Growing our Suffolk Cultural Strategy: Connecting People with Place Symposium

Jayne Austin is the Museum Lead at Suffolk County Council and Secretary of the Association of Suffolk Museums, working with all museums in Suffolk and partners across the region. She has worked in the heritage sector for over 25 years and is experienced at bringing together different sector organisations, fundraising, and enabling a range of projects and programmes. Jayne is also a board member at Eastern Angles Theatre Company which presents and tours regional stories from the East of England. 

Janet has worked for East Suffolk Council for 6 months, in this new role, to lead culture strategy for East Suffolk. She has worked in the voluntary sector for a number of years, including working for the National Trust. Janet is chair of the local Good Neighbour Scheme and funding coordinator for a local Scout group. Janet has a breadth of experience working in community development, governance, volunteer management, heritage, fundraising and youth work.

Judith Berry is the Acting Strategic Manager for Suffolk Archives, part of Suffolk County Council.  She has worked in the archives sector for 23 years, starting her career in Suffolk in 2004 as the archivist at the Bury St Edmunds branch. Her current role involves managing and overseeing all aspects of the Suffolk Archives service, including the nationally recognised audience development programme.    

Zoey Banthorpe is the Arts and Culture Lead at Babergh and Mid Suffolk Council with several years' experience working in project management, event delivery, marketing, audience development and helping to increase more cultural infrastructure. She has a strong interest in promoting diversity, inclusion and collaboration throughout the industry.

Ben Osborne is a DJ, writer, curator and driving force behind the Noise of Art, a collective which marries electronic music with the performing arts, film, and other visual media.

Dr. Michael Sauter is Associate Professor of History at the University of Suffolk. He is a historian of early modern Europe, with specialisations in intellectual history and the history of science. He completed his BA at Drew University (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa), his MA at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and his PhD at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Professor Emma Bond is Pro Vice-Chancellor Research & Knowledge Exchange and Professor of Socio-Technical Research at the University of Suffolk.  As Pro Vice-Chancellor R&KE, Emma is a key member of our University’s Executive and Senior Leadership Team and has a significant role in driving the research agenda across the entire institution. She has overall responsibility for the Research & Knowledge Exchange Directorate and the University’s research strategy. Emma is leading the University’s preparation for a successful 2027/8 future REF submission and in achieving RDAP by 2025.

Marcus brings a proven track record in engaging with individuals, groups and organisations to design and deliver evidence - based strategic approaches for effecting positive change through education and collaboration in both community and corporate settings. He is a creative industries digital technology specialist with a passion for empowering individuals and communities to tell their stories through culture and create their futures through economic activity. He currently manages Croydon’s Creative Enterprise Zone programme and sits on the leadership board of the South London Partnership Creative Cluster.

Kath is a cultural placemaking whizz, currently managing the ‘Thomas Wolsey 550’ project in Ipswich. She started out as an art historian, gaining a first-class honours degree at Winchester School of Art, and went on to become a museum's curator, then a freelance curator and producer in London. As Head of Museums and Arts for Waltham Forest Borough Council from 2017, she ran the highly acclaimed William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow, and went on to head up Markshall, a large rural estate in north Essex until 2022. Before moving to London, Kath worked in Bristol for several years, where she was heavily involved with the city’s world-class street art scene, managing exhibitions and place-changing initiatives. Kath is also a board member for Creative Colchester and a non-exec director for Eco-Attractions CIC, founded by Eden Project and Kew.

With over 25 years' experience in creative production and project management, Iona delivers impactful creativity within public and private sectors. Her socially engaged work includes delivering funded community arts programmes centered around collaboration and visual arts and her commercial work as a freelancer sees her coordinating a dynamic range of projects and events for her clients across the creative industry.

As the co-founder of Ipswich based Community Arts organisation Art Eat Events CIC, Iona is currently managing the delivery of a large town wide mural and visual arts programme called Wild Walls Festival. She is passionate about supporting engagement with visual arts and creative activities as a community development strategy as well as delivering high calibre aspirational visual arts projects.