Committee

Chair

Jenni Fuchs - Chair

Jenni has been working for National Museums Scotland since January 2004 in various capacities. She holds an MA(Hons) in Scottish Ethnology & English Language from the University of Edinburgh, and an MA in Museum Studies from the University of Leicester. Jenni has previously done internships at the National Museum Wales, and the Smithsonian Institution. She has been a helper and member of the VSG committee since 2006.

Jenni Fuchs

Visitor Studies Officer

National Museums Scotland, Edinburgh

Deputy Chair

Helen Featherstone - Deputy Chair

Helen is a science communicator with over nine years experience in the field. She has recently completed a PhD exploring public engagement with climate change, and currently works at At-Bristol and the Science Communication Unit at the University of the West of England, Bristol. She joined the VSG committee as Deputy Chair in 2009.

Helen Featherstone

Science Communicator

At-Bristol/ Univeristy of the West of England

Membership Secretary

Georgina Bishop - Membership Secretary

Georgina is an Interpretation Developer at the Natural History Museum.  She develops exhibitions and has over 6 years experience of exhibition and programme evaluation. She is a graduate of the Institute of Archaeology, UCL and has been a helper and member of the VSG committee since 2006. She is also a member of the US based Visitor Studies Association. 

Georgina Bishop

Interpretation Developer

Natural History Museum, London

Treasurer

Olga Fakatseli - Treasurer

Olga is a museum consultant specialising in exhibit, programme and software evaluation using quantitative and qualitative methodologies. She has previously worked as a Research Associate at Audience Focus Ltd, curator at the National Historical Museum, Athens and at the Greek Ministry of Culture. Olga holds a BA in Archaeology and History of Art from Athens University and an MA and PhD in Museum Studies from UCL. She has been a VSG committee helper and member since 2007.

Olga Fakatseli

Museum Consultant

London

Committee Member

Katey Boal - Committee Member

Katey completed her MA in museum studies at the University of Leicester in the UK in 2005/6.  Currently she is the Assistant Curator Learning and Access at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery. In her role at IMAG she has developed and implemented a Gaelic Language policy that takes into account Multiple Learning styles, developed Intellectual Access Guidelines for the Highland Museums Service as well as working on many other projects.

Katey Boal

Assistant Curator (Learning and Access)

Inverness Museum and Art Gallery

Committee Member (Partnerships Co-ordinator)

Elaine Cabuts - Committee Member

Elaine joined Amgueddfa Cymru in 2000. She is currently responsible for the Museum’s new public engagement and consultation scheme, which is part of its recently revised governance structure and Royal Charter. Since 1999, Elaine has been a Board member and freelance consultant for visual arts and craft organisations in England and Wales, and holds a BA in Photography (University of Wales Newport), and an Advanced Diploma in Arts Management (Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama). Elaine has been a helper and member of the VSG committee since 2008.

Elaine Cabuts

Museum Secretary 

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

Committee Member

Maggie Esson - Committee Member

Maggie has been with Chester Zoo for almost four years. Before that she was with Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust (Jersey Zoo). She has an MA in Education, Cert Ed HE/FE, Certificate in Health Education, Member of the Institute of Public Relations, and Member of the Chartered Society of Designers. She is currently in a Doctorate programme at Liverpool John Moores University. Her field of investigation is the role of zoos as education providers. Maggie has been a VSG committee member since 2008.

Maggie Esson

Education Programmes Manager

Chester Zoo, North of England Zoological Society

Committee Member (Web Content Officer)

Elin Simonsson - Committee Member

Elin has worked in audience research since 2003. She is currently involved in developing, delivering and evaluating museum interpretation at the V&A in London. Elin was previously an Audience Researcher at the Science Museum, London, where she conducted audience research and advocacy for exhibitions, websites and events programming. Elin holds a BA in Archaeology and a MA in Public Archaeology from the Institute of Archaeology, UCL. She has has been a VSG committee member since 2007.

Elin Simonsson

Assistant Gallery Educator

Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Committee Helper (Web Content Assistant)

Sofie Davis - Committee Helper

Sofie works as an Audience Researcher at the Science Museum. She has conducted formative evaluation for the interactive Launchpad gallery, prototype testing exhibits, interpretation methods and the associated website. She has also been involved in researching audience needs for web projects, and evaluating teacher’s courses and Outreach programmes. Sofie previously worked freelance as a museum educator at institutions such as the Museum of Immigration and Diversity and the British Museum. She has been a VSG committee helper since 2008.

Sofie Davis

Audience Researcher

Science Museum, London

Committee Helper

Emily Dawson - Committee Helper

Emily is exploring public engagement with science in terms of social inclusion for her PhD at Kings College. She spent two years as a research associate at the Science Communication Unit at UWE, on a combination of engagement and research projects. Emily has a Museum Studies MA from Leicester University and has worked for a range of museums including the Costume Museum (Bath), the Royal Institution and MA research at the Natural History Museum."

Emily Dawson

PhD Research Student

King's College London

Committee Helper

Jen DeWitt - Committee Helper

Jen is currently a researcher at King's College London, focusing on students' aspirations in science. She also has experience in exhibit and programme development and evaluation and has previously worked for Scholastic, the New York Botanical Garden and the Children's Museum of Houston. Jen holds a BA in Psychology (Brown University), an MA in Developmental Psychology (UCLA) and has completed a PhD and post-doc in Science Education which focused on school trips (King's College London, Centre for Informal Learning and Schools).

Jen DeWitt

Researcher

King's College London

Committee Helper

Susie Fisher - Committee Helper

Susie is an audience consultant, specialising in qualitative evaluation. What interests her professionally is understanding how audiences relate to difficult concepts, how to engage people with them, and how to use objects to tell stories. Clients include the Science Museum, The V&A, King’s Place, the Design Council, the British Library and the Royal College of Pathologists. Susie is a graduate of Oxford and Harvard, studying psychology, philosophy and education. She is a founder member and former Chair of the VSG, and rejoined the committee as a helper in 2009.

Susie Fisher

Director

The Susie Fisher Group