Recruitment for a new director this time was surprisingly challenging, mostly because we received so much interest and excellent applications, and wished we had more positions to fill! Our strategy for this year was to sustainably grow the team, increase funding opportunities, and strategise for more income-generating work - because let's face it - operating voluntarily has its merits and it also has its limits!
Sam's position as ACD Director of Sustainable Growth & Impact is complemented by her career position as Head of AI & Design at the Arts and Humanities Research Council, of UK Research and Innovation. With a background in shaping impactful research programmes and partnerships, we felt she was best positioned for the role. Sam is passionate about starting conversations and enabling inclusive collaborations that benefit people and the planet. She works across sectors and disciplines to develop and support publicly-funded initiatives such as the AHRC’s Future Observatory: Design the Green Transition programme, in partnership with the Design Museum.
A few words from Sam, "As a social scientist by background, my concept of design is as a powerful and practical tool for positive change. I’m most interested in how we can design our places, spaces, organisations, and everything else, to actively improve people’s lives from the ground-up while protecting the future of the planet. I’m looking forward to getting stuck in and helping drive more collaborative and participatory approaches with the ACD team."
Welcome to the team and you are now part of our incredible network too! We look forward to expanding the positive impact of the ACD with you.
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