Nov 2024 – Present · 1 yr 6 mos · Remote

• I have spent 10 years researching the motherhood penalty and working with the parents who experience its impact. If you want to understand how to make your workplace work for parents then get in touch.

Mar 2015 – Jan 2025 · 9 yrs 10 mos

• Pregnant Then Screwed protects, supports and promotes the rights of mothers who suffer the effects of systemic, cultural, and institutional discrimination through our various schemes and activities, including: A free legal advice service, a website where women post their stories of discrimination anonymously, lobbying the Government for legislative change, and a mentor scheme that supports women who are considering legal action against their employer.

Mar 2015 – Dec 2024 · 9 yrs 9 mos

• In just 10 years, Pregnant Then Screwed changed laws, supported almost half a million parents with free specialist advice, secured millions of pounds for mothers who experienced discrimination, whilst gaining global recognition for its fight to end the motherhood penalty. Described by the BBC as ‘hugely influential’ and the Guardian as ‘groundbreaking,’ the charity won awards including: ‘Best Campaign’ at PR Week and ‘Small Charity of the Year’ at the Third Sector awards.

May 2013 – Feb 2017 · 3 yrs 9 mos · Manchester

• Projects include:
• 1) Culture Shift Russia
• 2) Apps for Europe
• 3) The Business models of Open Data
• 4) Cluster 2020
• 5) Numbers that Matter
• 6) Chattr
• 7) ArtsAPI

Jul 2012 – Apr 2015 · 2 yrs 9 mos · North East

• In addition to CultureCode activity I am also a creative project manager, working with the arts and third sector. The projects I work on involve a digital element or collaboration with the digital community. My specialities include: Project design and application, marketing and communications, event management, curation, open data, hacking, production, fundraising and business development.
• Projects I have managed to date:
• 1) Keyfund COO
• Keyfund is a charity with a vision for a world where young people are listened to and empowered to reach their full potential in life. It has been operating in the North East for over 20 years. This was a 2 month role to cover the COO who was on a sabbatical. My role included: Developing relationships with potential funders, planning and management of a strategic event for all Keyfund Stakeholders, planning of a high profile event involving Prince William and Kate Middleton, recruitment and analysis of Keyfund's digital assets.
• 2) Marketing and advocacy, Northern Stars.
• Northern Stars is a charity and an award winning film company with a twist, the films are made by young people aged between 16 – 21 years old. I was recruited to help the organisation create an effective marketing and communications strategy and to raise the profile of the organisation, ultimately securing future contracts.
• 3) Business of Open Data, FutureEverything
• Little is known about the real business opportunities open data affords organisations. I was charged with the responsibility of creating and developing a 12 hour workshop as part of the FutureEverything festival programme that would help businesses understand how they can create new business models from open data
• 4) Chattr, FutureEverything
• Chattr was one of the main art projects for this year's FutureEverything. I was asked to project manage its creation, development and finally its implementation working with 2 artists and 3 researchers.

Oct 2011 – Apr 2014 · 2 yrs 6 mos · Manchester

• The CultureCode Initiative creates environments and projects which develop sophisticated and sustainable relationships with computer progammers and creative technologists through data, hacking, prototyping and education.
• Our work to date has focussed on artists, cultural professionals and charities; creating a programme of events and activities designed to bring these sectors and the digital sector closer together, to promote better understanding of each others work and to seed future collaboration.
• CultureCode currently operates across the North of England with offices in both Newcastle-Upon-Tyne and Manchester.
• My recent CultureCode projects include:
• 1) UK hacking models
• I have been commissioned by the British Council to write their official research paper on UK hacking models, to be published in October 2013.
• 2) CultureCode Initiative
• The first CultureCode project which took place between January and March 2012 across the North East. It engaged 354 people in the 4 stage process and 34 cultural organisations opened their data for the final stage, a 24 hour data hack.
• 3) CultureShift
• CultureCode was recruited by the British Council to produce and manage CultureShift Zimbabwe, a programme with the aim to stimulate the creation of new technology tools and products which support the development of emerging creative businesses and cultural organisations in Zimbabwe.
• 4) Ambition Lab
• CultureCode and North East based charity Keyfund, secured funding from Nominet Trust to manage a year long research project involving technology and young people. The projects aim is to better understand what ingredients are needed for young people to achieve their own goals and solve their own challenges.
• 5) Digital art touring programme
• In partnership with Furtherfield Gallery and Landsecurities, CultureCode is developing a programme to tour digital art around shopping centre's in the UK

Mar 2011 – Jun 2012 · 1 yr 3 mos · Gateshead

• Deputising for the CEO I managed a team of 5 full time staff and 2 freelancers. My responsibilities included a digital membership of 320 organisations, an International web design and web development conference and an International conference for the gaming sector called Game Horizon. I was charged with the successful development of all of these projects, ensuring they continued to be exceptional experiences for speakers, attendees and sponsors.
• Additionally I lead on the tendering for the organisation, pitching for various opportunities to manage high profile, complex projects. I secured new opportunities with Microsoft, NewcastleGateshead Cultural Venues and Gateshead Council.
• I developed new relationships for the organisation within the North East arts sector, implementing an arts strand to the Thinking Digital Conference, presenting at various arts and cultural events and collaborating with cultural partners on substantial proposals.

Sep 2010 – Feb 2011 · 5 mos

• A specialist provider of dedicated training, meeting, conference and event space in central London and down-town Birmingham. I was employed to manage the development of a new venue to add to the etc portfolio.

Sep 2004 – Sep 2010 · 6 yrs

• I developed a successful commercial events program at this Internationally renowned venue which continues to generate a stable and substantial income stream to support its charitable objectives.
• Event management of all types and sizes of events e.g Royal Television Awards, Labour and Conservative Party spring forum, MS Life, WOMEX, various weddings and private events. Formats have included: Dinners for up to 800 people, live broadcast, concerts, exhibitions, conferences and outdoor events.
• Event production and design, risk assessments and health and safety, accessibility and DDA compliance, scheduling, team management, catering, diary management and procurement.
• Under my leadership the anticipated annual profit levied from commercial events quadrupled from the initial business plan created in 2000. In total I was responsible for raising £3million for North Music Trust.
• Partnership working with the convention bureau to develop a very successful ambassador program attracting association events to the region worth an estimated £6 million in 2009.
• Pitching for all types of events from association to corporate to music and public sector.
• Development and leadership of the ‘Green Program’ at The Sage Gateshead. Working throughout Gateshead to help develop a greener region.
• Creating the marketing strategy and allocating the marketing budget.
• Managing 5 full time members of staff and 2 part time members. Conducting regular PDR’s and one to ones.
• Networking to build and maintain the right relationships and strategic partnerships both locally and nationally.
• As a member of the senior management team for The Sage Gateshead I am involved in the strategy and future planning of all elements of the organisation and I am very proud of what we have achieved here in such a short time-frame.

Sep 2002 – Oct 2003 · 1 yr 1 mo

• Managing the requirements of bands and DJ's who played at the Union whilst simultaneously working closely with the local and national press to promote the gigs.

Jan 2000 – Jan 2002 · 2 yrs

• The Crack is the longest running free listings magazine in the UK. Working as part of a small team I helped to develop the markets of this magazine whilst simultaneously driving profits through sponsorship and advertising sales

Jan 1999 – Jan 2000 · 1 yr

• During my final year at University, I worked as part of a small team to develop and launch a full-scale election campaign before successfully organising a week-long event for over 4000 incoming students.
• Production and management of a full business plan and budget.
• Development of a marketing and publicity strategy.
• Communication and negotiation with many companies and organisations to develop the week long programme of activities.
• Advise, and co-operation with a diverse range of people from Union and University staff to parents, Police and the Local Authority, to ensure satisfaction and compliance with all regulations.
• Recruitment, training and management of over 350 volunteer stewards.
• We worked solidly as a team to develop new processes such as computerised registration. The creation of new ideas and approaches in our marketing and business plan resulted in a ‘still standing’ record income generation of over £150k with a net profit of over £40k.