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 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 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 ten 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. I am delighted to have joined the AHI committee this year, and look forward to working with and learning from my colleagues as we explore the opportunities for interpretation in the coming year.

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. As Display and Interpretation Manager for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, it took six years to achieve the word 'interpretation' in my job title, then to brief every colleague on the full meaning of the word! Today, I practice the black art at lifeboat stations and new museum developments. I hope to bring an imaginative approach and find new events in previously unexplored topics.

Nigel has worked in interpretation for the last 12 years and says that he gets a buzz out of doing it every day. For the last 6 years he has worked for Shropshire County Council as interpretation manager. In this time he has focused on the essential elements that make visitors glad they took time to explore Shropshire’s rich heritage rather than go shopping.

Nigel returns to the committee after a 2 year absence. ‘The AHI has been very good to me, and I’m very happy to be in a position to give something back. I think we are beginning a golden age for interpretation, kicked of by Vital Spark conference. It’s great to be a part of it.’

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 spent 25 hugely enjoyable years trying to build memorable connections between people, place, wildlife and human heritage; 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.