TEAM

    Directors

     

    claire hodgsonClaire Hodgson, Chief Executive
    Claire has worked for over 15 years in leadership positions in the public and third sector championing diversity through creative and entrepreneurial methods. A theatre director and academic Claire has developed a number of groundbreaking courses that enable under represented groups to access education and the arts.

    She transforms organisations by working in partnership and devising strategies that champion sustainability and diversity. In the last few years Claire has been invited to speak about her work in Poland, Washington DC and throughout the UK.

     

    Dimitrios Tourountsis, Creative Learning Director
    Dimitrios is a passionate creative entrepreneur and educator. He has worked over eleven years in the public and third sector facilitating change and diversity. Combining hands-on frontline experience of engaging young people and the community with a strong research and project management background, Dimitrios has worked for both public and state schools, higher education institutions, arts organisations, local authorities and social enterprises.


    chiara cameradaChiara Camerada, Trainee Associate
    Chiara is a communications consultant, with five years experience in strategic communication and project management in the public and private sectors. She has worked as a project manager in the cultural industries with a special interest in European projects.


     

    Board

    Diverse City is governed by a diverse board of successful social and creative entrepreneurs:

    Mel Alwood, Consultant, Arup

    Jamie Beddard, Independent Performing Arts Professional

    Claire Hodgson, Chief Executive, Diverse City

    Matthew Thomson, Chief Executive,
    London Community Resource Network

    Dimitrios Tourountsis, Creative Learning
    Director, Diverse City

    Diye Wariebi, Chief Executive, Digibridge C.I.C.

 

Associates

 

jamie beddardJamie Beddard, Senior Associate
Jamie is a freelance artist with a creative portfolio in directing, writing, performing, training and governance. He has worked for London Metropolitan University, Transport for London, the National Youth Theatre and a variety of drama colleges. He has been Associate Director of Graeae Theatre Company, and editor of ‘Disability Arts in London’ magazine. Until recently he was Diversity Officer at the Arts Council London.

pete collinsPeter Collins, Senior Associate
Pete is a Theatre Director, Facilitator & Applied Arts Consultant with a long career in the performing arts sector.
He was Creative Learning Director at National Youth Theatre where he developed and delivered an innovative course for young people at risk of social exclusion. He has directed and performed in plays all over the UK and in other countries and worked for public and third sector organisations. He is also an Associate Artist at National Youth Theatre.

 

linda fitzsimmonmsLinda Fitzsimmons, Senior Associate
Linda has more than 30 years’ experience of working in universities, initially as an academic (teaching theatre) and then as a manager. She also has wide experience of work with further education and the public services. She has served as Board member and chair of a number of arts organisations, including theatre companies, visual arts organisations and galleries, and arts development agencies. She now works as a personal-development coach and mentor, and a facilitator.

 

kim hodgson

Kim Hodgson, Senior Associate
Kim has a long career in teaching performing arts in formal and non-formal educational settings. She has commissioned and directed plays and performing arts projects and has worked with a variety of participants.
She is currently Head of Performing Arts at Bexhill College.

Chris Westwood, Senior Associate
Chris Westwood has had a long career at senior management level in the arts. An innovator, she has pioneered many award winning schemes for audience development and public engagement with the arts. From 2002 - 09 she was the Director of Culture and Community Development for Shoreditch Trust, an exemplar regeneration agency (NDC), in the most deprived wards of LB Hackney.

 

jim pope

Jim Pope

Jim Pope is Artistic Director of Playing On an associate theatre company of The Roundhouse.  He has extensive experience as an actor, director and teacher.  He created the Playing Up programme for the National Youth Theatre: three accredited drama programmes for 17 to 25 year olds who are NEET. Most graduates achieved places in higher education including Rose Bruford and Central School of Speech and Drama.

He has worked on long term programmes with various disenfranchised groups such as creating a year long programme of drama for NEET’s for Blue Sky Arts and Media; a nine month programme around a forum play with girl gangs for the Brady Arts Centre, devising and directing a site specific performance in canal tunnels with 70 young people who were NEET for Dudley Borough Council.