GEM - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Programme Manager at the British Museum
Ashley is the Young People's Programme Manager at the British Museum. His programme works to engage young people with the Museum and its collection through content and events co-produced with the Museum's Youth Collective.
Ashley has both worked and volunteered in the heritage sector for over a decade as part of the National Trust across various sites in London and the South East and also at MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology). In both places he worked with a variety of audiences on different learning programmes and led on school engagement. He has also worked on volunteering programmes previously.
Ashley is passionate about widening access to the heritage sector, engaging atudiences and working to make the sector more inclusive beyond its words. Ashley is a member of Museum Detox and also a primary school governor.
Ben is a development, fundraising and charity-governance consultant. Until September 2022, he was the Director of West Horsley Place Trust, who look after a Grade I listed manor house and estate dating back to 1425. Ben was previously Executive Director of Paintings in Hospitals, and was Project Director at the Royal Academy of Arts (RA) during their 250 th anniversary redevelopment.
Ben has a BA Hons from the University of Warwick and an MSc from LSE, where he won the 2004 Titmuss Prize for outstanding achievement in social policy. Ben is also a Trustee of the BGI (who run the National Videogame Museum in Sheffield), and is a Guardian and Chair of the Advocacy Committee for the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB). As well as serving on the Board of Trustees, Ben is proud to be an individual Member of GEM, and to help to support museums and the wider heritage sector to bring more of their amazing work out into communities, working together to benefit people's wellbeing.
Caroline is honoured to represent GEM as Chair of Trustees. She works collaboratively with the Board to shape the strategic direction of GEM and to support sector colleagues to connect and learn together. She has 25+ years academic, practical and strategic experience as a museum producer, programmer and change maker. She is passionate about using museum learning to create inclusive environments to welcome all visitors. Caroline's portfolio career combines her love of teaching and museums. She is a Senior Lecturer (Teaching) for the MA, Museums & Galleries in Education, UCL Institute of Education and directs diverse projects for her museum learning consultancy, Caroline Marcus Associates www.carolinemarcus.co.uk She also creates bespoke museum and gallery experiences for clients www.amuseyourself.co
Caroline qualified and practised as a primary school teacher with a passion for museums. She has wide experience of teaching and leading workshops in many museums. She worked in various roles at the National Gallery. These include Lecturer, Curator (Take One Picture), Access Officer & Outreach Officer. She was lead consultant for sector- support organisation, Kids in Museums, taking on roles including Takeover Day Project Director and Strategy & Project Development Consultant.
Caroline was former Head of Education at the Jewish Museum, and worked for the Imperial War Museum and the British Library as a Holocaust Education Consultant. She is currently a trustee of the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, Judge for the Sandford Award for Heritage Education and an associate for organisational development consultancy, People Make it Work. She is a cultural champion and advisor for organisations including Action for Children's Arts, Rereeti (India), and the NHLF Willesden Jewish Cemetery's House of Life Project. She has an MA in Museums and Galleries in Education (UCL, IoE) and is a graduate of the Clore Leadership Programme.
Job Titles:
- Head of Learning
- JEM Co - Editor
Dr Dominique Bouchard is Head of Learning and Interpretation at English Heritage. She is an Honorary Visiting Fellow at the Research Centre for Museums and Galleries, University of Leicester and a Clore Fellow.
Dr Habib is based at the University of Manchester as a Lecturer in Education and also as the Manchester Museum Young People's Coordinator on the Our Shared Cultural Heritage project.
GEM Trustees are both trustees of the charity and directors of the company limited by guarantee.
Job Titles:
- Course Director Developing Anti Racist Practice in Museums
Jean is a trained teacher, art therapist and museum educator born in Jamaica and raised in North London. For over 15 years Jean has designed and delivered learning projects and public engagement initiatives on a wide range of subjects in many major museums and galleries. Jean also delivers staff training sessions which specialise in transatlantic slavery, colonialism, and their legacies. Her approach to training uses creative, arts-based encounters to deepen people's emotional and professional capacity to work with histories, collections and audiences. She aims to create safe spaces in which people are respected and supported to share thoughts, experiences and ideas, and be their creative best.
Job Titles:
- Course Director for Museum Learning Basics
Kara's work with collections, exhibitions and museums spans over two decades. With responsibility for learning, public programmes and visitor services for a number of prestigious museums in different settings, she has wide-ranging insights and practical experience to share, from engaging new audiences to creating new museum and learning spaces.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Chairman of the GEM Cymru
- Learning Manager for MonLife Heritage
Karin Molson is Learning Manager for MonLife Heritage which operates a series of museums and attractions across Monmouthshire. During a career spanning twenty-five + years Karin has worked for a diverse range of museums, galleries and educational organisations including The Corinium Museum, Bristol Museums and Art Gallery and the WEA.
Karin has a keen interest in the positive and unique contribution that museums can make to the play agenda, exploring museums as playful spaces, opportunities for playful encounters and creating fun and surprising visitor experiences.
Karin is also passionate about the role museums have to play in supporting the health and wellbeing agenda and, for the past few years, has been exploring museums as dementia friendly spaces, places of intergenerational opportunity with a particular focus on Dementia and developing Dementia programming that has voice, choice and control at its heart.
Karin is Chair of the GEM Cymru curriculum development group which supports Welsh Museums to positively engage with the new Curriculum for Wales and is a GEM Cymru Area Representative.
Kathryn has loved museums ever since visiting Lark Hill Place in Salford regularly as a child. She was a secondary school science teacher for over 12 years before a brief spell as a freelancer delivering learning events and an A level psychology conference for Norfolk Museums Service. She has worked for them ever since, for eight years as a learning officer and then as museum development project officer, for SHARE Museums East which provides museum development for the East of England.
She said, "I volunteered to be a trustee because I love museum learning but also in memory of my mentor Katrina Siliprandi, who introduced me to GEM, who was an amazing force in museum learning and who died much too soon, in 2017."
Job Titles:
- Communications & Participation Manager
- Digital Communications Specialist
Katya is a digital communications specialist with a background in the culture sector. She is passionate about creating and delivering digital campaigns and strategies that inspire audiences and provide them with engaging lifelong learning experiences.
She previously led on digital at the British Embassy in Moscow, curated the digital department at the Bakhrushin Theatre Museum, worked with the special projects team at the BBC and conducted audience research work for the Royal Opera House and the V&A. Katya completed an MA in Museums and Galleries in Education at UCL and has an academic background in Journalism and Art History. In her free time Katya explores hidden cultural gems around London, bakes cakes and writes songs.
Speak to Katya about GEM's digital campaigns and social media: katya@gem.org.uk
Laura has volunteered in museums and galleries within education and outreach, and coordinated events as part of the Museums at Night initiative. Working alongside other volunteers and young people, she has developed educational resources and delivered family and public engagement activities on a range of topics from Oxfordshire archaeology to Chinese tea-bricks.
She is a Youth Ambassador for the National lottery Heritage Fund, where she has supported projects as part of the Kick the Dust Project to involve more young people in heritage projects across the UK.
As an Alumni Engagement Officer at Manchester Metropolitan, she manages digital communications, and has developed a volunteer strategy to engage over 1000 volunteers to support student employability and experience activities.
Laura's passion for education also led her to serve as a School Governor, and support her University's alumni association.
Leanna has over 12 years' experience in different banking and finance roles within different sectors, including have worked at one of the "Big 4". The Last two years were spent working in the education sector. Using the experience she has gained, Leanna is looking forward to her new role within GEM. Leanna is passionate about learning outside of the classroom and promoting learning through the heritage sector. She has two children that keep her busy when she is not working.
Mark has worked in media and broadcasting for many years. For the BBC, he has worked in production across Radio, Drama, Children's, Learning and Archives. He has developed and managed many digital platforms, educational resources, projects, campaigns and initiatives. In his current role as Senior Projects and Partnerships Manager for Archive Editorial, he is responsible for key partnerships and projects, many of which are in the museums, libraries and galleries sector. Mark is passionate about theatre and is Vice Chair of Trustees for Half Moon Young People's Theatre.
"I've been passionate about museums since I was young and that passion has continued to this day. I've been lucky enough to work in both the education and museums sector and have seen the positive changes that these sectors can have. I'm incredibly proud to be a trustee of GEM and I'm looking forward to working with the team to continue the great work they do"
Job Titles:
- Course Director Developing Anti Racist Practice in Museums
Meera is a Creative facilitator and Consultant. She has worked in Learning and Interpretation in the Museums and the cultural sector for over 25 years. She has worked with Museums, Galleries, Schools, and other Cultural organisations to devise and deliver projects, workshops, training, resources, and evaluation. She is currently a critical friend for Tate Schools and Teachers.
Since 2020 Meera and Jean have devised and run a series of arts - based training and consultation for Museum staff responding to the drive for anti-racist, inclusive, and decolonising practices. These include The Pitt Rivers Museum, The Museum of London and The London Transport Museum.
Starting her career in a small, independent open air museum, Melissa worked as a Learning & Community Officer for the National Trust at Belton House. One of the things she learnt quickly in a small museum is how much your job title doesn't actually reflect your day to day role in its entirety as it's all about team work and networks like GEM that provide support. Having benefited from having amazing mentors and other support to find creative ways to engage visitors throughout her career, often on a small budget, Melissa has recently set up a consultancy, Melissa Maynard Heritage, to support others in their work.
Job Titles:
- Course Director for Resilience, Leadership and
Nick is a former director and chief executive of many prestigious museums, including Eureka! The National Children's Museum, National Railway Museum, York, and the Museum of East Anglian Life. Nick is now the managing director of Nick Winterbotham Associates, delivering high quality consultation and training on leadership, heritage learning and team development, amongst other subjects.
Job Titles:
- Foundation Course Director for Museum Learning
Pete has over 20 years experience in the museum sector, interpreting science, nature, art, history and human cultures for a wide range of audiences through learning activities, outreach, exhibition making and gallery development. He has worked in museums, art galleries, historic houses and aquariums, with collections as varied as steam engines and stingrays. In 2015, following eight years in senior management, Pete became an independent museums consultant, specialising in access, learning and interpretation.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Head of Arts in Richmond
Rachel has been passionate about museums from an early age having been brought up in a family that valued culture and regularly visited museums. Following her degree in history and art history, she was lucky enough to be part of the first cohort of the MA in Museum Studies at the Courtauld Institute of Art under the guidance of Professor Michael Kauffmann. This fantastic training, along with the opportunity to undertake work experience in a wide range of museums, gave her an excellent starting point for a career as a curator, museum educator and manager of arts and culture.
As head of arts in Richmond, Rachel led a £5m transformation of Orleans House Gallery supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, which prioritised learning through the creation of the award-winning Coach House Education Centre and has been an inspiration for many other museum learning centres. Rachel established a national reputation for inclusion practice and work with young people, including for those studying outside of formal education, which was recognised by the Art Fund Prize in 2009. She is an advocate for the importance of networks and partnerships and good at initiating new developments. She helped to set up the London Museums Group and the London Culture Forum, was a board member of Engage, and chaired the West London Museums Group encouraging its transition to the West London Heritage Hub. Alongside her current work with GEM, she is the Projects Manager for Rambert School and Trustee of Art & Soul, which is a charity that supports mental and emotional wellbeing through the arts and Trustee of the Commonwealth Heritage Forum and Arts Richmond.
Richard Bruce graduated in Physics, before turning to a range of business activities. He is a Chartered Accountant and has worked in private companies, central government, and charities. He has a broad spectrum of experience in education, covering children and adults with special needs, adult education and colleges.
"I'm extremely interested in museums and the heritage sector, and am delighted to be part of this established, member-led organisation, with such an excellent reputation."
Job Titles:
- Museum Consultant ( Welsh Curriculum Consultation and Training )
For the past 5 years, Robin has been a self-employed freelance museum education consultant. He specialises in museum learning and skills audits with recommendations for the future. Notable heritage clients have been the University of Birmingham, Avoncroft Museum, Nuneaton Museum & Art Gallery and Cranwell Aviation Heritage Museum. Recently Robin helped Staffordshire Archives and Museums successfully apply for NLHF funding towards a new History Centre.
For 5 years between 2011 - 2016 he undertook the role of ‘Cultural Curator' with Kedleston Schools where it was his job to encourage partnerships with cultural institutions and the nine SEND schools in the group across the country.
Between 1995 - 2011, he was the Senior Learning Officer for Coventry Arts & Heritage (now known as Culture Coventry) managing their learning service across all venues. He led the development of policy, strategy, planning, and implementation of museum education and family learning and developed partnership working across the region.
His first museum job, after completing a Post-Graduate Diploma in Museums Studies at the University of Leicester in 1993 was at Stevenage Museum, which proved to be a brilliant experience and gave him an excellent grounding in how a small museum works and thrives.
Before retraining in museum education - following the completion of his PGCE, he was a primary school class teacher for two years full-time and one year part- time as a supply teacher.
Job Titles:
- Course Director for Developing SEND - Inclusive Learning With Confidence
Sam Bowen is an experienced museum professional having worked in the sector for over 20 years in curation, education and museum development roles. Sam's daughter is disabled and she draws on her personal experience as a SEND mum and museum professional visiting museums and galleries for her work. She challenges the sector's perception of learning disability and who museums are for and argues that as agencies for change and place making, museums have a role to play in fostering better inclusion and access in their communities. Sam is the author of the Special Schools and Museums Toolkit and the Kids in Museums SEND family toolkit and is project manager of the SEND in Museums project funded by Arts Council England. She lives in Kent with her husband, daughter and cat and is a keen crafter when ever she has the time.
Job Titles:
- Course Director for Fundraising for Museum Learning
Sam is an innovative and enthusiastic senior strategic manager in cultural learning. She has strong advocacy and lobbying skills and a proven track record of generating, implementing and evaluating programmes across the arts and heritage sector.
Sam has worked in the cultural sector for over 20 years - starting in museum education and then working in libraries, archives and the arts. Sam and Lizzie have worked in partnership in various forms since 2007.
Sam project managed and compiled the Clore Duffield Foundation's Space for Learning: a new handbook for creating inspirational learning spaces (2015) and Space for Learning Covid Guidance (2020). She was Project Manager of RSA Learning About Culture for a year in 2019 and led the team that produced the Arts-Rich Schools report.
Sara has over 15 years' experience running the administration and co-ordination of the GEM office. She has a commercial background and previously worked in planning, purchasing and stock control for a major flexible packaging company. She likes the varied role and the opportunities to promote learning through the heritage sector. When she's not busy running the GEM office, Sara enjoys nature walks, keeping fit and is an avid foodie!
Sarah has worked in the sector since 2004 in a range of institutions including charities, independent museums, local authority museums and national museums. She has worked across a great variety of audiences and currently leads learning at the National Trust for Scotland. Interests include making museums and heritage sites accessible, developing digital learning, evaluating impact, and bringing organisations together. Sarah was a Scotland GEM convenor for four years, has contributed to the GEM Journal and Case Studies, and has led sessions at four previous GEM conferences.
Job Titles:
- Course Director for Heritage Interpretation
Sarah is a creative coach with over 20 years' experience in heritage interpretation, which she shares as the course director for Heritage Interpretation. She has worked in consultancy, on projects large and small, and in community heritage and loves to use that experience to help coach, mentor and train others in the sector. Outside of heritage, Sarah is "mum" to two miniature Schnauzers, and keeps her life in balance with yoga, meditation and Zumba.
Shannen is an experienced museum learning professional and has worked in various roles within the sector, delivering and developing museum learning programmes, undertaking fundraising and managing a small museum. She has undertaken research into museum learning, focusing on sensitive histories. She has an interest in inclusive practice and is passionate advocate for museum learning.
She previously led Learning and Engagement at The Peace Museum, Bradford and worked as part of the Learning Team at the National Science and Media Museum. Shannen studied International History and Politics at the University of Leeds and is currently completing an Associateship of the Museums Association. Shannen is an active member of the vibrant cultural scene in her home city of Bradford, enjoying art, exhibitions and shows. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading and watching cosy murder mysteries, and spending time with her family and friends.
Zoe has vast experience in the property industry, with her previous role as a Branch Manager which involved managing & training staff, overseeing the operations of the business and ensuring delivery of exceptional customer service. She was also involved with the finance department to ensure accuracy and efficiency in the business. Zoe also has previous experience as an Event Manager and Executive Assistant bringing her transferrable skills to the GEM team. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and dog Flora as well as holidaying in Portugal.