Experience

• 

  Southbank centre

  Sept 1993 - Feb 2000

  Head of literature

  Programmed over 120 events per year plus had responsibility for the Poetry Library

• 

  London metropolitan university

  Feb 2000 - Aug 2007

  Director, the women's library

  Following on from an HLF lottery bid I managed a move into a new building, built a new team, developed the programme, audiences and profile and fundraised

• 

  Arts council england

  Sept 2007 - Dec 2015

  National oversight of Arts Council's investment in Literature and led and managed our office and arts investment in the East of England.

  • Director, Literature and South East

    Sept 2007 - Dec 2015

  • Director, Literature

    Sept 2007 - Dec 2015
• 

  Cheltenham festivals

  Jan 2016 - Jan 2017

  Director of literature festival

  Cheltenham Literature festival is the largest and oldest Literature festival in England with over 400 writers and thinkers events every October. Responsible for the Direction and delivery of the 2016 festival including the main and family programmes.

• 

  English pen

  Jul 2017 - Jun 2019

  Director

  English PEN is a freedom of expression charity founded by writers to support writers. It campaigns for writers at risk internationally and provides writers’ residencies, lobbies for freedom of expression in the UK, supports translation and promotes great writing particularly diverse international voices.

• 

  First story

  Jun 2019 - now

  Chief executive officer

  First Story places writers in residence in secondary schools in low income areas and delivers a programme to build confidence, creativity and writing ability. First Story works in four regions in England, London, East Midlands and East and West Yorkshire.