Nancy Bennett I am now retired but previous to that I was unemployed, did a computer course at Apex and then volunteered in the IT section. I did the Community Media Course with John Coster and helped to produce the first issue of Senior Eye. I currently have an allotment and we are working on the second issue of Senior Eye. Previous to this I was a mother of six and completed a degree course when I was 40. I also fostered and did a variety of part-time courses as well as part-time work
Sharon Bown I work part time as the Extended Services Co-ordinator for Countesthorpe Cluster of Schools, working across 8 local schools in the area. This is my second term in post and I have previously worked within the National Health Service and also part time within the Library Service when the children were smaller. I have two wonderful children who keep me busy and I am an active member of the School PTA where they both attend.
Dennis Bradley is the Centre Support Officer at the Leicester Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Centre. This is my first experience of being involved in this capacity in the voluntary sector. My professional life has always been concentrated in the private sector. I have finally found a platform to show my passion about the rights of the LGBT community. For over 30 years I have been an out gay man, born in the USA, I have lived in the UK since the late 1980’s. I am excited to participate in this project. By working with Amplified Leicester, I am sure to show the diversity of the LGBT community in the East Midlands.
Ian Davies I work from home and help my partner care for her children, I study part time on three courses at LAEC, the main one being Advanced Creative Writing. (Everything helps). I freelance at photography and writing, writing mostly poetry, I do have a novel in progress. I write about things we see everyday, that are ordinary; what we don't see is what lies beneath. My photography I try to make meaningful, suggestive of other things. My main love is writing. I volunteer with the BCA in Braunstone, working on the Alert community magazine. I also take photographs for the bactive sports unit and other binspired off-shoots. I also volunteer with the Braunstone Neighbourhood Management team, involving myself in many community activities.
Ross Grant Keen to work with people from a broad range of experiences and backgrounds to make Leicester an even better place for everyone to work, learn, play, pray and live in. I want to be open minded about the people I meet, and hope they will be about me too. I hope Amplified Leicester will help realise some of the potential that technology offers to communities and individuals in a diverse urban city. More about me from links on my twitter profile: RossIGrant
Darren Hines Currently, I Co-Chair the Leicester LINk, an organisation which is spread across the country whose remit is to scrutinise the health and social care services provided in their own communities and through the Amplified Leicester Project I shall begin the growth of two other ideas which I hope will help our community grow locally and globally through a process of social media networking and business communication. One will be not-for-profit that will help local people with all aspects of their life, through disability, education or environment and the other a profit making venture in the field of product design.
Laura Horton I am the Project Manager for the Regional Equality and Diversity Partnership based at the Leicestershire Centre for Integrated Living. The Regional Equality and Diversity Partnership (REDP) works collectively to promote equality across the East Midlands through policy development and organisational changes. This will be achieved by mainstreaming a focus on equality and human rights throughout the region. REDP is a partnership of voluntary sector organisations working with the public and private sector, by providing training, research, information, advice and appropriate challenge. Please visit http://www.redp.org.uk for further information or ask!! I am the proud Mum of two which keeps me extremely busy and through my children I have become an active member of the community from being a chair of governor at my sons old primary school, club welfare officer at the football club and just enjoying the art of communication standing around while waiting to play taxi!!
Ishi Khan-Jackson Stand up comedienne (performing artist); Laughter (Life) Coach; Run a Comedy club.
Bill Knopp I'm a Police Inspector in Leicestershire Constabulary. I have worked for the Police for 20 years since leaving University. I originally joined West Yorkshire Police and worked in rural Pennine communities. I joined Leicestershire in 1993 and have spent the majority of my service in the city centre, St Mathews, Spinney Hill, the Belgrave and Hinckley Road Areas. I am currently working in the Community Safety Bureau in Leicester. A big part of my job is looking at cohesion and forming new links with emerging and established communities. I'm really looking forward to this project as an opportunity to expand my knowledge around new media.
Daniel Lamoon http://www.fd2d.com Company director of From Dusk 2 Dawn magazine, sole trader video producer Lamoon Media; Editor FD2D; events organiser FD2D, oxjam, Loros; multimedia producer and director Lamoon Media; business mentor and adviser, City of Leicester College, University of Derby, DMU Alumni; creative and cultural crier FD2D
Carol Leeming Singer Songwriter: Composer: Musician: Poet: Playwright: Multi Media Artist: Director: Producer: Freelance Journalist and Visiting Lecturer. As a creative visionary and cultural activist, I have considerable experience and knowledge of working with the business, arts cultural sector and culturally diverse communities for over 15 years. Member of Arts Council England (East Midlands) General Council, Advisory Board Member Foot In Hand Dance Company. Director of Dare to Diva Productions which offers: Literature: Performing Arts : Media: Project Design: Events Management: Culturally Diverse Arts: & Consultancy. I have a cross arts, collaborative approach to arts and culture.
Kenneth Mawomo Editor: EWALIN (Enterprise Within Africa Local and International News Agency) http://www.ewalin.com; Community Reporter: HAT (Here and There) News http//www.hatnews.org; Committee member: Leicester City of Sanctuary http://www.leicestercityofsanctuary.org
Gary McCarthy http://www.eazytiger.net Managing Director, Eazytiger Ltd, New Media and Online Marketing Agency; Director, We Are Pets, Online pet supermarket; Member of Chamber of Commerce, Federation Of Small Business
Nduka Onwuegbute I am a writer, here in the City of Leicester. But am also involved in book promotions for the self published trade. My aim is to encourage the latent writers amongst my, friends and people I network with, to get their work into print, with more relative ease. My dream project would be to harness a pool of young writers to collaborate with the aim of publishing a few titles. http://www.mybooktalk.com
Katherine O'Driscoll I am a fashion and sports business manager with extensive experience in retailing from the High Street to the mass market via visual communication and marketing methods creating a collective consciousness to direct demand in consumer behaviour. I am interested in new markets because internet marketing and communication has reached a new level in my industry and my connection with the ioct via the creative coffee club has opened my mind to adapting mass marketing to the individual. Whilst my market has been fashion and sports the psychology of demand in my industry has always been based on the concensus of the collective community. I am fascinated by observing waves in collective consciousness from street fashion to social media and a key part of my roles has been observing customer behaviour and “traffic flows” both in retail and on the internet. I have worked closely this year with the board of ebay and amazon on their new business developments and operated new projects in the UK and EU in collaboration with them. Along side my corporate “day job” I have operated my own consultancy business KO inc which has allowed me to explore new ventures over the last 6 years from website development to bridalwear design. I have thoroughly enjoyed my connections with IOCT’s creative coffee club and I am looking forward to seeing how amplified Leicester can be.
Simon Parker Inclusion and Diversity Manager, Leicester Libraries; Board member, Citizens’ Eye Community News Agency; Broadcaster, Panj Pani Community Radio; Judge, national CILIP Libraries Change Lives Award; Carer
Ben Ravilious Director at Ultimateweb Ltd (ecommerce & website developers) http://www.ultimateweb.co.uk; Campaigns Manager, Leicester Civic Society http://www.leicestercivicsociety.org.uk; Keen photographer of Leicester: http://www.benravilious.com
Neville Stork I am the Borough Councillor for Loughborough Shelthorpe and a School Governor for Shelthorpe Primary School. I am also a non-exec Director for Charnwood Neighbourhood Homes Ltd. I am the Head of Environmental Sustainability for Leicester City Council and my main task is the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions from Leicester City. Sounds dull, but far from it; I work with the Islamic faith to show that the Qu'ran has a wealth of environmentalism in its pages, the Leicester Comedy Festival to bring out the positive aspects of good environmental behaviour, the Leicestershire County FA for the same thing and I am passionate about green roofs and walls. I am working very closely with the Universities on zero carbon homes, non carbon vehicles and using space based technologies to track greenhouse gases in the City. I love the vibrancy and multi- culturalness of the City and long may it continue.
Tony Walker I was a volunteer for 27a Access Artspace (and Brightsparks - mental health arts group) for 18 months until it closed this year. I am a former carer for my mum who passed away last Sept. I am studying Art at Leicester College. In my last job I worked for Loughborough College in the Sports dept as a technician. I have skills in IT support / business applications / office admin. and various artistic disciplines esp. Sculpture, Photography and Art. I am currently looking for paid work - I have experience in IT support, office work and community work. I am interested in learning more about video and my ideal job would be working in the arts in any capacity really also possibly helping to promote artists or the arts. I use Twitter and Facebook mostly. Toughest thing I have done but learnt most from: working with single homeless people in Cardiff nearly 30 years ago.
Mike Wilkinson Director Goodman Wilkinson Associates ltd - A training company; Director Primary Partnerships - A not-for profit organisation encouraging science in primary schools; Treasurer - the British Science Association.
Sharon Bown I work part time as the Extended Services Co-ordinator for Countesthorpe Cluster of Schools, working across 8 local schools in the area. This is my second term in post and I have previously worked within the National Health Service and also part time within the Library Service when the children were smaller. I have two wonderful children who keep me busy and I am an active member of the School PTA where they both attend.
Dennis Bradley is the Centre Support Officer at the Leicester Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Centre. This is my first experience of being involved in this capacity in the voluntary sector. My professional life has always been concentrated in the private sector. I have finally found a platform to show my passion about the rights of the LGBT community. For over 30 years I have been an out gay man, born in the USA, I have lived in the UK since the late 1980’s. I am excited to participate in this project. By working with Amplified Leicester, I am sure to show the diversity of the LGBT community in the East Midlands.
Sarah Eaton http://www.twitter.com/llamacroft http://beerip178.blogspot.com Mum to four children aged 1, 8, 9 & 12. Still in possession of my faculties; Volunteer board guide on http://www.moneysavingexpert.com a.k.a. Sarahsaver; Member of La Leche League Leicester and for them volunteer librarian at Cafe Mama, a weekly breastfeeding support meeting; interested in many things. Being a stay at home mum hasn't rotted my brain, it's stimulated it!
Mel Gordon http://webwordwizards.com Owner of Webwordwizards.com Digital Media Creation Agency – Web Design; Partner in Leics Techs - Systems & Network Administrator – IT Technician & Technologist; STPETERSNM.COM - Founder- Dealing with Neighbourhood Improvement; Former Chair of St Peters Neighbourhood Management Board
Darren Hines Currently, I Co-Chair the Leicester LINk, an organisation which is spread across the country whose remit is to scrutinise the health and social care services provided in their own communities and through the Amplified Leicester Project I shall begin the growth of two other ideas which I hope will help our community grow locally and globally through a process of social media networking and business communication. One will be not-for-profit that will help local people with all aspects of their life, through disability, education or environment and the other a profit making venture in the field of product design.
Bill Knopp I'm a Police Inspector in Leicestershire Constabulary. I have worked for the Police for 20 years since leaving University. I originally joined West Yorkshire Police and worked in rural Pennine communities. I joined Leicestershire in 1993 and have spent the majority of my service in the city centre, St Mathews, Spinney Hill, the Belgrave and Hinckley Road Areas. I am currently working in the Community Safety Bureau in Leicester. A big part of my job is looking at cohesion and forming new links with emerging and established communities. I'm really looking forward to this project as an opportunity to expand my knowledge around new media.
Daniel Lamoon http://www.fd2d.com Company director of From Dusk 2 Dawn magazine, sole trader video producer Lamoon Media; Editor FD2D; events organiser FD2D, oxjam, Loros; multimedia producer and director Lamoon Media; business mentor and adviser, City of Leicester College, University of Derby, DMU Alumni; creative and cultural crier FD2D
Carol Leeming Singer Songwriter: Composer: Musician: Poet: Playwright: Multi Media Artist: Director: Producer: Freelance Journalist and Visiting Lecturer. As a creative visionary and cultural activist, I have considerable experience and knowledge of working with the business, arts cultural sector and culturally diverse communities for over 15 years. Member of Arts Council England (East Midlands) General Council, Advisory Board Member Foot In Hand Dance Company. Director of Dare to Diva Productions which offers: Literature: Performing Arts : Media: Project Design: Events Management: Culturally Diverse Arts: & Consultancy. I have a cross arts, collaborative approach to arts and culture.
Joy Marsden http://www.jmtraining.co.uk Business Trainer, Coach and Speaker; Specialising in Business start-ups; Volunteer as Business Champion sharing experiences and inspiring entrepreneurial spirit amongst young people within schools colleges and Universities within the East Midlands; Volunteer Make your Mark ambassador working closely with ethnic communities to help individuals overcome personal barriers to succeed in business.
Kenneth Mawomo Editor: EWALIN (Enterprise Within Africa Local and International News Agency) http://www.ewalin.com; Community Reporter: HAT (Here and There) News http//www.hatnews.org; Committee member: Leicester City of Sanctuary http://www.leicestercityofsanctuary.org
Gary McCarthy http://www.eazytiger.net Managing Director, Eazytiger Ltd, New Media and Online Marketing Agency; Director, We Are Pets, Online pet supermarket; Member of Chamber of Commerce, Federation Of Small Business
Katherine O'Driscoll I am a fashion and sports business manager with extensive experience in retailing from the High Street to the mass market via visual communication and marketing methods creating a collective consciousness to direct demand in consumer behaviour. I am interested in new markets because internet marketing and communication has reached a new level in my industry and my connection with the ioct via the creative coffee club has opened my mind to adapting mass marketing to the individual. Whilst my market has been fashion and sports the psychology of demand in my industry has always been based on the concensus of the collective community. I am fascinated by observing waves in collective consciousness from street fashion to social media and a key part of my roles has been observing customer behaviour and “traffic flows” both in retail and on the internet. I have worked closely this year with the board of ebay and amazon on their new business developments and operated new projects in the UK and EU in collaboration with them. Along side my corporate “day job” I have operated my own consultancy business KO inc which has allowed me to explore new ventures over the last 6 years from website development to bridalwear design. I have thoroughly enjoyed my connections with IOCT’s creative coffee club and I am looking forward to seeing how amplified Leicester can be.
Simon Parker Inclusion and Diversity Manager, Leicester Libraries; Board member, Citizens’ Eye Community News Agency; Broadcaster, Panj Pani Community Radio; Judge, national CILIP Libraries Change Lives Award; Carer
Farhana Shaikh primarily focusses her work on building and supporting content rich sites for niche communities. An aspiring novelist, Farhana currently edits The Asian Writer, a literary magazine which supports and promotes writing from the Asian community. She works as a freelance editorial consultant and proofreader. She lives in Hamilton, Leicester with her family. She tweets at www.twitter.com/farhanashaikh
Neville Stork I am the Borough Councillor for Loughborough Shelthorpe and a School Governor for Shelthorpe Primary School. I am also a non-exec Director for Charnwood Neighbourhood Homes Ltd. I am the Head of Environmental Sustainability for Leicester City Council and my main task is the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions from Leicester City. Sounds dull, but far from it; I work with the Islamic faith to show that the Qu'ran has a wealth of environmentalism in its pages, the Leicester Comedy Festival to bring out the positive aspects of good environmental behaviour, the Leicestershire County FA for the same thing and I am passionate about green roofs and walls. I am working very closely with the Universities on zero carbon homes, non carbon vehicles and using space based technologies to track greenhouse gases in the City. I love the vibrancy and multi- culturalness of the City and long may it continue.
Mike Wilkinson Director Goodman Wilkinson Associates ltd - A training company; Director Primary Partnerships - A not-for profit organisation encouraging science in primary schools; Treasurer - the British Science Association.
