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versatile writer and project manager with particular strengths in the cultural sector
Ian Simmons
,
Thorpe Bay, United Kingdom
Experience
Other titles
Skills
I'm offering
Strong leadership skills
• A natural leader who is extremely competent at bringing people together and leading them in both strategic and operational projects
• Vast experience in negotiating and collaborating with teams to stay focused and meet organisational goals
• 10 years as Science Communication Director at the International Centre for Life providing the overall direction and management for the Education and Public Engagement Teams and as a member of the organisation’s directorate participating in strategic long-term planning
• Three years’ as Operations and Marketing Director at Techniquest building teams and developing strategy to advance those areas of the organisation
• Creating Inspire Science Centre, building the team, developing strategic plans and delivering the mission
Excellent project and event management skills
• Trained and experienced in planning and managing projects from the initial planning stage to their conclusion
• Prince2 Practitioner
• An organised and methodical approach to information management with an eye for detail
• Competent at providing clear directions and working under pressure
• Vast experience in planning and prioritising tasks effectively to meet deadlines
Creative and innovative ability
• Strengths in thinking outside the box to meet organisational goals
• Highly experienced in developing new exhibits, exhibitions, programmes, festivals and events
• Experience in leading the development of new education and public programmes and strategies.
• Future-focused and keen to embrace new ideas and incorporate new technologies in the work environment
• Creative thinker who can motivate people and get them excited about projects
Communication and presentation skills
• An effective communicator with active listening skills and the ability to relate well to people from any background
• Extensive experience in public speaking both in the UK and internationally
• Award-winning experience in science communication performance, from ambitious live demonstrations to science comedy
• Exceptional skills in developing and presenting information to internal and external stakeholders
• Well established track record in training and educating people
• Skilled in holding an audience’s attention and managing group processes during workshops and presentations
• Proficient in writing clearly and succinctly in a variety of communication settings and styles; can get messages across to achieve the desired effect
Diplomatic and collaborative skills
• Outstanding ability to build collaborative opportunities with national and local government agencies, Universities, networking organisations, funding trusts, foundations etc.
• Extensive experience at international collaborations with museums, science centres, universities and companies
• Highly experienced at working and collaborating with artists and other creative practitioners of all kinds to create innovative and engaging work
• Successful fundraising experience, particularly in the area of grants and trust fundraising, but also experience of individual donor fundraising and corporate sponsorship
• A natural leader who is extremely competent at bringing people together and leading them in both strategic and operational projects
• Vast experience in negotiating and collaborating with teams to stay focused and meet organisational goals
• 10 years as Science Communication Director at the International Centre for Life providing the overall direction and management for the Education and Public Engagement Teams and as a member of the organisation’s directorate participating in strategic long-term planning
• Three years’ as Operations and Marketing Director at Techniquest building teams and developing strategy to advance those areas of the organisation
• Creating Inspire Science Centre, building the team, developing strategic plans and delivering the mission
Excellent project and event management skills
• Trained and experienced in planning and managing projects from the initial planning stage to their conclusion
• Prince2 Practitioner
• An organised and methodical approach to information management with an eye for detail
• Competent at providing clear directions and working under pressure
• Vast experience in planning and prioritising tasks effectively to meet deadlines
Creative and innovative ability
• Strengths in thinking outside the box to meet organisational goals
• Highly experienced in developing new exhibits, exhibitions, programmes, festivals and events
• Experience in leading the development of new education and public programmes and strategies.
• Future-focused and keen to embrace new ideas and incorporate new technologies in the work environment
• Creative thinker who can motivate people and get them excited about projects
Communication and presentation skills
• An effective communicator with active listening skills and the ability to relate well to people from any background
• Extensive experience in public speaking both in the UK and internationally
• Award-winning experience in science communication performance, from ambitious live demonstrations to science comedy
• Exceptional skills in developing and presenting information to internal and external stakeholders
• Well established track record in training and educating people
• Skilled in holding an audience’s attention and managing group processes during workshops and presentations
• Proficient in writing clearly and succinctly in a variety of communication settings and styles; can get messages across to achieve the desired effect
Diplomatic and collaborative skills
• Outstanding ability to build collaborative opportunities with national and local government agencies, Universities, networking organisations, funding trusts, foundations etc.
• Extensive experience at international collaborations with museums, science centres, universities and companies
• Highly experienced at working and collaborating with artists and other creative practitioners of all kinds to create innovative and engaging work
• Successful fundraising experience, particularly in the area of grants and trust fundraising, but also experience of individual donor fundraising and corporate sponsorship
Markets
United Kingdom
Links for more
Once you have created a company account and a job, you can access the profiles links.
Language
English
Fluently
Ready for
Larger project
Ongoing relation / part-time
Full time contractor
Available
My experience
2017 - ?
freelance
Consultant
Science Centres International.
Role - I have set up Science Centres International as a vehicle for providing consultancy to science centres, museums and other science communication and heritage organisations on areas such as strategic planning, fundraising, events, exhibition, building and other capital project development. Clients include:
• The Wellcome Trust - developing and delivering an evaluation strategy for the Wellcome/ Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Inspiring Science Capital Find in partnership with Graphic Science
• Body Worlds - Consulting on the development of a new central London attraction
• The Royal Dublin Society - Identifying and organising show performers for the 2019 Primary Science Fair
• Udaipur Kids Space, India - Consulting on building design
• Centre for Life - Identifying and booking headline artists and presenters for Maker Faire UK
• The Eden Project - advising on Invisible Worlds exhibition and associated programme
• The Wellcome Trust - developing and delivering an evaluation strategy for the Wellcome/ Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Inspiring Science Capital Find in partnership with Graphic Science
• Body Worlds - Consulting on the development of a new central London attraction
• The Royal Dublin Society - Identifying and organising show performers for the 2019 Primary Science Fair
• Udaipur Kids Space, India - Consulting on building design
• Centre for Life - Identifying and booking headline artists and presenters for Maker Faire UK
• The Eden Project - advising on Invisible Worlds exhibition and associated programme
Design, Fundraising, Consulting, Strategic Planning, Development, International, Booking, Science, Energy, Energy, UP
2006 - 2016
job
Science Communications Director
International Centre for Life.
Role - As Science Communication Director I was responsible for any activity at The Centre for Life that presented science to the public or educational groups. I was responsible for the Public Engagement teams, the Education teams and the Exhibitions Teams. All the programmes in the theatre, the planetarium and the 4D motion ride were my responsibility, as well as any science activities undertaken by staff on the public gallery. I was responsible for all capital projects to create new permanent exhibitions and for identifying and booking all temporary exhibitions for Life. In addition, I managed the Education staff and programmes and an outreach programme spanning the North of England between North Yorkshire and the Scottish Border. I also took the lead on fundraising initiatives relating to projects within my area of responsibility and on local, national and international collaborations cultivated by the Centre for Life. I worked closely with the Commercial Director to provide packages for the corporate hire and weddings markets and to optimise the impact of the cafes and shop within the centre environment. I managed 24 staff, an annual revenue budget of approximately £1 million and project budgets of up to
£1.4 million.
Achievements
• Completely redisplaying the Centre for Life's permanent exhibitions through a series of capital projects since arriving in 2006
• Developing the cutting-edge Curiosity exhibition that concentrates on science process rather than science content and the Experiment Zone live public laboratory, where visitors carry out real experiments in a simulated lab environment.
• Developing the Life planetarium from scratch to the point where it is one of the UK's leading planetariums and has a team that produces in-house shows of an international standard.
• Developing a diverse portfolio of creative projects with artists of all kinds to establish Life as one of the UK's leading venues for art/science works
• Bringing Maker Faire to the UK (see http://vimeo.com/23258452 ) leading to an explosion of spin-off events across the British Isles and Europe
• Lifting the Life temporary exhibition programme to a new level by attracting international exhibitions of a high standard to the North East
• Creating the UK's most extensive Meet the Scientist programmes which now includes research carried out live on gallery
• Leading a partnership with Northumbria University to deliver collaborative activities and launch an MSc in Science Communication on which I then taught.
£1.4 million.
Achievements
• Completely redisplaying the Centre for Life's permanent exhibitions through a series of capital projects since arriving in 2006
• Developing the cutting-edge Curiosity exhibition that concentrates on science process rather than science content and the Experiment Zone live public laboratory, where visitors carry out real experiments in a simulated lab environment.
• Developing the Life planetarium from scratch to the point where it is one of the UK's leading planetariums and has a team that produces in-house shows of an international standard.
• Developing a diverse portfolio of creative projects with artists of all kinds to establish Life as one of the UK's leading venues for art/science works
• Bringing Maker Faire to the UK (see http://vimeo.com/23258452 ) leading to an explosion of spin-off events across the British Isles and Europe
• Lifting the Life temporary exhibition programme to a new level by attracting international exhibitions of a high standard to the North East
• Creating the UK's most extensive Meet the Scientist programmes which now includes research carried out live on gallery
• Leading a partnership with Northumbria University to deliver collaborative activities and launch an MSc in Science Communication on which I then taught.
Research, Fundraising, Content, Budget, It, International, Booking, Http, Science, UP, Vimeo
2003 - 2006
job
Operations and Marketing Director/Head of Fundraising
Techniquest.
Role - I was a director with responsibility for Techniquest's marketing, buildings and visitor services. Initially this was limited to operating the front of house Teams, but was later extended to responsibility for exhibition content, exhibit maintenance and public programmes. I managed the corporate hire programme and was responsible for negotiating all operating contracts for the centre, including catering, cleaning, lift maintenance and similar as well as maintaining the fabric of the converted historic building in which it was housed. In my final 6 months at the centre I was responsible for setting up and running Techniquest's fundraising team. I managed 40 FTE staff (up to 60 individuals) and had responsibility for a budget of £1.2 million.
Achievements
• Increasing Techniquest's visitor numbers by 11% by rationalising and refocusing the Marketing approach, supported by systematic audience research
• Establishing a structured and systematic tendering and contracts process for buildings-related work (e.g. painting, cleaning, lift maintenance) that increased efficiency and made significant savings.
• Developed a new public programme team that developed a focused series of public events and activities that further increased profile and visitor numbers.
• Setting up Techniquest's fundraising department and working with the consultants Brakeley to develop a fundraising strategy for the centre
• Working with Techniquest architect Paul Koralek to develop a masterplan for the extension and redevelopment of the centre to inform the fundraising strategy.
Achievements
• Increasing Techniquest's visitor numbers by 11% by rationalising and refocusing the Marketing approach, supported by systematic audience research
• Establishing a structured and systematic tendering and contracts process for buildings-related work (e.g. painting, cleaning, lift maintenance) that increased efficiency and made significant savings.
• Developed a new public programme team that developed a focused series of public events and activities that further increased profile and visitor numbers.
• Setting up Techniquest's fundraising department and working with the consultants Brakeley to develop a fundraising strategy for the centre
• Working with Techniquest architect Paul Koralek to develop a masterplan for the extension and redevelopment of the centre to inform the fundraising strategy.
Marketing, Research, Fundraising, Content, Budget, It, Contracts, Contracts, UP
1995 - 2003
job
Director
INSPIRE Hands-on Science Centre.
(Part of Science Projects)
Role - I started Inspire from scratch. I saw the opportunity to set up a science centre in Norwich and wanted to use what I had learned at Snibston to do this. I found a suitable building (the vacant city centre church of St Michael at Coslany), negotiated for its lease and obtained the backing of Science Projects to provide the exhibits and make the centre part of their developing network (along with The Observatory in Sussex). I developed the exhibit content, organised the set up and install, staff recruiting and operating procedures, launch marketing and development of educational links, opening the Centre in August 1995. From August 1995 to August 2003 I acted as Centre Director, managing 4 staff and a team of volunteers to allow the centre to operate. I was also responsible for the centre's financial management, marketing and PR, fundraising, education and community links. Inspire operated largely independently of Science Projects, but I did assist other parts of the charity on consultancy, education and exhibit development projects, and acted as fundraiser for the whole organisation.
Achievements
• Running Inspire for 8 years with one of the lowest external subsidies of any science centre
• Being one of the small Teams that developed the Norwich Capital of Culture 2008 bid on behalf of Norwich City Council
• Developing an extensive programme of participatory community activities across Norwich
• Winning a £1,000,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant for the conservation and refurbishment of the buildings and historic telescopes at the former Royal Observatory, Herstmonceux (now The Observatory Science Centre)
Role - I started Inspire from scratch. I saw the opportunity to set up a science centre in Norwich and wanted to use what I had learned at Snibston to do this. I found a suitable building (the vacant city centre church of St Michael at Coslany), negotiated for its lease and obtained the backing of Science Projects to provide the exhibits and make the centre part of their developing network (along with The Observatory in Sussex). I developed the exhibit content, organised the set up and install, staff recruiting and operating procedures, launch marketing and development of educational links, opening the Centre in August 1995. From August 1995 to August 2003 I acted as Centre Director, managing 4 staff and a team of volunteers to allow the centre to operate. I was also responsible for the centre's financial management, marketing and PR, fundraising, education and community links. Inspire operated largely independently of Science Projects, but I did assist other parts of the charity on consultancy, education and exhibit development projects, and acted as fundraiser for the whole organisation.
Achievements
• Running Inspire for 8 years with one of the lowest external subsidies of any science centre
• Being one of the small Teams that developed the Norwich Capital of Culture 2008 bid on behalf of Norwich City Council
• Developing an extensive programme of participatory community activities across Norwich
• Winning a £1,000,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant for the conservation and refurbishment of the buildings and historic telescopes at the former Royal Observatory, Herstmonceux (now The Observatory Science Centre)
Marketing, Fundraising, Pr, Content, Management, Network, Development, Organization, Community, Science, Winning, UP
1988 - 1995
job
Assistant Keeper, Hands-on Science, Snibston Discovery Park, Leicestershire Museums
Arts and Records Service.
Role - As Assistant Keeper I was at the most junior curatorial grade in the museum service and had specific responsibility for the development and operation of the hands-on science exhibits and science playground, as well as managing the science collection and participating in the development of the collection galleries.
Service, Development, Science
1988 - 1988
job
Curator
National Collection of Yeast Cultures, Institute of Food Research.
(Maternity Cover) September 1986-May 1988 Teacher, General Science, Kirkley High School, Lowestoft
Science
1984 - 1985
job
Executive Officer
Ministry of Agriculture.
June 1983-June 1984 Supervisor, Suffolk Biological Records Centre October 1982-June 1983 Volunteer, Norwich Castle Museum
Castle
My education
1993
-
1994
University of Leicester
Masters, Museum Studies
Masters, Museum Studies
1989
-
1993
Museums Training Institute
Associate, N/a
Associate, N/a
1985
-
1986
University of York School of Education
Somepostgraduate, (PGCE) Biology/General Science
Somepostgraduate, (PGCE) Biology/General Science
1979
-
1982
University of East Anglia School of Biological Sciences
BSc, 2II, Biological Sciences
BSc, 2II, Biological Sciences
1971
-
1979
Trinity School of John Whitgift
N/a, N/a
N/a, N/a
?
-
1997
University of East Anglia
N/a, Museum Leadership Programme
N/a, Museum Leadership Programme
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