Cornwall Museums Partnership Appoints Four New Board Directors
Cornwall Museums Partnership (CMP) is thrilled to announce the appointment of four new Board Directors: Katharine Wills, Heather Coupland, Zoe Partington and Sarah Waite. CMP’s Board of Directors are responsible for ensuring the overall strategic direction of CMP and provide help, guidance, and advice on all aspects of the charity’s work. Appointments were made after an open recruitment process seeking candidates from diverse backgrounds who share CMP’s values of collaboration, innovation and inclusion. Combined, Katharine, Heather, Zoe and Sarah bring a wealth of new perspectives and knowledge to the CMP team and board.
“As CMP approaches the end of its sixth year, we are having to say goodbye to a number of trustees who have been with us since the start. This is a big milestone for any organisation and so we were delighted with the number and quality of applications we received. Whilst this made the process extremely challenging for the panel it was great to see how many people wanted to be part of our ambition to create positive social change with museums. Our values drive all our work and so we are very pleased to have been able to appoint four new trustees who share these values and I’m confident they will be a brilliant addition to our board.” Sarah Trethowan, as Chair of the HR Committee and Vice Chair of the Board
Katharine Wills joins the CMP board as a Plymouth University Professor in Smart Cities and Communities in the School of Art, Design and Architecture. Katharine also Co-Chair’s the School of Art, Design and Architecture Ethics, Diversity and Inclusion Committee (EDIC) and the Faculty of Arts and Humanities Ethics and Integrity Committee. With a magnitude of research interests including, but not limited to; rural communities, social deprivation and sustainability, Katharine will be a huge asset to CMP supporting the Rural Diversity Network and its commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Heather Coupland; Management Accountant and Programme Manager for Access to Finance, has worked as a Business Coach & Finance Specialist with businesses throughout Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Through this role, Heather has supported clients to access many different forms of funding. Heather has a working knowledge of the current grant funding pots, eligibility and the application processes. Heather’s extensive financial knowledge and experience will support CMP’s Finance and Audit Committee.
Zoe Partington, Creative Consultant and International Advisor for the cultural sector, is a Contemporary Visual Artist. Zoe uses her powerful installations to develop instinctive audio visual and tactile representations of Disabled people’s journeys and experiences through spaces. Zoe’s passion of inclusion strongly aligns with CMP’s purpose to create positive social change with museums.
Sarah Waite has recently taken a position as Assistant Curator at the Military Intelligence Museum, after finishing a 10-month Trainee Curator Programme position at Bodmin Keep Museum; a CMP programme funded by the John Ellerman Foundation and Cultivator. During Sarah’s time at Bodmin Keep, she worked on many projects that would diversify the museum displays and digital content as well as participated with a podcast Bodmin Keep produced which explored the Army’s LGBTQ+ history. Sarah’s appointment is a realisation of CMP’s commitment to providing board roles for young trustees and we are delighted to welcome her to the board.
About CMP
Cornwall Museums Partnership is an independent charitable incorporated organisation, formed in 2015 to provide leadership for Cornwall’s 70 museums; to support them, represent them and give them a voice. We are a sector-leading charity which is not afraid to think differently. Our values of collaboration, inclusivity and innovation inform everything we do.
Our ambition is to be recognised nationally and internationally as a pioneering model of collaborative leadership which promotes innovation and resilience in the museums’ sector and beyond. We want to shift the dial in terms of the impact and value museums create. By working in partnership with museums, we want to help them to use their collections effectively to foster happy, healthy and prosperous communities where heritage is valued and celebrated.
Press Release Issue Date: 18/11/2020
For more information, please contact:
Jody Woolcock, Marketing and Impact Officer
Cornwall Museums Partnership