Gendered Intelligence is made up of a host of highly skilled freelance workers who are facilitators, practitioners, artists, writers, researchers, and other creative types. They have been involved in our activities and projects in all sorts of different ways, and to different degrees. This might be from delivering a one off workshop relative to a certain area of expertise, or as an ongoing facilitator for a project. We also have a good track record of carrying out rigorous evaluation from our projects, evidencing our practice and building data for our community. Here is some information about some of the team:
Finn is the Trans Youth Support Worker for Gendered Intelligence. During 2010 - 2011, he ran the Gendered Intelligence youth group twice a month as well as carrying out some of the Capturing your Journey and Setting Goals interviews and working with key workers, parents and family members of young trans people from across England. Finn has worked with Gendered Intelligence as a trans awareness trainer and creative workshop facilitator for around four years. His training is in youth work and before working for Gendered Intelligence Finn was the manager of an LGBT Youth Project. Finn has also worked in various areas of the LGBT and youth work communities, volunteering and campaigning for about seven years.
Lorna is a freelance movement and theatre facilitator. After training in dance and theatre she completed an MA in Applied Theatre at Central School of Speech & Drama. Her work now is focused on using theatre and creativity in the community and within educational settings. She has worked with Creativity Matters and Creative Partnerships on their Foundation Stage curriculum research projects and continues to work with Early Years children and families at The Circus Space and with iceandfire theatre company. She was involved in the creation and tour of Brief Encounters in 2008 and 2009 and is now acting as Project co-ordinator, director and facilitator for a Gendered Intelligence drama project.
Simon is an active member of the trans community and a practising artist. He's worked in and around the community in a range of voluntary roles since 1997 and chaired FTM London for several years. He's a firm believer in the value and importance of art and art-based projects to the community. For Gendered Intelligence, he works on a self-employed basis taking on various roles from time to time. Currently he's helping with the finances. He has also provided admin support for the Trans Community Conference. As well as exhibiting his art in group shows, Simon works 3 days a week in the voluntary sector providing support and advice to charities and other communities.
Karen does administration work for Gendered Intelligence, which involves a wide range of activities, including being secretary of the Trans Youth Support Work steering group, and collating evaluations from various sessions carried out by Gendered Intelligence. She is currently involved in the administration of the Trans Community Conference. Karen trained as an actor at the Poor School and recent theatre productions she has performed in include Like a Fishbone at the Cockpit Theatre and The Green Room at the Etcetera Theatre. She has also acted in several short films and works at Central School of Speech & Drama as Assistant to the Dean of Studies.
In 2010, Fiona facilitated on the 'Interarts' project, an intergenerational arts project for LGBTQ participants run by Gendered Intelligence in collaboration with Age UK. She has since begun to work in schools with Gendered Intelligence delivering gender awareness workshops. Having trained at Central School of Speech & Drama, Fiona graduated with a First Class BA (Hons) degree in Drama, Applied Theatre and Education. Fiona is a London-based applied theatre practitioner who works in a variety of community and educational settings. Her practice is rooted in creating inclusive and accessible participatory experiences which can empower people to change and develop through positive interactions with art. Fiona is particularly interested in the use of drama, media and technology within her practice. She currently works for C&T Theatre Company (www.candt.org) as a Drama Animateur in a secondary school. She also runs weekly drama sessions for Spanner in the Works with young people with mental health issues (www.spannerintheworks.org.uk).
In 2010, Cherry was our installation facilitator and technician on the 'Interarts' project, an intergenerational arts project for LGBTQ participants run by Gendered Intelligence in collaboration with Age UK. Cherry Truluck designs sets, costume and video projection for various theatres and events, including Jermyn Street Theatre, Brighton Loves Fashion, The Edinburgh Festival and Theatre503. She was recently nominated for "Best Set Designer" in the OffWestEnd awards (A Cavalier for Milady at the Cock Tavern Theatre). Outside of the theatre recent work has included art direction at music festivals, education projects and graphic/website design. When there is time, Cherry also creates multimedia art installation work, independently and as part of international online performance troupe ActiveLayers, of which she was a co-founder. Her work has been exhibited and performed in the UK and internationally. For further information please visit www.cherrytruluck.co.uk.
Rebecca Root has been involved with Gendered Intelligence as a voice practitioner across many of our youth projects as well delivering a workshop at our Trans Community Conference 2010. Rebecca gained her M.A. Voice Studies from Central School of Speech & Drama, University of London, graduating with Distinction. She is a Voice and Speech Instructor at Performers College, Essex; visiting lecturer on the M.A. Voice Studies course at Central; and runs her own private practise. She has given voice workshops in Mexico City, San Francisco, Oslo, Cardiff and London. She presented her paper There and Back Again: Adventures in Genderland at Harvard University and the National Theatre School of Norway; it is published in Voice and Speech Review: The Moving Voice (2009, USA). Rebecca is the recipient of the 2010 Clyde Vinson Memorial Scholarship bestowed by the Voice and Speech Trainers' Association (VASTA) (USA). She is a member of VASTA and the International Centre for Voice. Rebecca trained as an actor at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and has worked on voiceovers, on television and in theatre for twenty years, with credits including Midsomer Murders, Casualty, Keeping Up Appearances, and Hamlet (Gielgud Theatre). For further information please visit www.rebeccaroot.co.uk.
Ben Gooch carried out research and supported the report work attached to the Gendered Intelligence Trans Youth Support Work Project in 2011. He is also a member of the steering group. He co-facilitated the Free to be Me project with Gendered Intelligence, which tackled the topic of Hate Crime with the trans youth members. He co-ordinates Shine @ Galop, Galop's trans-specific project. The project is about encouraging organisations to be more trans inclusive on the one hand, and providing practical things to meet trans people's needs on the other. Ben has a long history of involvement with trans community activities. He was on the staff team of the Sci:dentity project 2006-7 (which brought young trans people together to explore sex, gender and science through creative methods), helped to organise the Transfabulous festival (an international festival of transgender arts and culture), produced the zine concept and design for the film 'The Lovers and Fighters Convention', and performed onstage for 'There is no word for it': the (trans) mangina monologues, a celebration of trans male sexuality. Ben co-chaired FTM London, the UK's largest face-to-face support and information group for trans masculine people, from March 2007 until May 2009.
Jason has delivered trans awareness training events at Gendered Intelligence and took part in a ticketed fundraising event for us with his stand up comedy show. Jason Elvis Barker is an award winning filmmaker, comix artist, occasional stand-up comedian, co-producer of Transfabulous (transfabulous.co.uk) and a programmer of the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. He makes animations. Recent clients include Central School of Speech & Drama, The British Film Institute and Galop. Jason likes corduroy, slippers and proper puddings with custard. For more about Jason's work go to www.jasonelvis.co.uk.
In 2010, Sam was our creative technician on the 'Interarts' project, an intergenerational arts project for LGBTQ participants run by Gendered Intelligence in collaboration with Age UK. Sam Bailey is a writer, director, Director of Photography and editor. To find out more about Sam's work check out his website: www.samueljbailey.com.
Erasmo Tacconelli is a member of the steering group for the Trans Youth Support Work Project in 2011 and supported the Brief Encounters project in 2009, by being available to the 50 participants for counselling support. Erasmo Tacconelli is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist. He qualified in 2000 and has since worked within many types of psychological services in the NHS, in voluntary settings and in private practice. He has specialised in mental health, sexual health and clinical health and currently works in a management role in East London Secondary Care Mental Health Services. Additional to clinical work, he has experience of working with the trans community, having set up a trans group, and contributed toward a range of trans events. Through teaching and research, he actively encourages trans awareness in the training of clinical psychologists.
Andolie Marguerite has been a committed volunteer supporting the Gendered Intelligence youth group since it started in February 2009. She is currently carrying out her PhD at Goldsmiths, University of London, within the Education Department.
Eliah is a youth worker and trans activist for TransInterQueer based in Berlin. His work combines methods of film-making and theatre techniques when working with young people to provide support on gender expression and identity. He also campaigns in Berlin to make gender and trans related topics visible. He took part in the Brief Encounters Project in February 2010 and was volunteering with Gendered Intelligence in 2010 focusing on the youth group and Trans Youth Support Worker role. Therein he started the Trans & Queer Cinema together with the participants of the youth group and he co-directed a theatre workshop for the Trans Community Conference 2010. Currently he is completing his studies on community theatre and social work in Berlin. His final degree thesis is called "Heteronormativity and theatre - chances of educational deconstruction" and he continues to campaign in Berlin to make gender and trans related topics visible.
Octavian, a student from Goldsmiths, University of London studying community and youth work, was an intern at Gendered Intelligence as part of his course placement between March and July 2011. He assisted the Trans Youth Support Worker with planning and supporting sessions and general work duties and has liaised with other organisations for signposting and youth support. In addition Octavian has also assisted with the creation and planning of new and upcoming programmes and events for Gendered Intelligence. Octavian hails from the United States and has a background in social justice and equality work.
Lola Olson is a genderqueer postgraduate student at Goldsmiths, University of London studying International Studies. Lola does a variety of work for Gendered Intelligence including some of the technical aspects around getting the website and fundraising going to doing some other graphics work like creating postcards.
Trans advocate and gender enthusiast Syriah Bailey has been involved in reducing transphobia and increasing awareness of gender diversity since 2008. An experienced production assistant in theatre, film and campaigns, Syriah works on art projects with often excluded communities through Brook Charity, Mildmay UK, Drill Hall and Roundhouse. They consistently use their creativity to help generate positive social change through additional means such as freelance web and graphic design, having worked with a range of industries including DVD distribution, sexual health services and youth outreach since 2006. Syriah does a variety of work for Gendered Intelligence, including events organising and graphic design on our reports.
We have also worked closely with approximately 10 students from BA Drama, Applied Theatre & Education degree and MA Applied Theatre at Central School of Speech & Drama, who have worked with the Gendered Intelligence youth group and carried out a variety of drama based workshops in schools that look at gender related topics.