Professor Haidy Geismar
Director
School for the Creative and Cultural Industries
Professor Haidy Geismar is a social anthropologist with extensive experience of working in partnership with cultural practitioners including curators, community groups and artists, and with cultural organisations.
Her research interests focus on intellectual and cultural property, indigenous rights, colonial histories and legacies, new forms of cultural representation, the affects and and effect of digitisation, the anthropology of art, critical museology and the South Pacific.
Core Team
Dr Kara Blackmore - Curator - Urban Room
Kara is developing the Urban Room as a space for experiential learning, exhibition making, and community dialogue. Kara will use her experience in academic institutions and with community-driven exhibition making to support a dynamic user group of people who want to address issues of urbanism and public history.
Dr Leo Burtin - Careers Education Manager
Leo supports employability modules across all SCCI’s programmes. Leo offers one-to-one appointments exclusive to SCCI students to enable their career development and support the professionalisation of their creative practices. As an expert in the dynamic landscape of careers in the Creative and Cultural Industries, Leo aims to empower members of the SCCI community to achieve their vision in a sustainable manner. Leo maintains strong relationships with the wider sector through his membership of the Association for Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) Creative Industries Task Group, his co-administration of the UK Theatre Producers network and his role as Non-Executive Director for Aspex Portsmouth.
Sarah Byrne - Manager and Curator - Culture Lab
Sarah leads on the UCL Culture Lab’s exhibitions and programmes whilst supporting teaching aimed at nurturing a new generation of curators. The Culture Lab works with UCL collections and archives and collaborate with students, artists, and community members on exhibition themes that resonate and matter to them. After spending 12 years working as a curator at the Horniman Museum, Sarah brings her skills and experiences to the Culture Lab, helping to shape the future of the new and dynamic space.
Simba Chivaka - Cluster Room & Media Space Support Specialist
Simba works closely with Spencer to manage the School’s cutting-edge spaces and equipment, including the BlackBox, an acoustically optimized audio room, a recording suite, podcast suite, two screening rooms, and an audio dub suite. Additionally, Simba manages a grading suite and two production suites. These efforts aim to create inspiring workspaces across diverse creative domains.
Andrea De Santis - Operations Manager
Andrea is responsible for all operational areas of the School, working with faculties and departments and supporting the Academic Director in the establishment and running of the School. Andrea also leads the professional service team who support all areas of the School’s administration and engagement activities.
Lina Merzougui - Operations Administrator
Lina supports the Professional Services Team in delivering operational, administrative and engagement activities across SCCI, the Culture Lab and the Urban Room. She coordinates finance, HR, estates, facilities and event-related activities, working closely with senior leadership to ensure the effective day-to-day management of these public-facing cultural and community spaces.
Tomoyo Miyakawa - Careers & Partnerships Lead (SCCI)
Tomoyo is responsible for providing effective leadership and management of the SCCI Careers team and for developing strategic partnerships between SCCI and the creative and cultural industries. She also supports the SCCI Director on key projects aligned with strategic priorities, oversees the SCCI employability programme, and develops cross-team initiatives on employability in collaboration with key internal stakeholders.
Camella Ramjet - Collections Care and Curatorial Assistant
Camella’s role focuses on conservation, collections care, audience engagement and accessibility for the UCL Culture Lab, including implementing preventive conservation measures for the Culture Lab’s exhibition space and collection store.
Spencer Samuel - Media Production Technical Specialist
Spencer is a Media Production Technical Specialist working in ISD. He is currently working with the SCCI programme on the set-up and delivery of the Media Studios, Specialist Computer Cluster rooms and BlackBox in Marshgate.
Anick Soni – Careers Education Officer (SCCI)
Anick (He/Him) supports SCCI as the Employer Engagement and Work-Related Learning Officer. His focus is on building meaningful relationships between students, alumni, and external stakeholders across the arts. He has an extensive background working in Higher Education, Media, and Diversity & Inclusion. Outside of UCL, Anick is a multidisciplinary Creative Consultant, Writer, and Researcher.
Ella Strickland de Souza – Senior Communications and Marketing Officer
Ella oversees the communications for the school including the website, social media channels and events.
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School for the Creative and Cultural Industries
Click to email. scci-enquiries@ucl.ac.uk