NEW APPOINTMENTS TO BOARD OF TRUSTEES
As a registered charity (Diorama Arts Centre), ODAC is governed by a Board of Trustees - a group of volunteers who lend their professional experience to oversee the organisation. While day-to-day management and artistic programmes are delegated to the staff team, the Trustees are ultimately responsible for the finances and direction of the charity
Following an open call in summer 2022 and a competitive recruitment process, we are delighted to confirm ODAC now has five new Trustees on our Board. They were formally appointed in April, after being involved as observers since autumn and this marks another milestone in the ongoing development of ODAC as an impactful, locally-rooted, arts creation and community centre.
These new Trustees are:
CLLR. NASIM ALI OBE
Nasim is a local Councillor for Regent’s Park ward, CEO of King's Cross Brunswick Neighbourhood Association, and Chair of Camden Mela. He has recently finished his second term as Mayor of Camden (2022-23), and was previously Mayor in 2003 when he became the UK's youngest mayor, as well as the first Bangladeshi and first Muslim mayor. Nasim has also previously been a cabinet member and Leader of the Council.
ANNETTE BENNETT
Annette has worked in the arts for over 25 years, with expertise in finance and human resources. She has worked in a wide range of organisations, from The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art to small community projects in London. She holds an MA in Arts Policy and Management and is currently a Deputy Chief Executive. Working with a wide range of people from diverse backgrounds, and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to take part in arts-led activities is her passion.
NISA CHOUHAN
Nisa is a local resident of Regent's Park ward and a former staff member of ODAC for nine years as the Community Projects Manager. Currently, she runs her own business called Chic Life by Design, which is a start-up wellness business including yoga, massage, coaching, training and representing Seacret Dead Sea Products in the UK.
JODIE EASTWOOD
Jodie is Chief Executive of London’s Knowledge Quarter, a consortium of knowledge creators within a one-mile radius of Kings Cross. Jodie has been working within the Knowledge economy for the past 24 years, with roles at the British Library, Creativeworks London, Queen Mary University of London, London Metropolitan University and the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Jodie specialises in working within complex multi-stakeholder partnerships, brokering relationships and creating spaces for ideas sharing.
PROF. ADAM THORPE
Adam Thorpe is Professor of Socially Responsive Design at Central Saint Martins College, University of the Arts London (UAL). He is Principal Investigator of the Public Collaboration Lab, a platform for teaching, knowledge exchange and research focused on participatory design for social, service and policy innovation, delivered in partnership with London Borough of Camden (2015-present). Adam is the Lead Academic for the MAKE initiative (2018-present) and leads the EU H2020-funded T Factor research for UAL (2020-2024). He is co-founder of Vexed Generation Clothing.
They join Edward Burnett, Jonathan Hewitt (Interim Chair), Georgia Hogg, Ron Predl and Leon Redler. Biographies of the full Board are now online.
Alongside this, we have also updated our Articles of Association in line with modern best-practice, and our charitable objects, cementing the focus of the organisation going forward in line with our vision. ODAC’s objective is to ‘Advance the arts and culture especially those activities which seek to make the arts relevant to the community and thereby advance citizenship and community development.’
Daniel Pitt, Creative Director & Chief Executive said, “I'm honoured that this group of people have agreed to come with us on the journey ODAC is on and put their faith, time, care and experience behind our charity. Our strategies are about responding to our local context, in all that that means, and this group of people bring a wealth of professional and lived experiences to what we’re doing. I know that they will be assets to the organisation, supporting the staff and helping safeguard the future of ODAC.”
