participation and audience development with a focus on using participatory practise, co-production and action research with young people and communities. She has worked in engagement for over 16 years including at the Lowry Art Centre and The Museum of the Home

As Programming Curator at Kiplin Hall and Gardens, Alice is passionate about connecting people to the past through places, objects and stories. Building on her previous experience of working with communities, the ‘Interpreting Kiplin for 400’ project explores how we share our stories with new audiences in new ways. 

Jaane leads on collections management and programming for Hampshire Cultural Trust (HCT) – one of the largest regional museum charities with 15 Accredited sites and an estimated 2.5m objects in its care. After a varied career including museum development, accountancy, and consultancy, Jaane joined HCT’s management team in 2018.

Virginia Smith is a Museums and Heritage professional with expertise in all areas of cultural leadership. She currently oversees all operations at the Museum of Croydon and was the Project Manager for the Music Heritage Trail project that included developing the trail and app and the Museum exhibition. With an MA in Learning and Visitor research in museums and galleries she has used her experience, skills and knowledge to support her staff master the competencies required to become successful professionals and has dedicated her efforts in ensuring that Museums and Heritage are accessible, welcoming and use innovation to engage a diverse audience.

Emma is Chief Executive of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, a position she has held since April 2023.  

Prior to joining the CBSO she was Executive Director of Soulpepper, Toronto’s largest not-for-profit theatre.    

From 2009 – 2018, Emma was Chief Executive of Bristol Old Vic, leading the organisation in partnership with Artistic Director Tom Morris. Together they delivered the long-awaited £26m refurbishment of the historic theatre.  Their programme revitalised the organisation’s creative life and public profile; locally, nationally and internationally.   

Previously she was Head of Producing for the 2009 Manchester International Festival, where she delivered several world premieres including Rufus Wainwright’s opera “Prima Donna” and the London transfer of Damon Albarn’s “Monkey”.   

Past roles include Head of Theatre at Arts Council England, London, and Cultural Programme Advisor at the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, where she was responsible for the initial feasibility planning for the stadium ceremonies.   

From 2002 – 2005 she was Executive Director of BAC, also in partnership with Tom Morris as Artistic Director.  She has worked with Complicite, Oxford Stage Company and the RSC, producing theatre on the London fringe, in the West End, on national and international tour.   

Emma was formerly the Deputy Chair of Shakespeare’s Globe, and currently serves on the Globe Council.  She is Chair of Shoreditch Town Hall, a trustee of Cheek by Jowl and Wild Arts, and a Director of the Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust.   

In 2017 she was made an Honorary Doctor of Letters by Bristol University. 

Hannah Wood is a community theatre practitioner and Creative Associate with Equal Arts. Her work centres around how storytelling and imagination can aid creative output and communication with older people and people living with dementia. Hannah co-produces and delivers dementia-friendly projects in cultural and community venues, care settings, and schools.