Even Allen (They/Them)

Occupation: Art writer and critic

Tell us about yourself

I am an art writer, critic and activist who seeks to uplift the work of marginalised groups, disabled people, those from the global majority and as a queer person LGBTQ+ people.  I have given cultural talks on the accessibility of public collections at Sheffield Museums and written about the works of LGBTQ+ artists for Corridor8.  

Having originally studied Biochemistry at university I was forced to reevaluate my career upon receiving a diagnosis of epilepsy in 2017.  This forced me to reevaluate my aspirations and I was able to take my hobby from university, writing about my friends exhibitions and degree shows, into a career.  I first began with a small blog and over time have worked with artists in the north of England to develop That Looks Queer as a queer led queer uplifting media brand which became a limited company in 2024.

Why would you like to be a board member?

I am interested in the equalisation of wealth and capital as well as accommodation for all.  Personally I would enjoy discussing artist communities and how the artistic movements and models of the past, such as the Bauhaus, may be adapted to form intriguing future models for housing and community.

Tell us about your suitability for the role, and what you would bring to the SCLT

Having worked within the cultural sector in Sheffield since 2018 I have experienced the inequality in terms of access to good affordable housing for people within Sheffield as well as access to studio and live work spaces.  If chosen for a board member position my remit would be to explore methods of community structures in order to create a cohesive plan for affordable housing.  

Thea Kerwick (She/Her)

Occupation: Project Officer, Sheffield City Council

Tell us about yourself

“I am a Project Officer for Sheffield City Council (SCC), currently working in Sport and Leisure, and previously in Parks and Countryside. My role focuses on developing projects, strategies, and initiatives to help more people access movement and the outdoors. I also work closely with our planning department, providing feedback on planning applications impacting public open spaces and playing fields. Over the last year, I have been deeply involved in local plan discussions, which has sparked a strong personal interest in the balance between community needs and city-wide developments.

Before joining SCC, I worked in the charitable sector as a Community Project Officer for Groundwork and a Relief Coordinator at Big Issue North. These roles embodied my enthusiasm for working with and for people, which continues to guide my career and personal interests. Having lived in Sheffield for 10 years, this city feels like home, and I want to contribute more to the community beyond my professional work.

I am particularly passionate about integrating community voices into planning systems and ensuring developments prioritise people and well-being, creating spaces that reflect and balance the diverse needs of employment, housing, and recreation. I am excited by the opportunity to bring this perspective to the Sheffield Community Land Trust.”

Why would you like to be a board member?

I believe Sheffield Community Land Trust’s mission aligns closely with my personal values, particularly around creating community-led spaces that offer sustainable solutions to the social issues we face today.

Having previously worked in hands-on, community-based roles, I want to reconnect with this work and be part of a team that proactively furthers collective positive action in line with SCLT’s goals. While I can bring experience and expertise from my local government work, I am eager for the freedom, flexibility, and opportunity to collaborate with and learn from others across diverse fields.

I am also looking to deepen my understanding of community ownership and asset transfers. While I have professional experience in these areas, I have not seen them from a community perspective. Bridging this gap is important to me, as it will help me improve my work and ensure a more inclusive approach.

Finally, I have developed a genuine passion for the land—who owns it, how it is managed, and how decisions are made about its future. Too often, these processes feel disconnected from true community interests and needs. This role offers the perfect opportunity to help re-align these priorities and make a meaningful contribution.”

Tell us about your suitability for the role, and what you would bring to the SCLT

I bring a variety of professional experiences working in roles that centre on people, communities, and the spaces they live in. As a Project Officer at Sheffield City Council, I’ve worked on initiatives in Sport and Leisure and Parks and Countryside, focusing on increasing access to outdoor spaces and improving well-being. I also work closely with Sheffield’s planning department, contributing to planning applications and the Local Plan. This experience has given me valuable insights into balancing development with community needs, as well as a solid understanding of urban planning and public space management.

My background also includes hands-on community work, including roles at Groundwork and Big Issue North, where I coordinated projects and initiatives with diverse groups. This has equipped me with skills in stakeholder engagement, project management, and collaborative working.

I have a growing interest in community ownership, land use, and sustainable development, and I want to help ensure that decision-making processes reflect the voices and needs of local people. My mix of practical experience, strategic thinking, and passion for equitable development makes me well-suited to contribute to SCLT’s mission. I am particularly well-placed to support planning and development discussions, while also bringing a community-focused perspective to the board.

Kate McKenzie (She/Her)
Occupation: Portfolio Manager, Power to Change

Tell us about yourself

Hello, I’m Kate, a Sheffield resident since 2019, Mum to a lively four year old, foodie and enthusiastic but not expert yogi. I’m passionate about creating a more equitable and sustainable future, supporting models, approaches and the people and organisations challenging the economic status quo and bringing forward fairer and more joyful alternatives. I’ve pivoted my career to work in this space, having studied in Sheffield and moved to London to work first in TV and film and then publishing, and now work with community businesses, and am seeking a way to be more closely connected to place-based action in my local area. 

Why would you like to be a board member?

I’m keen to join the SCLT board as I’m excited to get more closely involved in a community-led organisation working in my city, Sheffield, and because I think I have knowledge, experience and skills that I can usefully contribute to the team and organisation in pursuit of SCLT’s vision and mission. With my daughter now in school I have time and energy to put towards local community action, and SCLT’s focus on bringing land and existing buildings into community ownership, and providing space for the community’s needs, including housing, and social, cultural and workspaces is compelling to me. Additionally, in my day job I support the work of community businesses, both through providing grant funding and through more systemic work to create the political and financial conditions in which community businesses can thrive. I have learnt a lot about the joy and challenge of working in a place-based and community-centric way, and I would really value the opportunity to sit on the other side of the table, learning about how to effectively run a community organisation by being part of the team. Tell us about your suitability for the role, and what you would bring to the SCLT.

Tell us about your suitability for the role, and what you would bring to the SCLT

I’ve been working in pursuit of a more inclusive and sustainable economic system since completing the On Purpose leadership programme in 2016, shifting my career to work in social enterprises, and more recently with community-led organisations. I work as a Portfolio Manager with Power to Change, designing and leading grant funding programmes to support community businesses, and lead our thematic focus on high streets and town centres. I have also run leadership programmes with Power to Change and On Purpose. I would bring to SCLT experience of supporting individual and organisational development and growth, and could confidently contribute to the development of a long-term strategy and the organisational development necessary to accomplish ambitious goals. Alongside this experience I would bring knowledge of the national picture of community-led economic regeneration, including the people and organisations leading change in their places, funding this work, and setting the policy framework at a regional and national level. I am a strategic thinker, able to balance long-term objectives with the detailed work necessary to deliver well, and am motivated to become more embedded in my adopted home city, translating my professional experience to understand and respond to local needs and ambitions here in Sheffield.

Diane Owens (She/Her)

Occupation: Community Services Manager, Sheffield City Council

Tell us about yourself

I’m passionate about social justice and this is reflected in my academic and career choices. Professionally, I’ve focused on neighbourhood management, community engagement, capacity building and equality and inclusion. I started my working life in the third sector, before moving to the public sector, where I’ve worked for over 15 years. I’m currently on a secondment which focuses on community asset transfer, my substantive post is the South Local Area Committee Manager. 

I have over 20 years’ experience of working with diverse communities, VCFSE organisations and with councilors, MP’s and partner organisations across health, housing, community safety, education etc. I’m passionate about working with local communities and supporting real change. 

My main interests are travelling, horse riding and cooking. I love being out in nature, whether walking or horse riding, so my weekends are often spent in the peak district.  Together with my partner, we also love to travel. I enjoy learning about other cultures and ways of life, seeing new places both in terms of history and architecture but also taking opportunities to connect with nature. I’ve been lucky to visit and experience many beautiful places around the world.  I also love to cook for friends and family

Why would you like to be a board member?

I’ve been thinking about becoming involved in a local third sector organisation for the past few months, but it was important to find the right opportunity, where I could feel like my values would align and I could make a positive contribution.  I had already signed up for SCLT bulletins as I’m interested in this area of work. So, when I saw the SCLT advert for directors I was obviously keen to find out more.  

I read up about SCLT and the role and arranged to meet with Mark Parsons for an informal chat and to hear more about the work and future plans and to see if my skills and experience might be a good match.  This confirmed my interest.  

I believe passionately in community ownership of assets and land, hence my current secondment and work on community asset transfer. Community ownership ensure control and influence, it can build capacity, contributing to growth but with a focus on people and communities.  I feel strongly about affordability and sustainability when it comes to homes and buildings.  Including environmental and social impact. People need high quality homes but also spaces for connection and collaboration, to support happy and healthy communities. 

Tell us about your suitability for the role, and what you would bring to the SCLT

I’ve lived in Sheffield for over 20 years, in private rented accommodation, a house share and now as a homeowner. I want to see the city to continue to grow and develop, whilst putting people and communities first. 

I can bring a wide range of skills.  I would also bring my lived experience.  I’m from a traditional working-class background and was raised in single parent home for many years, with two siblings. For the latter years I spent at home, my mum worked part time as a cook and cleaner at a local school. Life was hard, with money and a roof over our heads a constant worry. I moved 9 times between 0-18 years. Living in social but mainly private rented sector properties.  We also spent time in a hostel.  So, I know what it means to not have a quality home, or stability or any sense of control.  I also know the impact this can have mentally and physically on individuals and communities. 

In terms of skills, I have considerable expertise around engagement, equalities and inclusion and partnership working (including navigating and working with local authorities and councilors) along with asset-based approaches to working with communities.

Cristina Cerulli (she/her)
Cristina is Professor of Ethical Practice in Architecture and Urban Design and Postgraduate Research Tutor in the Department of Natural and Built Environment at Sheffield Hallam University. She is also a qualified Architect in Italy and a founding director of Studio Polpo.

Terri-Louise Doyle (she/her)

Terri is an architectural designer with an interest in community wealth building & community-led spaces. She has worked on carbon conscious live-build projects with Studio Bark & Rotor DC, climate dialogues with Ark Sheffield/Resolve Co. and with the Disordinary Architecture Project to support their Architecture Beyond Sight program.

Alice Grant (she/her)

Alice is an Architect currently working at Nottingham Energy Partnership a fuel poverty and energy charity. Her work is focused on community Conservation Retrofit projects and education around retrofit. She also teaches at Sheffield School of Architecture.

James Harrington (he/they)

James Harrington is an architectural designer, artist & educator, whose work focuses on community-led initiatives, cross-disciplinary practice,& neighbourhood transition. They are a director of Studio Polpo, a part time lecturer in architectural design at Leeds Beckett University  and formerly  a coordinating member of Social Art Network.

Alex Maxwell (he/him)

With a background in architecture and strategic design, Alex has experience working with cultural, media, and educational institutions in the UK  & abroad. His focus on revitalizing high streets through small-scale interventions led him to establish and manage an award-winning independent bookshop and creative studio for the past eight years.

Jon Orlek (he/him)

Jon is a Senior Lecturer in Architecture at Liverpool John Moores University. His research is concerned with artist-led organisations and spaces, critical spatial practices, embedded research methods, and collective forms of housing. Jon is also a director of Studio Polpo where he has experience supporting community-led housing and high street projects.

Mark Parsons (he/him)

Mark is an Architect with over 25 years experience in housing, education, historic building, sustainable and passivhaus projects, and community focused work. He is a co-founder of Sheffield based social enterprise Studio Polpo, and also teaches in the School of Architecture at the University of Sheffield. Mark is the Secretary of SCLT.