Our Team

I’ve been connected with Comino since I was involved with industry year in the 80’s. I feel very honoured to have met Demetri Comino.

Moving from teaching careers and PE in a secondary school through to advisory work in a local  authority, trained in both primary and secondary Ofsted , managing an education business partnership to my present role.

Overseeing a number of primary and secondary schools across greater Manchester in our innovative Comino  consortium striving to give the social disadvantaged youngsters creative real world learning  opportunities which they would normally be unable to access.

In my current role, I specialise in brokering partnerships that bridge the gap between industry, education and social impact.  I am passionate about fostering peer to peer professional development relationships between educational and industry practitioners that drive meaningful collaboration and lead to long term impact and change.  Comino Foundation provides a joyful and safe space for all stakeholders to travel on a journey of discovery together; and I am inspired daily by the rich learning this brings to our NWCC Community of Practice.

 I have worked for three decades in the design and design education fields, and have a strong record of successfully building teams to deliver landmark projects and provision which respond to the social, technological and economic change.  As well as providing curriculum  leadership for a large School of Art & Design for many years I also established an employer lead Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) in Digital Design and provided employer leadership for the national World Skills UK Graphic Design competition

I currently volunteer as a Trustee for Manchester’s Local Cultural Education Partnership; MADE where I strategically lead the charity’s Employability pillar including the development of an innovative Young Cultural Leaders Programme.   

I am passionate about the transformative power of the arts and have been privileged to build a 25-year career spanning education, cultural partnerships, teacher training, and programme management. My work is driven by a commitment to empowering individuals to explore their creative potential, and my collaboration with Comino Foundation exemplifies this ethos.

As Director of a large Creative Arts Faculty, I led innovative curriculum reforms, developed meaningful cultural partnerships, and championed inclusive programs that make the arts accessible to all. By working closely with the cultural sector, I have created opportunities for students and communities to engage with the arts, challenging social injustices, broadening access, and strengthening connections.

In my roles as Co-Chair of MADE (Manchester’s Cultural Education Partnership) and as a trainer and assessor for AQA and ITE providers, I combine strategic leadership with hands-on engagement. I firmly believe in the arts as a catalyst for equity, innovation, and community.