Hazel has enjoyed a successful career as a violinist, artists’ manager, cultural strategist, leader and mentor, spending a large part of her career at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

Passionate about music and music education she now works independently holding a portfolio of chair, non-executive and executive roles in the cultural and higher education sectors. She is currently interim director of planning with Welsh National Opera, governor of The Royal Northern College of Music, strategic lead of the Dorset WhatNext? chapter and chair of The Arts Development Company.  

Hazel is an alumna of Cranfield School of Management and a member of the Women on Boards network. She lives in Bridport, Dorset, is a year-round sea swimmer, gig rower and an active long-distance walker, having recently completed the southwest coast path.

Cleo specialises in creating collaborations between the arts and non-arts sectors. All of the work involves working with artists to improve public spaces/amenities; the environment and communities. 

She has collaborated with people from all sorts of disciplines from Sand dune experts, to Archbishops and Engineers. Her premise is that we all have expertise to bring to the pot, which makes for better projects.

Cleo has extensive experience working in outdoor arts, both as an artist, a community animateur and as a creative producer/ production manager.  She has spent many years working on outdoor festivals both in Manchester and Dorset.

Her arts career stems from her BA Hons in Fine Art and an MA in Art as Environment, for which she received a ‘distinction’. She was nominated for National Woman of the Year for her work in Dorset. Cleo loves stomping around the countryside and coast, often bivvy bagging and enjoys winning at badminton.

Hannah is a Company Director and founder member of The Arts Development Company.

Hannah has 18 years’ experience in project management, both in development and delivery. Her specialisms include work with children and young people, and programme development for disabled adults and inclusion in the creative sector.

She has led on partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders including local authorities, The British Council and government departments including direct involvement in the Cabinet Office Mutual Support programme. 

Hannah currently leads the Dorset Cultural Education Partnership.  Originally training in graphic design, play-work and also horticulture, Hannah has worked extensively in the voluntary sector most recently spending eight years as a school governor and with the British Red Cross as a Humanitarian Education facilitator.

Sarah is a freelance bookkeeper working for various Arts organisations in Dorset and has been with the Arts Development Company for two years.  She has a background in Project Management and worked in Further Education for over 20 years before specialising in project work in the Arts sector. 

Sarah currently enjoys a mixed portfolio of work which includes being a celebrant for weddings.  She has a passion for photography and appreciates visual and performing art in all its forms.

Hazel has enjoyed a successful career as a violinist, artists’ manager, cultural strategist, leader and mentor, spending a large part of her career at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

Passionate about music and music education she now works independently holding a portfolio of chair, non-executive and executive roles in the cultural and higher education sectors. She is currently interim director of planning with Welsh National Opera, governor of The Royal Northern College of Music, strategic lead of the Dorset WhatNext? chapter and chair of The Arts Development Company.  

Hazel is an alumna of Cranfield School of Management and a member of the Women on Boards network. She lives in Bridport, Dorset, is a year-round sea swimmer, gig rower and an active long-distance walker, having recently completed the southwest coast path.

Dougie Scarfe joined the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra as its new Chief Executive in July 2012 after a successful career as performer, Manager and Director at Opera North.

Whilst at school Dougie was Principal Horn in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, before studying at the Royal Northern College of Music and winning the Hiles Medal for Orchestral playing.

In 2000 a serious playing-related jaw condition ended Dougie’s performing career. After four years as Executive Assistant to the General Director at Opera North, in 2006 he became Chorus & Orchestra Director and Concerts Director and was widely credited with transforming the concert and recording programme at the Company.

Outside Opera North, Dougie maintained strong teaching and community links and remains passionate about the importance of Music Education and creating opportunities for young people to learn and experience live music of all genres. He played an important role in the founding of Yorkshire Young Musicians (YYM). Dougie was a Founder Trustee and also Chairman of the YYM Board of Trustees from 2005-2007.

Steven Pink joined Tricuro as their first Finance Manager in 2015. Tricuro is a local authority trading company set up by the three upper tier Councils in Dorset in July 2015 to deliver their care services to vulnerable adults in the county.

Having spent several years helping to set up and grow two family businesses (King Stag and King Stag Transport) Steven made a career change to accounting in 2008 and has never looked back. Thanks to his practical business experience and dedication to study Steven has swiftly progressed his career from Accounting Technician, through Accountant and on to a Finance Manager.

Steven is also the Honorary Treasurer for the Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils providing strong links to Council members and local communities throughout Dorset. Prior to joining Tricuro Steven worked for Dorset County Council and helped oversee the transition of The Arts Development Company from its local authority roots to the Community Interest Company it has become today.

In his personal life Steven is a keen guitarist and supporter of the arts: be that attending functions at The Gallery in Poundbury; spending a day at Sculpture by the Lakes; enjoying the wonderful Inside Out Dorset Festival or a trip to the West End.

Georgina is a freelancer who lives on the Isle of Portland. She has an interest in producing events that improve the wellbeing of the community and inspires imaginations, whilst championing inclusion and diversity.

She’s been lucky enough to work with b-side as a producer on their 2018 WHY?! Festival and as a board member since 2019. Georgina is passionate about photography, mainly focusing on event photography but also experiments with abstract images inspired by nature. She currently runs a small business teaching basic tech and social media skills to clients in the South West.

Georgina is passionate about photography and works as a photographer under the name Georgina Rose Swanson.

Megan was part of the TADC Early Producer & Curator Programme from 2017-18. She has worked in the Arts Sector in Dorset for over 10 years, with organisations such as Dorset Visual Arts, Bridport Arts Centre, Dorchester Arts, Dorchester Youth Theatre and b-side. In her roles the key focus has been working with community groups and young people, leading on participation programmes and developing artistic opportunities in Exhibition Spaces. 

Her own work and practice is about collaboration and conversation and she co-founded the network SEAFAIR in 2019 with Sally Lemsford, a space for artists and practitioners to connect, who make work which is socially engaged. Megan and Sally also started The Just in Case Zine Library in 2020, where they create and collect zines to be shared and since then have hosted workshops online and taken part in an online residency. Megan received a micro bursary from Activate in 2020 to work with North Dorset based Charity, In Jolly Good Company to develop a project called Audio Postcards which she has continued to expand since. Always open to new projects and collaborations, she is currently working with The Arts Development Company on The new Roman Town House project and producer Gemma Alldred on commissioning differently. 

Megan is in the process of developing a podcast called Art of the Unplanned, aimed at the creatively curious. The first one is coming out imminently! 

Rosie has been around for over 30 years in various arts and education leadership roles working in the South West and the Balkans with and for young people.

During her time with The Arts Development Company she has developed expertise in demonstrating the importance and impact of arts and culture on people’s lives. 

Rosie gets enormous pleasure from enabling and supporting the development of arts and culture changemakers, including on Boards and at decision making tables. She is passionate about helping make the world a better place and learning.  When she’s not working she’s sea swimming or dancing. 

Kate worked in film editing/production until a calling back to Dorset helped her to see where her passion lay – films for Social Change.

In 2014, Kate experienced a year out of work due to illness. During that time, she was lucky to have support from the Dorset creative hub. It made a difference. Then and there she made a pledge – she would give back to people who lost their careers through adversity.  

2017 saw Kate train as a Team Coach with international organisation AKATEMIA. Kate learnt more professionally and personally than she had ever done – manage yourself, find boldness, bravery and you can do good things. 

In 2019 Kate fulfilled her pledge. Working with Rosie Russell, they ran a pilot Team Coaching programme MAKE IT HAPPEN in Dorset working with unemployed women on Portland. Kate and Rosie are now running MAKE IT HAPPEN 2, funded by Department of Work & Pensions.   

Kate is part of the global community of Social Entrepreneurs with Team Academy and Akatemia and has recently completed Next Steps with the School for Social Entrepreneurs.

Abby is a TADC Associate through the Women Leaders South West programme. She studied acting at Mountview Academy of Arts and went on to perform in West End shows, toured plays, appeared in various adverts, and performed and co-wrote musical hall shows with her theatre company ‘Tiny Wallops’.

Together with theatre maker Richard Young, Abby started ‘Tall Tails Theatre Company’. Their company mission is to remove barriers to theatre for families. Working with a Makaton director and disability and inclusion consultant, they are able to ensure that they have disability-friendly, inclusive productions, themes and language throughout.

Fulfilling her lifelong ambition to work with the Traveller, Gypsy and Roma communities is something which Abby is passionate about. During her time with the Arts Development Company, she will pilot her long-term plan to facilitate drama classes and book artists for a year long program of work, platforming and showcasing local artists from these communities.

Abby freelances as a production manager, producer and festival content booker, creator and manager.