phoenix trustee biographies

Alan has been a Phoenix Trustee and its Chair since August 2014. He has 40 years experience of leadership in lifelong learning. He is Professor of Education at the University of Wolverhampton and was Chief Executive of the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education for 23 years.

During his career, he has been an advisor and an advocate of adult learning to governments and organisations including the BBC, the EU and UNESCO and was president of the International Council for Adult Education 2011-15.

Alan was recognised with a Knighthood in the 2018 New Years Honours for services to developing lifelong adult learning in the UK and worldwide. He was also awarded the OBE in 1995, has honorary doctorates from 8 universities, and Fellowship of City and Guilds, the College of Teachers and UNESCO’s Institute of Lifelong Learning.

Ali is a highly experienced freelance business coach, project manager and workshop leader, working extensively in the social enterprise sector with organisations such as Voluntary Action Leicestershire and Learning for the Fourth Age. She has been a Phoenix Trustee since 2006 and is also a Trustee of the Attenborough Arts Centre at the University of Leicester

Having originally trained in software and worked on leading edge technological developments with simulation and digital processing, Ali is interested in the combination of art and technology in community engagement.

Favourite place in Leicester
Watching live dance performances at Attenborough Arts and Curve.

Azam is a former Director with Deloitte and currently Partner at M Cubed Chartered Accountants. He has significant national and international business and assurance experience including being on the Advisory Board of Ofcom, 9 years on the Governing Council of the University of Leicester, and 7 years as Chair of Strategy & Finance and Board member of the Curve Theatre.

His experience includes corporate finance and business remodelling, working on business best practice and implementing change management strategies. He is an Economics graduate from Cambridge University and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. Azam joined the Phoenix board in October 2015 where he chairs the Finance Committee.

Favourite place in Leicester
I love to be in the Botanical Gardens.

Ben has been active in the visual arts since the late ’90s, having studied at Chelsea College and the Royal College of Art, London. As a practicing artist, he completed a number of publicly-sited sculptures and was awarded the Jerwood Sculpture Prize in 2001. He came to Leicester when he joined De Montfort University in 2013 as Principal Lecturer in Fine Art.

He is Associate Head of School of Visual and Performing Arts and is on the Steering Group of the Contemporary Visual Arts Network, East Midlands. He and his children are keen patrons of Phoenix. He became a Phoenix Trustee in April 2017.

Favourite place in Leicester
Clarendon Park: I love the independent shops and bars there, and the breakfast at Dos Hermanos is a terrific start to the weekend. I recommend a Virgin Mary and a plate of bubble and squeak.

Bill is a designer by desire and inclination and in 1982 he founded Haley Sharpe Design – a Leicester-based design consultancy specialising in the Cultural and Heritage sector that delivers projects throughout the UK, USA and the Middle East; including Stonehenge, Tower of London, the Smithsonian, and Nelson Mandela’s farm RSA.

Bill has been Leicester-based since 1976 and is heavily involved with film, animation and digital media. His love of film has made him an avid Phoenix visitor for many years.

Favourite place in Leicester
Guildhall Lane and the peregrine falcons on the tower of the the cathedral. Loud, active and always there!

Bill is an elected Councillor of long service representing Saffron Ward, and a Member of Leicester City Council with a number of committee roles.

His long association with Phoenix is motivated by his passionate interest in world cinema and the benefits it can bring to local people.

Colin is a Head of Finance at Leicester City Council and has been the finance link with Phoenix for five years. He became a Council nominee trustee in 2014. Professionally, he is a Fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.

Colin was born and bred in the Leicester area. His job brings involvement in a range of venues and projects around the city including De Montfort Hall, city centre improvements, the exciting redevelopment of the former Haymarket Theatre and the ambitious Leicester Cathedral Revealed project. He is a director of the new Leicester Community Sports Arena. He is keen to see Leicester achieve the profile it deserves and for citizens to have wide ranging opportunities to develop their skills and interests.

Favourite place in Leicester
Taking a break at lunchtime to explore the area around Wharf Street, Belgrave Gate and Bedford Street, visualising it before twentieth century redevelopment and imagining the changing way in which people lived and worked there over the years.

Lisa Jones is Head of Corporate Communications at Spottydog Communications, an award-winning agency in Leicester and Birmingham. Lisa is a Chartered PR Practitioner and an elected Council member for the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

With a career that spans media, third sector, e-commerce, retail, leisure, fast-moving consumer goods and technology sectors, Lisa is experienced in developing stakeholder relations and building community engagement. She became a Phoenix Trustee in May 2016.

Favourite place in Leicester
Strolling through Abbey Park with my family and dog – feeding the ducks and climbing the Abbey walls.

Kevin is Headteacher of Barley Croft primary school in Leicester (2007-present). Prior to joining Barley Croft, he was Deputy Head at another Leicester school for 7 years and has been a teacher since 1989.

He is an advocate of creative digital media in education and is actively involved in local schools partnerships.

Favourite place in Leicester
Walking down New Walk in the snow.

Nigel joined De Montfort University in 2015 and is the Pro Vice-Chancellor responsible for Research and Innovation. His career in modelling complex environmental systems involved work and collaborations in many countries and publications in 120 international journals and conferences.

Nigel’s research has expanded into the cross-disciplinary aspects of flood risk management and climate change adaptation. He is a native of the East Midlands, having grown up in Nottingham, and maintains a strong interest in national and international politics.

Favourite place in Leicester
Sitting in the sun on the banks of the River Soar as it flows past DMU’s campus.

Ruth is an experienced business development manager who leads the strategic planning and sales for NSC Creative – the award-winning computer animation studio based at the National Space Centre. NSC Creative specialises in immersive and animated films for planetariums, theme parks, interactive theatres and virtual reality experiences and exports its work internationally.

Ruth sits on the International Planetarium Society’s Vision 2020 strategic planning team. She is a dedicated advocate for large format film and new video entertainment technologies, working to ensure viewers have the most engaging immersive experiences.

Favourite place in Leicester
I love Diwali, which is always at the start of the Christmas season on the Golden Mile on Melton Road. The spectacular celebration of light brings people together from all over the country, whatever their faith, culture or background.

Suzanne has considerable leadership experience in education including as Principal of Gateway College (2010-2017) and Vice Principal of City of Westminster College (2002-2010).

Suzanne has a great commitment to lifelong learning and in her early career worked to develop literacy, numeracy and key skills in a number of influential roles in London. She has a particular interest in students’ transition into and out of educational organisations. In her spare time she enjoys visiting art galleries, watching films, dance and drama, and having dinner with family and friends.

Favourite place in Leicester
Bradgate Park. I love it because it reminds me of Richmond Park in London. It is a place where I have enjoyed many hours of walking, talking and sharing food with my family and friends. I get a lot of pleasure from seeing other people making the most of such a beautiful public space and, of course, it is wonderful seeing the deer.