AHI people

Having worked in design and the arts in Bristol and London during the extravagant eighties, I moved to Scotland for a complete change. Here I discovered and promptly fell in love with interpretation, which draws together so many fascinating people, places and things close to my heart. I now plan, design and creatively manage all manner of projects that help to connect people with the places in which they live or visit. I joined AHI’s committee in 2004 as a way of stretching myself and putting something back into the profession that provides me with so much more than just a living.

It is 32 years since I first encountered the word ‘interpretation’. I joined SIBH (now AHI) in 1975, and am a founder member of both Dehongli Cymru and Interpret Scotland. Down the years there have been many centres, trails, panels, publications, plans and strategies. I have had the privilege of meeting and working with people who have had a real passion for interpretation, and for ‘Fellows’ passion is the key attribute. To be acknowledged by your peers for the depth of your contribution is the quiet beating heart of our profession.

After a long stint in professional psychology, I joined the CEI. I later became a consultant, before joining the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) in 2001, where I am currently Head of the Communication Section which includes interpretation. I have a strong interest in the psychology of the visitor experience and the role of visitor studies and evaluation in helping us think more clearly about what interpretation is and what it can do. Away from work, I enjoy walking and archaeology, and mourn not going caving as much as I used to since moving to North Wales!

I run a small design agency called Froghopper which specialises in heritage and countryside interpretation. My original training was in journalism and PR. It was when I was a PR officer for the National Trust that I first came across the concept of 'interpretation'. Until 2006, I had steadfastly managed to avoid being on any committee – but now that I've been caught, I hope to bring a fresh, non-traditional approach to the AHI. As the author of several children's books and publications, I also hope to champion the cause of children's interpretation.

I first discovered interpretation many years ago and have found that it's crept into everything I’ve done since! I’ve had varied experiences in hospitals, marketing, tourism, education, arts and service management – interpretation can be a wonderful way of building awareness and capacity in lots of environments.

I finally got round to setting up my business, Ice House, in 2006 and have found my niche working with artists and local communities - the rewards of finding out about amazing things and communicating with people about them are tremendous.

I’m delighted to be invited to use my skills and knowledge to serve the AHI committee and members.

I sort of stumbled across interpretation. I’d mis-spent my university career messing about in the drama society, wandered to India and back, and worked at Manchester Airport’s tourist information desk. Then I discovered there was this thing called interpretation that combined my love of exploring places, talking to people about what they wanted to do on their holiday, and playing with words and pictures. A colleague said she thought my work was a vocation rather than a job – I think she’s right.

I am an interpretive planning consultant, who fell fortuitously into interpretation about twelve years ago after working in tourism overseas (well, swanning about on boats in the Med, to be strictly accurate!). I gained a great insight into the industry at PLB, under former AHI chair Carolyn Lloyd Brown, and then became freelance in 2002. I am now based in Northumberland and work mainly in the North East and Scotland. It's an honour - and a challenge - to be involved with the annual AHI conference, but there's nothing better than bringing fellow interpreters together to share experiences, explore sites and inspire one another.

After a rather winding path through design and medical illustration, I finally found my foothold in heritage interpretation, where I have kept a firm grip since the mid eighties. I worked as Display and Interpretation Manager for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution for twelve years: it took six to achieve the word 'interpretation' in my job title, then to brief every colleague on the full meaning of the word! Today, I practise the black art as a freelance interpretation and arts consultant. I aim to bring an imaginative approach to AHI's events programme, and find new events in previously unexplored topics.

In 1994, after twenty years working in finance, I decided it was time for a change. I spent a fascinating academic year at the Ironbridge Institute, which introduced me to the world of heritage and interpretation. A number of part time roles followed, including being Treasurer of SIBH, later to become AHI. In 1998 the financial demands of family meant that I joined the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, back in a finance role, and have been there ever since, currently as Director of Finance.

However, I have continued to be involved with AHI in the background, handling the payroll for the Administrator. Following the recent decision to use CCML to handle the administration, I was asked if I would again be Treasurer. So I am back on the Committee, hopefully helping the other Committee Members to navigate AHI through the current recessionary times, and still keeping a link with interpretation.

I have spent roughly 21 hugely enjoyable years working in the interpretation industry. My induction in interpretation was while working as the first education officer at the Chelsea Physic Garden, researching medicinal herbs and setting up the education service. Educators at Kew Gardens, Edinburgh Botanic Gardens, Oxford Botanic Gardens and Chelsea Physic garden got together and formed a network of Botanic Garden Educators (now BGEN) and were lucky to go on a course on interpretation in gardens run by James Carter. Since then I’ve never looked back! I moved on to work at the Natural History Museum and then the National Trust.

I gained my PhD on ‘the role of persuasive communications in changing attitudes and behaviour to nature conservation’ and am now back with gardens as Head of Education for the Royal Horticultural Society.

I have worked to build memorable connections between people, place, wildlife and human heritage for almost 30 years; first as a natural sciences curator and later as an environmental educator, writer, interpreter and poet. I established TellTale 18 years ago and now direct a vibrant and creative team. My own work focuses on strategic and advisory work, pushing the boundaries of interpretive writing, and providing training to inspire the next generation of interpreters.