Compass Team
Director
Peter Reed
Peter has worked as an independent producer for over 10 years supporting the work of Louise Ann Wilson Company, Common Wealth, Slung Low and Ellie Harrison’s Grief Series. He has overseen the development of Compass Live Art from weekender festival in 2011 to the biennial commissioning festival it is today.
Digital Communications Consultant
Lydia Cottrell
Lydia is an artist based in Leeds that creates multi-disciplinary work. She uses her interest in online space to support arts organisations in creating online content. She is the Director of SLAP Collective and is a Black Metal Beauty Influencer.
Compass Young Producers Scheme Traineeship
Jennie Gilman
Jennie works in radio production within the arts and culture sector, she is currently completing a Research MA, exploring sci-fi books through Virtual Reality goggles. Her involvement in Compass came from her interest in the potential of immersive technologies and immersive theatre.
Compass Young Producers Scheme Traineeship
Charlotte Mereli
Charlotte is a dance artist and creative currently completing her MA in Dance and Creative Enterprise at NSCD. Before that, she studied Dance & Choreography at Falmouth University, Cornwall. As well as her love for the arts, Charlotte is interested in social media marketing and online presence, and after graduating hopes to combine her interests and work in marketing for the arts.
Board of Trustees
Manpreet Dhadda (Chair)
I daylight as an Interpretation Developer at the National Railway Museum, where I help design temporary, permanent, static, and touring exhibitions. I do my part in making sure the arts illuminate every corner of my community, but I’m constantly educating myself on how to take up space in a changing world. If I’m not at my desk I’m walking, painting, or visiting other museums and galleries.
Leah Francis
I am a freelance theatre maker, performer, and facilitator. I am also the Co-founder and Artistic Director of the theatre collective Speak Woman Speak. I believe in the power of socially engaged art and performance and its ability to challenge and disrupt oppressive systems and ideologies. In my spare time I enjoy travelling reading (currently Octavia Butler’s- Kindred) and nature walks I also like dancing on a night out!
Sam Day
Since moving to Leeds in 2011 I have been engaged with the local arts community through my work as an audio and lighting engineer. I have spent many years as a freelancer working across the city and further afield, maintaining a connection to the organisations that support the local community and arts. I am currently the technical manager for the Howard Assembly Room, a multi functional arts venue within the organisation of Opera North. I bring technical expertise to my passion for music and performance.
Dr Shona Hunter
I am a Reader in the Carnegie School of Education at Leeds Beckett University. In that role I direct postgraduate research programs and obsess over state and institutional power and our resistances to it. Outside of the University I sing on my own and with and for others, I cook, run, read memoir and fiction voraciously and am known for the odd bit of (sometimes) successfully executed DIY in my beloved old house.’
Fe
I love anything to do with art, the arts, creativity and human expression. Throw in some wellbeing and we’ve got a great recipe for a delicious life! There are lots of tasty things happening in the art scene in Leeds and Yorkshire and being a part of Compass Live Art means I can continue to champion the wonderful talent that has always been in our region. I’m looking forward to the feast!
Wendy Denman
I have championed arts in Leeds through various public-facing roles in and around Leeds for 20 years, since graduating with an Events Management degree from Leeds Beckett University. Working in destination marketing for Visit Leeds gave me a great love for the city and the people who make interesting things happen here. As well as experiencing Compass Festival events as an attendee, I have also been lucky enough to host a few, in my past roles managing Trinity Kitchen and at Bruntwood where I was the regional lead for cultural partnerships. I now work in place-making community engagement, supporting local residents and businesses to thrive. Outside of work, I get involved in a number of group activities including running, singing, comedy writing, book clubs, and dress-making. My skills lie in being an enthusiastic all-rounder and having fun whilst getting things done.