The PoLICY ADVISORY BOARD
Young people are living with the consequences of decisions they rarely get to shape. The Policy Advisory Board brings together senior voices from across the arts, culture, academia, government, philanthropy and civil society to help change that. Members lend their expertise, networks and influence to In Place of War's youth policy work, building meaningful and lasting routes for young artists and activists into the rooms where decisions are made, on everything from climate and resilience to culture and democratic participation. This is not about one-off consultations or a single showcase moment. It is about connecting grassroots creativity with institutions, moving beyond tokenism, and backing young people with real agency and resources for the long term.
PROFESSOR James Thompson
James Thompson is Professor of Applied Theatre at the University of Manchester and co-Director of The Care Lab. He was one of the founders of the TiPP Centre and founder of In Place of War. As an arts practitioner he has worked in international war zones and places of humanitarian disaster. He has written widely on the socially engaged arts and now researches care aesthetics – exploring ‘artful care’ in different areas of health and social care. He is editor of the Routledge Studies in Care Aesthetics series, is one of the editors of ‘Care Aesthetics and the Arts (2025) and ‘Care Aesthetics and Dementia Studies (2026). His book Care Aesthetics: for Artful Care and Careful Art was published in 2022.
SHELAGH WRIGHT
Shelagh is a committed internationalist working with networks all over the world to develop the capacity and connectivity of creative and cultural activists to change systems at the individual, local, community, city or global level. She believes that systems don’t change until stories do and is currently engaged in two global initiatives: Humanity Declares galvanising cultural responses to the 80th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 2028; and One World or None bringing democracy done differently to the public imagination through culture and creative work. In addition Shelagh is co-chair of the Common Cause Foundation, vice-chair of Compass and sits on the Advisory Board of ArtQuest.
Professor Dr Anne Bamford
An educational futurist and passionate arts educator, Professor Dr Anne Bamford OBE, FCGI is Director of the International Research Agency, President of the Education Inspiring Peace Laboratory and Adjunct Professor at the University of Sydney. She was the former Strategic Education, Skills and Culture Director for the City of London. Anne has been recognised nationally and internationally for her research in the arts education, culture and fusion skills. She is an expert in the international dimension of education and skills and talent development and through her research, she has pursued issues of creativity, technology, innovation, social impact, wellbeing and inclusion.
Mike Clewley
Mike Clewley leads on cultural advocacy at Wellcome, the global charitable foundation supporting science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone. Mike is passionate about culture, creativity, and dad jokes. He has over 20 years’ experience in the culture sectors at a global, national and local level including worked at The O2, Domino Records, as Head of Culture and Visitor Strategy at the City of London Corporation, and most recently leading on cultural tourism strategy at City Hall in London.
Theresa Campbell-Carbon
Theresa Campbell-Carbon has extensive policy experience gained through roles in local and central government in the UK and internationally. As a climate change adaptation policy practitioner, she understands the wide-ranging impacts of climate change across major sectors, including the built environment, health and health services, and culture, as well as the complex challenges facing decision-makers in this space. Her passion for climate change adaptation also extends to research, with a particular focus on the nexus between climate change, health, and inequalities. She is committed to advancing practical, inclusive approaches that strengthen climate resilience and translate evidence into effective policy and action.
George Adelman
George is Director and Head of Partnerships at FT Strategies and has over 15 years experience in strategy consulting and in-house advisory. Leading strategy development, service design and digital transformation teams, he has advised senior leadership across media industry, public sector and the financial services.
Hannah Hartley
Hannah Hartley (she/her) is a sustainability consultant and creative producer working at the intersection of culture, climate justice and environmental action. She supports cultural organisations to work more sustainably and engage audiences with the planetary emergency through events, exhibitions, training and creative projects. As Environmental Action Manager at Manchester Museum, Hannah is developing the museum as a hub for environmental justice by connecting culture, communities and action. Alongside this role she is a Senior Assessor for A Greener Future, advising festivals and live music venues in the UK and internationally, and leads the Event Sustainability module at BIMM Music Institute, supporting students to critically explore sustainability challenges in the events sector. Hannah also sits on the Steering Board of GMAST, Greater Manchester's arts and cultural sustainability network. Previously, she led environmental responsibility for the Without Walls festival consortium.
