Our Board

Jayne Austin 

Jayne strongly believes in the power of creativity in bringing together heritage, people, and place. She is the Museum Development & Partnership Manager at Suffolk County Council, working with all museums in Suffolk. She has worked in the heritage sector for over 20 years and is experienced at bringing together different sector organisations, fundraising, and enabling a range of projects and programmes. 

Melissa Avelino

Melissa graduated with a BSc Business Management from University of Essex in 2019 and after a tenure with a local management consultancy and Suffolk Libraries she now works at the Ipswich Institute (a local educational charity) as a Marketing Officer. Being active in the local community is important to her, and over the years she’s volunteered with Caritas Internationalis, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts and the UEFA EURO Championships. She’s attended and received her A-levels from an IB World School which combined with her mixed Eastern European and West African heritage means she can bring on board a fresh perspective, commitment and willingness to think in new ways.

Assis Carreiro MBE FRSA 

Assis is a cultural entrepreneur working for over 3 decades in the international performing arts world, with a specialisation in dance. Assis represents international choreographers, designers and composers and provides bespoke mentoring and strategic consultancy to arts and cultural organisations including DanceEast, Australia Council and CAPACOA (Canada) and AEM International. During her time as Artistic Director and CEO of DanceEast, she led the establishment of the Jerwood DanceHouse. Assis is also a trustee of Rambert School of Ballet and Dance and Australian’s Project Animo. In 2014, she was awarded an MBE for her services to dance.

Simon Hooton 

Simon's Natural Environmental Science degree led to a career primarily in countryside management. He became Thornham Walks first countryside warden before appointments around East Anglia, including the Brecks, the Suffolk coast and the Broads. Early retirement has opened new opportunities including Board level involvement for the Museum of East Anglian Life as well as for Eastern Angles, tutoring and lecturing about the environment for various bodies, and as an orienteering coach particularly working with teachers. He continues to write plays and stories as well as performing in amateur dramatics.

Les Miller 

Les has extensive experience in the arts both as a practitioner and as a leader of arts services and organisations. Most recently he has been Head of Arts and Culture for King’s Lynn and West Norfolk council, Director (maternity cover) of Cornerstone Arts Centre for South Oxfordshire Council, and Creative Programmer for Letchworth Garden City. Les also has wide experience as a writer, director and performer for small and mid-scale touring companies and regional theatres and was Artistic Director of Inner City Theatre Company in London and The Torch Theatre, Milford Haven. 

Alison Stewart MBE (Chair)

Alison has lived in Suffolk for over 40 years, working in public libraries and cultural services for over 30 years. In 2012 Alison set up Suffolk Libraries IPS Ltd, an independent charitable mutual which took over the running of Suffolk’s public library service.  A decade later, all the libraries are still open and they are still run by paid staff.  Alison retired from her role as CEO in 2018, since then she has been an advocate for literacy, the arts and libraries.  In 2018 she set up an Ipswich based charity to support adults who cannot read, Read Easy Ipswich.  She is also a trustee for a number of local organisations, and a national charity.    

Stephen Taylor  

Stephen is a team leader in the Environment Agency, having previously worked in and with libraries for almost thirty years. He was the senior manager responsible for the contract between Suffolk County Council and Suffolk Libraries before changing careers. He has been a supporter of Eastern Angles for some time, as an audience member and for a time as a Board observer for one of the funding bodies. He is also a founding director of the not-for-profit company Lofty Heights, which trains and employs young people formerly not in education, employment or training to offer a highly valued home-decluttering service. He is vice Chair of the RSPCA Suffolk Central branch.  

To get in touch with our Board, please email board@easternangles.co.uk.