Staff
Sharon Trotter – Director
With a background in art history, Sharon was originally trained as a secondary art teacher. She has worked in cultural education for many years, including Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool, the Victoria & Albert Museum, Tate Britain, the London Borough of Waltham Forest and the “11 by 11” partnership programme for schools and cultural organisations in the London Borough of Islington. She was Head of Learning at the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow before joining LEAN in April 2023.
Sharon is eager to explore the creative potential in art education with our partners in Lewisham. She is leading LEAN’s recent programmes including “Lewisham Fundraising Development Programme” and “Moving Stories: embedding dance and drama in SEND teacher practice”.
Julia Ravenscroft – Programme Engagement Coordinator
Originally from Liverpool and a Lewisham resident since 2005, Julia graduated in Fashion Journalism, PR and Marketing at the London College of Fashion before studying Arts Administration at Birkbeck College.
She was Exhibition Officer and Manager at the Crafts Council London from 1999-2006 project managing their international exhibition programme and since then has worked with the Jerwood Foundation on the Jerwood Applied Arts Prize, overseen the permanent collection display at the Design Museum Kensington and led on exhibitions and events working with many talented artists and designers for the Royal Academy, commercial galleries and a range of arts organisations around the UK.
Julia was a member of the Migration Museum’s Peoples’ Panel 2022 -2023 and is a member of the Lewisham and Greenwich Hospital Trust Arts Steering Group.
Stephanie Chung – Finance & Admin Officer
Grew up in Hong Kong, Stephanie recently graduated with an MFA Curating from Goldsmiths (2024) and is a resident of Deptford. She obtained Bachelor of Arts at the University of Hong Kong, focusing on topics with sociolinguistics and cultural studies. With experience mainly from art & culture non-profits, Stephanie has involved in organising socially-engaged programmes of different scales, including “Lamma Mia Public Art Festival”, a year-long project on Lamma Island in Hong Kong.
Since joining LEAN in January 2023, she has managed accounts and social media, coordinated Board governance activities, and performed various administrative duties.
LEAN is supported in our work by a board of volunteer trustees
Veronica Jobbins MBE – Chair of Trustees
Until the end of July 2020 Veronica Jobbins was Head of Public Engagement at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, where she directed the Learning and Participation programme and lectured in Dance Education.
She originally trained as a specialist dance teacher at London College of Dance and Drama before teaching for over 7 years at Sydenham Girls School. Following a year studying for an MA at Laban she became an advisory teacher with the ILEA PE Inspectorate, working in schools across London. She then became Co-ordinator for Performing Arts at City and Islington College, Sixth Form Centre teaching a range of courses including GCSE, A Level and BTEC, before moving to Laban in 1996.
Veronica Jobbins has taken an active interest in promoting and developing dance in schools throughout her career and was instrumental in the formation of the National Dance Teachers’ Association in 1988, of which she was Chairperson until 2008. She regularly writes for dance and arts journals and presents at conferences in the UK and abroad, serving on a number of dance, arts and education panels and working groups concerned with youth dance and dance in the curriculum as well as being actively engaged in research projects.
Treasurer (vacant – currently recruiting)
Veronica Sarmiento – Secretary
Learning Officer: Creative Careers (Engagement) at London Transport Museum
Bea Denton – Trustee
Bea is an Academic Advisor and Artist Educator whose experience and interests are focused in FE Art and Design Access and Progression programmes, helping young people develop a creative practice in preparation for successful applications to undergraduate and postgraduate courses. She has substantial experience of teaching and curriculum development in Pre-Foundation, Foundation and undergraduate courses in HEIs in the UK, including Central Saint Martins and London College of Communication. Bea is an External Moderator for the UAL Awarding Body. Until recently, she was Head of School of Preparation for Higher Education at Arts University Bournemouth (AUB). Further afield, she set up the first Foundation course in Latin America at Escola Britânica de Artes Criativas (EBAC) in São Paulo, Brazil, and lead student portfolio development projects and CPD workshops for tutors in Shanghai and Hangzhou in China. Bea was a trustee on the board of Deptford X for 10 years until 2015. She has a studio practice in Fine Art, photography and printmaking.
Déarbhaile Nairn – Trustee
Déarbhaile initially moved to London from Ireland to pursue a music degree, which was shortly followed by an MA in Creative and Cultural Industries at Kings College London. She fell in love with music education during her time as a Producer for Music for Youth. Music for Youth is a national arts charity that provides young people with performance and progression opportunities. During her time at MFY, she produced festivals across England, Scotland and Wales and large-scale events such as Schools Prom at the Royal Albert Hall. Following on from that, she became Artist Development Manager at Southbank Sinfonia overseeing the professional development of top conservatoire graduates- many of whom now occupy leading seats in prominent orchestras around the world. Déarbhaile is currently Projects Manager at Trinity Laban where she delivers a wide portfolio of music education projects.
James Thomas – Trustee
James Thomas studied music at Goldsmith College and York University and has worked in music education since 1986. He is an experienced teacher, community musician and trainer whose work encompasses a range of sectors: primary, secondary, post-compulsory and community education. James has worked as a session musician and arranger and as musical director/composer for several theatre productions and community projects. He was director of the Lewisham Academy of Music and led his own Latin Jazz band “Fusion Blue” for 6 years. In 2003 James was appointed Head of the Lewisham Centre for Young Musicians and has taught at The Conservatoire since 1993 and leads on their partnerships and community projects. As a trainer, James has devised and led professional development courses and workshops for musicians and teachers, music services and community arts providers. He has also taught on teacher training courses and arts-based vocational training programmes.
Holly Henry – Trustee
Heritage, Learning and Volunteer Manager at Grand Junction
Emma Webster – Trustee
Assistant Headteacher (Assessment, Teaching and Learning) at Prendergast Primary School
Jason Page – Trustee
Operations Manager & Community Programmer at Migration Museum
Julia Mirkin – Trustee
Funding Manager at City Bridge Trust
Sheree-Marie Abraham – Trustee
Chief Executive/ Artistic Director at Sydenham Arts Ltd
Jessica Austin-Burdett – Trustee
Head of Art and Community at Deptford Green School
Anna Croall – Trustee
Team Leader (Arts Education) at the Department for Education
Helena Emmanuel – Trustee
Senior Student Experience Officer at King’s College London
Volunteers, Interns and Placement Students
LEAN has welcomed a variety of paid interns, students on educational placements and volunteers to work on both our projects and core work. We wholeheartedly appreciate them sharing their time, efforts and knowledge with us. If you are interested in volunteering with us please email Sharon Trotter sharon@leanarts.org.uk
