Board of Trustees

Rosie Russell (Chair of the Board) 

Rosie has worked in the arts and education sectors in the county for 20 years, including at Yeovil College as Head of Performing Arts, at Take Art and setting up Petherton Arts Trust at The David Hall. Currently she works part time for DepARTure (Dorset arts education partnership) and as a freelance Training Consultant for Learning and Skills Network for the new 14-19 Creative & Media Diploma

Linda Green

Linda has thirty years experience of working within the arts both as artist and as teacher. She leads the Art, Design and Technology Faculty at Huish Episcopi Science, Vocational and Languages College. Linda has worked extensively with artists in schools on school and wider community based arts projects aimed at broadening young people’s experiences and breaking down the artificial subject barriers that can exist within secondary education.

Virgina Roberts

Virginia has fifteen years’ experience of working in children’s services for Somerset County Council, primarily working with education leaders and head teachers in relation to local authority services and strategic developments; most recently around services for academies. She is currently the lead officer for Child Poverty in Somerset and works within the area of Special Educational Needs and School Improvement.   

Chris Strong

With a background in consultancy and management in the property, contracting, design and construction fields for over 20 years, Chris Strong has a great deal of experience in management techniques and business strategy. Chris has designed and delivered training courses and workshops on a wide variety of subjects from risk assessment to project management, negotiation skills to value management, as well as advising at board level to significant businesses.

Luke Bugler

Luke is a graduate of the University of Cumbria (2009) and has returned to the county to develop a career in Theatre in Education. Currently working at the David Hall Arts Centre, South Petherton and is co-developing numerous opportunities for young people in the area.

Tony Halstead

Tony is the Headteacher at Wiveliscombe Primary School. Tony has always had a passion for the arts and has been fully supported by governors and staff in his belief that the arts should be a key part of the broad and balanced curriculum on offer in schools. Tony has been involved with Spaeda since 2005.  

Annie Shillabeer

Annie worked in a school for boys with social, emotional and behavioral problems in Essex for 17 years and returned to Somerset to develop children’s homes specifically for children with Autism in her role as a service manager. Annie has recently resurrected a youth club which she runs in her spare time and uses art projects for the benefit of the development of young people. 

Arran Willcocks

Arran has been working as a Course Manager in art and design at post 16 level for 27 years. During this period she has been involved with many new initiatives with art and design, including The Wessex Scheme, forging links with Europe, running residential visits and establishing a significant pattern of connections with regional and national museums and galleries for education purposes.