Festival Team

Richard Ross (Chair)

Born in Norwich and educated in Norfolk, Richard has spent most of his life living in and around the city, where he is a director of a wealth management company. He started his first business shortly after leaving school and enjoys the entrepreneurial challenge. Alongside non-executive director and board advisory posts, he is also a trustee of the Norfolk Community Foundation, sits on the Strategic Board of the UEA School of Economics and is the founder of The Sounding Board, a not-for-profit initiative to help businesses facing difficult decisions.

Richard is married with three children and three grandchildren. At weekends he enjoys hill walking, cycles long distances very slowly (he completed Lands End to John O’Groats in 9½ days) and was an enthusiastic but very pedestrian rugby player until he was far too old.

Julia Carruthers

Julia Carruthers has worked with a number of arts organisations and until last year, was the Programme Director at Warwick Arts Centre at the University of Warwick. Beginning her career as a secretary at Edinburgh International Festival, she has since worked with choreographer Michael Clark, was Head of Dance & Performance at Southbank Centre and Executive Director at Akram Khan Company.

Julia has programmed ‘Dance on Film’ at the BFI and been an Ambassador for the SKY Arts Awards. She has been an adviser to the British Council, been part of the European EU funded networks DanceWEB, E-Motional and Aerowaves and has been on the Boards of Dance City in Newcastle, Poole Lighthouse and Theatre Forum in Ireland. She is currently also on the Board of Heart of Glass in St Helens and CoisCeim Dance Theatre in Dublin.

Paige Gouldthorpe

Paige is a Senior Associate at Fosters Solicitors, specialising in supporting vulnerable people in her Court of Protection role at the Norfolk and Suffolk-based firm.

Having started working in the legal industry in 2012, where she discovered her passion for Wills, Trusts and Probate, Paige has become a three-time national award-winning lawyer with a passion for providing her clients with the best experience and support possible.

Paige enjoys empowering and mentoring individuals and has been voted in the Top 100 Inspiring Women of Norfolk and is currently Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Big C Cancer Charity.

Kate Heyman Carreno

Kate is a senior arts professional with over 35 years’ experience gained in senior roles in museums, galleries and the performing arts, spanning all aspects of management, communications and public engagement. She has recently retired from the University of Cambridge, where she was Deputy Director, Engagement and Partnerships at The Fitzwilliam Museum.

Kate has worked in the cultural sector since leaving higher education, starting out in production and management in the performing arts before moving into university museums. Alongside her day jobs, Kate served on a number of boards in the cultural and education sectors, including the Arts Marketing Association and the University Museum Group, and worked as an Associate with Adrian Ellis Associates (AEA), a leading international firm of cultural management consultants.

Marc Jaffrey

Marc has 27 years experience as a creative leader of high-impact social campaigns and large-scale change programmes in the creative industries, business, education, social causes and the arts. He was appointed OBE in 2010 for services to music and education having led Music Manifesto, the most successful arts campaign in UK history. Marc has been a senior independent adviser to Secretaries of State at the DfE and the DCMS. He made a distinctive contribution as a BBC commissioner, developing a portfolio of award-winning content and services.

Marc now splits his time advising creative industry organisations and leadership teams on how to enhance their purpose and working in international development on political influencing to driving improvements in human rights.

Martin Mitchell ARE

Martin Mitchell ARE,  is an internationally acclaimed mezzotint artist.

He moved to Norwich in 1989 and founded the Norwich Print fair which is now a popular annual event that has gained national recognition.

In 2015 as part of the 3rd international Mezzotint Festival Mitchell was invited to hold his first international solo exhibition, in Ekaterinburg Russia.

His work has been exhibited in Russia, France, USA and India.

In 2020 he was elected an associate of the Royal society of Painter Printmakers.

Chris Sargisson

Chris Sargisson is the CEO for Hethel Innovation Ltd.
His career started in the finical services sector before moving into insurer- tech and then onto startups, launching its4me plc, one of the UK’s most successful online car insurance brokers and major Norwich and House Revolution, one of the UK’s first online estate agencies. In addition, he has worked in consultancy and more recently spent a successful term as CEO of Norfolk Chamber of Commerce. Chris supports various advisory boards from local government to the third sector, Education to business. He is also the Norfolk Ambassador for Brave Futures, a charity supporting victims of child sexual abuse.