Today we are announcing the change to the Chair of International Newcastle and are grateful to our outgoing Chair Clymene Christoforou and welcome our new Chair, Professor Jon Reast.
We benefit from the legacy of Clymene, who has been with the Board for a decade and has been our Chair since 2018. She has overseen changes in how we work in partnership across the city to promote international and intercultural connections, opportunities and experiences, which are delivering impact in the city, especially for children and young people and underrepresented and disadvantaged groups and communities. We thank Clymene for her vision, dedication and invaluable contribution to our work. We wish her every success with the work she does supporting international and intercultural arts programmes across the city and beyond with D6: Culture in Transit. Our paths will continue to cross.
“It has been a privilege to work alongside the IN Board, our Director Declan Baharini and our intrepid partners who have creatively, confidently and generously shaped an international ambition for our city, navigating the recent challenges of Brexit, Covid and an increasingly difficult environment for those seeking refuge in our country.
I look forward to the next chapter as International Newcastle relaunches as a charity, strengthening its capacity to champion and support Newcastle as a welcoming, multicultural and inclusive city.”
Clymene Christoforou, Executive Director, D6 Culture in Transit
As we move to a new phase in our development and are applying to become a charity, we welcome Professor Jon Reast as our new Chair. Jon is Pro Vice Chancellor (International) at Northumbria University. He brings a wealth of expertise and insight to the Board. Jon is committed to our mission to help raise aspirations, widen opportunities for children and young people and disadvantaged groups, promote skills for the future workforce and support Newcastle’s ambitions as a multicultural, inclusive city which celebrates diversity.
Following in the foot-steps of Clymene Christoforou, who has guided this wonderful organisation so skilfully, I am delighted to be announced as the new Chair of International Newcastle.
Having been involved with the organisation for just over a year, I am constantly amazed at the value which International Newcastle contributes to the city and local region.
I, alongside all of our Board, are proud of the work which we do in:
- raising aspirations and widening access to opportunities for young people and disadvantaged groups
- upskilling and developing the future workforce through international and intercultural experiences and languages
- supporting Newcastle as a welcoming city to visit, study and work in and as outward looking city which connects to the world
- supporting the ambitions to be a multicultural, inclusive city, increasing intercultural awareness and celebrating diversity
I will be taking on this role at such an important juncture, the point at which International Newcastle seeks to become a charity, expanding its ability to raise funding from a wider range of sources, and thus expanding what we can deliver for Newcastle. I look forward to working with the board, and bringing forth my international and strategic experience to International Newcastle.
Professor Jon Reast, Pro Vice Chancellor (International), Northumbria University