UK Council

Javier Torres is a visionary cultural manager committed to the transformative power of dance education, culture, and the arts. Javier believes that these elements are crucial for global growth, development, and positive change.

As a passionate, innovative, academic & dynamic cultural manager, Javier brings considerable leadership skills. Born in Cuba, he is considered one of the best dancers of his generation. His 22 years of dance career took him to captivating audiences in over 29 countries across the Americas, Europe, and Asia.

In addition to his cultural manager experience, Javier is a producer and artists’ representative, collaborating with established dance stars, companies and choreographers globally. He is also the founder and CEO of We Dance Agency, an organization committed to representing top-tier dancers & choreographers and supporting dancers globally through business consultancy while promoting a culture of peace through dance diplomacy. Javier is the co-creator/director, and promoter of the “Alafia” Afro-Cuban Dance Festival, the largest event of its kind in the UK, dedicated to showcasing and celebrating Afro-Cuban traditions and culture.

As of 2024, Javier serves as the Managing Director of the Carlos Acosta Dance Foundation and the Acosta Dance Centre in London, where he continues to inspire and shape the future of dance.

He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in the UK and a UK Council Member for Creative UK. Javier holds a BA Hons in Business Management and Leadership Practices a Master in Business Administration (MBA) and an Executive Diploma in Cultural Diplomacy, International Relations & Global Governance. 

Image Credit: Nauris Buksevics 

Tamzyn is the CEO of CMP overseeing the collective efforts of CMP’s team ensuring its mission of creating positive social change with museums. She is passionate about working in collaboration and advocating for the brilliant work that happens in museums and heritage settings across the whole of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, in particular the experience of working across a rural region.

Tamzyn has over 20 years of proven leadership with the creative, heritage, social enterprise, local authority and third sectors, locally, regionally, and nationally. As an empathetic, collaborative leader with widespread experience in the creation and delivery of values and purpose led organisations and strategies, she has worked in both executive and non-executive roles, leading, coaching and delivering effective policy creation, strategy design, partnership and innovation amongst teams and organisations of different sizes and scales.

In her previous role as Principal Lead for Culture and Creative Economy at Cornwall Council, she led the co-creation of Cornwall’s Creative Manifesto and led on the commissioning of the G7 UK 2021 Cultural Programme.

Tamzyn has a MA in Curating Contemporary Design from the Design Museum and Kingston University. She is a member of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Creative Industries Sector Body and an Advisory Council Member for Tate St Ives.

Professor Frances Corner OBE is Warden of Goldsmiths, University of London. She is the academic and administrative leader of the university and the first woman to take on the role since Goldsmiths was founded.    

Previously Head of London College of Fashion and Pro Vice-Chancellor of University of the Arts London, Professor Corner has over 20 years’ experience in higher education leadership.    

She is board member for the University of London and London Higher, Chair of the AccessHE Steering Group, and Council member for the All-Party Parliamentary University Group. A passionate sustainability advocate, Frances is Executive Chair of the London Higher Sustainability Network and a member of the Universities UK Task and Finish Group exploring how UK universities can address climate change.

Frances is Chair of Trustees at Maudsley Charity. She was previously Chair of the International Foundation of Fashion Technology Institutes and Chair of Trustees for the House of Illustration. She was also a board member for Advance HE, the Wallace Collection and Centrepoint, the youth homelessness charity.

In 2009, Frances was awarded an OBE for services to fashion higher education and widening participation in arts education.