Nicola Grove
Nicola works as a storyteller, trainer and researcher in disability education, health and social care and the arts, specializing in narrative and story, communication, oracy in the curriculum and disability issues.
After doctoral research into sign language acquisition by children with learning disabilities, she worked at the London Institute of Education, then City University, leaving to direct a project in community storytelling which is now an award-winning charity – Openstorytellers.
She believes passionately in ‘the value of the lives of all individuals, linked to each other through our shared stories.’
Ali Mawle - Cheltenham Festivals
Ali has 18 years of arts/education experience. After 10 years working in inner-city London as a teacher, literacy consultant, deputy head teacher and ITT lecturer, she moved to the National Gallery to lead the national Schools Programme. She is a published author on the subject of Creativity, a Leading Thinker for the National Education Trust, and trustee of 2 national literacy charities.
Jane Moss - Falmouth University
Jane runs community writing groups, short courses and retreats for writers developing their craft, and for those who enjoy writing for wellbeing. Her PhD at Falmouth University is an enquiry into the novel as a means of community participation in a rural parish in south Cornwall.
In her earlier career, Jane had roles in marketing and advocacy for the arts in the West End and at Arts Council England. From 2004-2008 she was communications adviser to the government’s Community Engagement Policy Unit.
Alison Powell - WriteClub
Alison is a writer and creativity coach based in Bristol. She set up WriteClub in 2016 and runs regular creative writing workshops, masterclasses and open mic nights. She also offers one-to-one mentoring and works with emerging and established writers.
She writes prose fiction and has been published in various magazines and anthologies. Her work has been listed in several prestigious competitions, including the Bath Short Story Award, the Mslexia New Novel Prize and the Bridport Prize for First Novels. She is one of 20 emerging writers on the Hay Festival Writers at Work scheme and has recently taken part in a project development lab with National Theatre Wales.
Jasmine Richards - STORYMIX
Jasmine Richards, the founder of STORYMIX, has over 15 years’ experience in commissioning and editing fiction including roles at Hamish Hamilton, Puffin, and Dutton Books in New York.
Most recently she was the Head of the Creative Kitchen for Oxford Children's Books where she managed a team of editors and designers to create original series fiction and picture books.
Mimi Thebo - University of Bristol
Mimi Thebo is an award-winning author for young readers. Her work has been translated into twelve languages, adapted for a BAFTA award-winning film, and signed for deaf children on ITV. She is Reader in Creative Writing at the University of Bristol.