About me
I am an experienced professional in the public and third sectors, used to working at a high level, to a high standard and subject to a good deal of scrutiny. I am the founder and managing director of Arts Well UK CIC, a social enterprise that places arts and creativity at the heart of health and wellbeing. I was Director of Arts for Health Cornwall for 11 years which I grew from a small organisation with one part-time employee to one with a £300,000 per year turnover and led to several prestigious awards. I previously worked for 18 years in the NHS, undertaking a variety of roles, including Director of Public Health and leading on patient and public involvement.
In 2017 I won the Arts and Health South West award for Outstanding Individual Contribution to arts and health.
My working life has been characterised by a focus on working in partnership to tackle issues of inequality and social injustice within a range of organisational cultures. I am people-focused and have developed strong relationships with organisations and individuals throughout my working life to mutual benefit.
Having worked in the health and social care sector for over 25 years I have an excellent understanding of its challenges and opportunities and the potential for partnership approaches to assist in addressing these.
I have a longstanding interest in the arts, particularly theatre and literature, and am able to bring creative approaches to a wide range of health and social issues. I have an MA in 20th Century Art and Design and Postgraduate Diplomas (with distinction) in English Literature and Professional Writing. I am a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a member of Lapidus, the Words for Wellbeing Association and co-Chair of our local branch.
Skills
Action Learning, Culture health and wellbeing, Evaluation, facilitation, mentoring, project management