The Engaging Places project – both the website and network has a core team of four part-time staff members, including:
Project Director – Anne Diack (Head of education, CABE)
Anne is Head of education at CABE. She has worked on national education projects for 20 years and was Director of research, media and communications in the Innovation Unit - originally set up inside the government's education department. Previously she was Research Manager for BBC Education Policy, investigating future trends in technology and evaluating the impact of TV and web resources.
While an academic BBC/Open University (OU) producer, Anne worked around the world making arts, science, business and education programmes for BBC 2 and Radio 4. She was a member of the Queen's Anniversary Prize winning team for the OU's teacher training course. She led the production of other education projects such as the UK wide ICT training programme, and local teacher training as well as working on the BBC children’s programme Blue Peter.
Originally a teacher and team leader in Hertfordshire schools, Anne was later a literacy advisor at London's Centre for Urban Educational Studies, leading change management courses in schools. and a senior arts advisor for the London Schools TV Centre.
Anne helped to set up the National College for School Leadership and Teachers TV and was an advisor and national judge for The Teaching Awards. A founding member of the National Education Research Forum, she chaired an innovation study, and was on the steering committee of leading education research centres. She has a degrees from Nottingham and London Universities. An RSA Fellow, she has given independent evidence to many advisory committees and organisations, and been a member of boards covering research into technology futures, learner perspectives, lifelong learning and neuroscience.
Her favourite place is the area outside BBC Broadcasting House in Langham Place, London by All Souls Church, the last remaining Nash Church. ‘The elegance of the Nash spire is a stunning contrast to the stately and iconic curved BBC building, with Georgian-style windows complementing the Art Deco design, and Eric Gill’s sculpture of Ariel and Prospero above the bronzed doors.’ She also loves a bridge over the A41 just before Tring, Herts that's cleverly engineered so that it ‘rises from a hill just as the road curves and arches gracefully to the other side’.
Education editor – Nick Jones
Nick is responsible for the development of the Engaging Places website, working with the rest of the Engaging Places team to deliver the best online content for Built Environment teaching. Nick’s background is in educational publishing, where he has worked as a Commissioning Editor for the BBC, Pearson and Bloomsbury.
Nick has a degree in History from Cambridge University. After college he went straight into publishing, and the job of Education Editor is his first role outside the publishing industry. His favourite building – if he is forced to choose just one – might be the Barbican: the one place in London where modern architecture outstrips every previous era in its ambition and seriousness. Or just because he’s spent so much time in there trying to find his way out…
Engaging Places advisor – Lydia Coelho
Lydia studied Art History at Manchester University, whilst at university she worked with a holiday club for seven to 14 year olds, where she managed the art and design technology classes. After graduation she worked at a London primary school and a special educational needs school in East Sussex.
In 2006 Lydia worked for a London art gallery, supporting the curator. In 2007 she moved to CABE’s regions team and worked on the O.space project (part of the cultural Olympiad), before becoming Education officer in summer 2008.
Now as the Engaging Places advisor her main role is to support the Engaging Places network of creative partnerships. Lydia’s favourite building is Brockwell Lido in Herne Hill as it is a beautiful one-storey art deco building near to her home.
Website officer - Lorna Maguire
Lorna’s main role as website officer is to support the network of learning providers represented on the Engaging Places website.
For the past six years, Lorna has run her own award-winning, architectural visualisation company. Her work involved liaising with a broad range of clients in architecture and the wider built environment community.
In 2009, Lorna was responsible for the creation of the inaugural Open House Galway (OHG) festival. Working in particular with Open House London, the Irish Architecture Foundation (IAF), the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland (RIAI), OHG produced a quality programme of events. The festival firmly established itself as a key date in Galway’s cultural festival calendar. She remains an active member of the OHG steering committee.
Lorna has a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Classical Civilisation, a Higher Diploma in Systems Analysis and a Masters Degree in Business and Entrepreneurship.
Her favourite places include, ‘Landform’, an elegant example of architecture as art, located on the lawn of the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh. In London, Lorna’s favourite area is the Southbank – brutally brilliant!
Education advisor – Anna Wexler
Anna joined CABE in September 2009 as an Education advisor. Her particular responsibility so far has been the educational project, Green Day. For the previous nine years she taught English language and literature to secondary and sixth form students in schools in London and Norwich, most recently as a Second in department and Subject leader for KS5 at Seven Kings High School, Redbridge.
In her spare time Anna is a keen member of the interactive theatre and events company, Coney. She has helped write and run events for a range of organisations including the Science Museum, Battersea Arts Centre, NESTA and the Dublin Fringe Festival. She also co-wrote and designed an on-line fundraising game for Cancer Research UK, Operation: Sleeper Cell, which was highly praised by the Guardian’s games blog.
Anna has a BA from the University of East Anglia in English and American literature, a PGCE from Cambridge University and more recently a BSc in Psychology from the Open University. Her favourite places are the Brighton Pavilion which she likes primarily for its silliness, and the view from the steps of the Sacré Cœur in Montmartre over the whole of Paris.
Education officer - Ben Greener
Ben was born and raised in the North East of England. After studying History in the appropriately historical City of York, he went on to work in a variety of schools as a learning support assistant.
In 2005 Ben returned to his native Newcastle to study for an MSc in Heritage Development. He went on to work for Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums before moving to the Tyneside Cinema, an iconic 1930s Art Deco building, as Heritage engagement officer.
Ben moved to London in December 2009 to take up the role of Education programme officer at CABE, supporting a wide range of projects and activities across the education and Engaging Places teams.
His favourite building is an even choice between two major sporting arenas: St James’ Park Stadium, particularly when Newcastle United score, and the Colosseum in Rome.
The Engaging Places team is supported by a management board who meet monthly, including:
Anthea Case, Heritage Link, Chair
Anthea Case is Chair of Heritage Link (the national umbrella body for historic environment voluntary bodies) and a Commissioner for the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE). She is also Chair of the National Trust East of England Regional Committee, a Trustee of HEART (the Norwich Heritage and Economic Regeneration Trust) and a Trustee of the Institute for Philanthropy and the Lakeland Arts Trust.
She is currently Chair of the National strategic partnership board for Engaging Places, a joint English Heritage and CABE project which aims to support teaching and learning through buildings and places.
Between 1995 and 2003 she was the Chief executive of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Heritage Lottery Fund. She was awarded a CBE in 2003 for services to the heritage. Her earlier career was spent in Her Majesty’s Treasury.
Matt Bell, CABE, Director of campaigns and education
Matt joined CABE in 2003. His job is to lead CABE’s work motivating consumers and young people to learn about and demand good design. He also has responsibility for influencing emerging government policy on education, housing, public space and the procurement of schools and healthcare buildings.
For the last seven years, Matt was the chairman of Hope and Homes for Children, a £6 million international NGO operating across Eastern Europe and Africa. These roles follow five years as the Communications director of VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas), where he led the organisation’s campaigns and strategy on HIV and AIDS. He has also worked on grassroots community development programmes in Bolivia and Thailand.
Peter Karpinski, DCMS, Culture team
Anne Diack, CABE, Head of education (biography above)
The Engaging Places team is also supported by a partnership board:
Professor Anne Bamford
Professor Anne Bamford is Director of Cultural Programmes at new national organisation Creativity, Culture and Education (CCE). The organisation aims to harness the potential of creative learning and cultural opportunity to enhance the aspirations, achievements and skills of children and families. Anne oversees some of CCE’s core programmes including Find Your Talent, the government’s pilot cultural offer, and Prevent, a programme designed to engage vulnerable individuals who may be targeted or recruited to the cause of violent extremism.
Anne joins CCE on a year’s secondment from her role as Director of the Engine Room at the University of the Arts London. Anne has been recognised nationally and internationally for her research in arts education, emerging literacies and visual communication. She is an expert in the international dimension of arts and cultural education, and through her research she has pursued issues of innovation, social impact, and equity and diversity. A World Scholar for UNESCO, Anne has conducted major national impact and evaluation studies for the governments of Denmark, The Netherlands, Belgium, Iceland, Hong Kong and Australia, and was awarded the Australian Institute for Educational Research Outstanding Educational Research Award for 2002 and was short listed for the British Female Innovator of the Year in 2006.
Amy Nathan
Following a degree in Animal Behaviour and Environmental Biology (1999), Amy Nathan embarked on a career in the environmental sector, initially leading practical conservation tasks across Nottinghamshire and supporting the government’s Millennium Volunteers project, which encouraged young people to develop their skills and employability through volunteering.
After several years, Amy started work in community development at a local authority, with a particular focus on climate change and delivering sustainability projects, throughout the Borough of Broxtowe. She subsequently became the Environmental Co-ordinator for Nottingham Trent University (NTU) where she engaged staff and students in recycling and environmental projects and oversaw the university’s energy and waste strategies.
Amy has always harboured a love of the arts, working as a freelance designer and illustrator in her spare time. In 2006 she left work at NTU to do a degree in Graphic Design.
Over the years Amy has been involved with education on a number of levels, being a part of and delivering a variety of LOtC activities. She has a deep appreciation for real, hands-on learning that motivates and stimulates young people. Since completing her second degree, Amy has become Project Development Manager for the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom (CLOtC). She has chosen the Built Environment as one of her key focus sectors and represents CLOtC on the Partnership.
Ajay Sharman, Regional Director, STEMNET
Andrea Tapsfield, Independent Education Consultant
Anra Kennedy, Head of Learning, Culture 24
Cara Courage, Head of Learning, Architecture Centre Network
David Gardner, Curriculum Advisor, QCA
David Lambert, Chief Executive,
David Souden, Head of Access and Learning, Historic Royal Palaces
Don Henson, Head of Education, Council for British Archaeology
Fenella Hunt, HSP Coordinator, Group for Education in Museums
Gavin Smith, Vice Principal, Wren Academy
Janette Welton-Pai, IAG Manager, Construction Skills
Jo Reilly, Head of Participation and Learning, HLF
John Hamer, Independent Education Consultant
John Stevenson, Chair of Board of Trustees, Group for Education in Museums,
Judy Ling Wong, UK Director, Black Environment Network
Kirsty Leith, Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Matthew Freeman, Independent Education Consultant
Natasha Innocent, Senior Policy Advisor, Museums, Libraries and Archives Council
Nick Flesher, Independent Education Consultant
