Breakout session panellists
On the day of the conference, there were 9 breakout sessions, each covering various topics with distinguished panellists in attendance.
Museums Manager
Deborah Marsland has been Kirklees Museums and Galleries Manager since 2017 and was previously Kirklees Museums Operations Manager from 2002. She joined Kirklees Council in 1999 as manager of their largest heritage site, Oakwell Hall Country Park. Before moving to West Yorkshire she worked in heritage development posts for Lee Valley Park at Three Mills Island in Bromley-by-Bow and for the National Trust at Sutton House in Hackney. She started her career with the National Trust in records and archives work. She has a post graduate qualification in Heritage Management from the University of Surrey. She is an Arts Council Museum Accreditation Mentor for the Colne Valley Museum, Huddersfield.
Team Leader, Town Centre Conservation and Design, Kirklees Council
Nigel is the heritage advisor to the Town Centres Team of Kirklees Council. My role is to provide heritage advice to the many Blueprint Projects in Huddersfield and Dewsbury. I am a member of the Heritage Strategy Project Team providing advice and guidance on how the document could influence heritage projects and future funding applications.
Head of Investment North, Historic England
Charles has been a heritage sector professional for 20 years, specialising in securing sustainable futures for historic places. He is currently Head of Investment (North) for Historic England, the government's advisor on the historic environment. Charles leads the organisation's grant programme across the North, including delivering 26 High Street Heritage Action Zones. He also has responsibility for rescuing heritage at risk and set up Historic England's successful Mills of the North campaign. Charles lives in Huddersfield and previously worked for Kirklees Council as Team Leader (Conservation and Design). He is motivated by maximising benefits to all communities through heritage.
University Archivist, Heritage Quay
Since March 2021 I have been the University Archivist at Heritage Quay, the archive service for the University of Huddersfield. I lead the archive team and I am responsible for the collections in our care which include sport, education, art and design, theatre and performance, literature, politics and music.
Heritage Quay
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Local History Society
Dr Christine Verguson is Publications Officer for Huddersfield Local History Society and coordinator of the Society's Memories of the Square project for Historic England's HAZ initiative. While her research interests include housing, broadcasting and spatial identities, she is also the author of the Huddersfield Thespians' recently published centenary history.
Head of Archives and Heritage Manager, West Yorkshire Archive Service
Heritage Manager, West Yorkshire Joint Services (Head of West Yorkshire Archive Service, West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory and West Yorkshire Ecology).
I am a Registered Archivist with over 25 years of professional archival experience. After working in the Midlands for 8 years I returned home to West Yorkshire. Much of my time at West Yorkshire has focussed on managing a multi-site public service and developing accommodation and outreach projects.
Chief Executive, Kirklees Local TV
Milton's core passion is working with people, organisations, and institutions, enabling them to transform and develop practices that seek to eradicate all forms of discrimination. He has 35 years of working nationally and internationally, specialising in equality, diversity, inclusion, leadership and organisational workforce development. Milton is a United Nations alumnus for people of African Descent.
