Bob Harris

the C.V.

Education Employment Political Career Public Appointments Keynote Speeches Research


Born - 8th February 1949

EDUCATION
St Marylebone Grammar School - 1960-67
8 O' levels / A' Levels in English (B) Geog (A) Geology (A)

Bedford College, London University - 1968-70
BSc Special Honours in Geology

Rolle College Exmouth 1975 -76
Post Graduate Teaching Certificate

Other Courses attended:
Greenwich Council - 1979-2001
Accounting
Equal Opportunities in Recruitment
Racism Awareness
Disability Act
Race Relations Act

London Institute - 1986-87
Critical Film Theory

City University - 1979-80
Local Government and the Arts
Visual Arts
Arts Marketing

Exeter University - 1974-75
Psychodrama in treatment of the elderly


EMPLOYMENT
During my paid employment I have taken significant management responsibilities, planned and executed major projects. Offered political advice and support to senior politicians, managed budgets and research. I have produced broadcast quality video and devised and implemented key local government strategies. I have also organised major events and festivals. Since 2002 I have run my own business focussing on arts and business services in a regeneration context. I have been nominated twice for the Prudential Art awards.

February 2002-03 - Appointed Regional Regeneration Advisor - University of Greenwich

September 2000 - Present - Self Employed consultant in arts administration and business services.

    Clients including
  • Thames Gateway London Partnership
  • Ravensbourne College of Design & Communication
  • London Borough of Greenwich
  • Greenwich Enterprise Board

1990 - September 2000 - The Art of Change Coop- Marketing and New Business

    Key Achievements
  • Marketing strategy
  • Arts Council Incentive Funding Award
  • Lottery Bid
  • Visual arts and new technology policy
  • Video Production
  • Exhibition Production

Campaign Assistant -Film and Video Greenwich Council

    Key achievements
  • Creation Video Unit
  • Production Public Service Films

1985-1988 - Campaigns Assistant- Greenwich Council
    Key achievements
  • Greenwich Parliamentary Petition
  • Rates Act Campaign

1979-85 - Manager of Clockhouse Arts/Community Centre
    Key achievements
  • Creation new Community Centre and Community Arts Centre
  • Establishment Greenwich Community Festival
  • Creation new community arts groups

Theatre Technician/Performance Manager @ Rolle College, Exmouth, Devon.

    Key achievements
  • Technical support to the creation of a new Theatre Arts Degree
  • Performance Programme
  • Community Festival and Outreach
  • Production for degree student work

1976-77 - Production Manager @ Medium Fair Community Theatre Company

1973-75 Teacher with responsibility Devon County Council Heathcoat County Secondary, Tiverton - Drama, English


    Key achievements
  • Creation bridge course/leaving course
  • Production and writing two dance dramas which toured schools in Devon.

Teacher Humanities Stonehill High School, Birstall, Leicestershire.


POLITICAL CAREER
Elected in 1990 as the local councillor for Middle Park Ward the London Borough of Greenwich and subsequently in 1994 and 1998. Immediately elected Chair of Leisure Services in 1990 and Deputy Leader in 1994. Position held until 2000 when elected the Cabinet member for Regeneration.

During my political career I have presented to ministers and led key deputations. I have been a regular member of the Local Government Association front bench team, Central / Local Government Partnership and led key policy discussions with the DCMS front bench team.

I have had key relationships with national and regional civil servants. I have been at the forefront of policy formulation, directed key policy developments and been responsible for best practice guides including several civic trust and other awards. I have been at the forefront of local government modernisation and the development of partnership working. I have a reputation for successful working with the private sector. I have also helped develop the international European cultural policy thinking.

I have led on major press conferences and been the council spokesperson on broadcast  TV and national radio.

I have led key council delegations with ministers, developers and led major consultation processes with both the community and Government. I led the Idea peer review for Greenwich Council.

Elected Executive Member for Regeneration

    Key achievements
  • Leadership South Greenwich Regeneration Agency
  • Chair of Greenwich Development Agency
  • Vice Chair of the Greenwich Local Partnership
  • Quality Service Agenda
  • Day to day political management for the Dome Project
  • Chair Woolwich Regeneration Agency
  • Leadership of the Woolwich Regeneration Project
  • Cultural Plan for the National Exhibition
  • Greenwich Millennium Village competition and consultation
  • Chair Business works- key ethnic community development fund
  • Creation Woolwich Community Chest
  • Greenwich Voluntary Sector Strategy
  • Creation Riverside Park Woolwich
  • Vice Chair Greenwich Waterfront Development Partnership
  • Greenwich Communications Strategy
  • Creation Greenwich and Docklands International Festival & Gallery 37 partnership

Elected Chair Greenwich Leisure Services
    Key achievements
  • Creation Greenwich Leisure Limited
  • Development Greenwich Library Strategy
  • Establishment of Parks Constabulary
  • Board of Emergency Exit Arts
  • Board Greenwich Young Peoples Theatre
  • Board Greenwich Dance Agency
  • Chair Greenwich Festival Board


REGIONAL PUBLIC APPOINTMENTS

Appointed GLA Economics Board Advisory Committee

Appointed Chair Tour East

Laban Development Committee

2000 - Appointed to the Mayors Cultural Strategy Group for London

Appointed Chair of the London Thames Gateway Creative Industries Task force

2000 Appointed by the secretary of State for Culture to the Vacant Plinth committee, Trafalgar Square

Appointed Chair of TS2K Creative Industries Training Project for Young People
Creative network for London
CreAsia - Talent bank

1992 - present
Chair of the Association of London Government Culture and Tourism Committee/Panel
    Key achievements
  • Creative Industries in the London Regeneration
  • Helped create the Tourism Local Authority Forum
  • Developed the European Agenda- Les Rencontres - including white paper for European Local Government and Culture.
  • Elected to the executive European Sport for All
  • Helped Create the Cultural Partners for London and became the interim chair
  • Led the Cultural Remit work for the Mayor for London Bill for local government in London.
  • Commissioned the work and created the London Libraries Development Agency.
  • Created Millennium Festival Tool Kit
  • Nominated for a Creative Briton Award 2 years running.

1994- present
Election to The London Arts Board

    Key achievements
  • Elected vice chair
  • Executive member

Chair Lottery sub group, London Arts

1990-2000
Elected Chair of the Local Authority Forum of the London Arts Board

    Key achievements
  • Major Contribution to London Lottery Strategy
  • Developed Outer London Fund Strategy
  • Key policy development for Mayors Cultural Strategy remit

Other London wide appointments during the last 10 years
London Heritage Trust, London Film and Video Development Agency, British Board of Film Censors, London Millennium Festival, London Sport, London Tourist Board London Association of Archives Council

NATIONAL APPOINTMENTS

Appointed DCMS Advisor to the Beacon Council Scheme 2005

Elected Deputy Chair Tourism Executive LGA
Key achievement Relax and Renew Pamphlet (Tourism and Regeneration)

Elected Vice Chair of the Association Metropolitan   Authorities Leisure and Tourism Committee.

Elected Vice Chair of the Local Government Association Culture   and Tourism CommitteeKey achievementRoad to Regeneration pamphlet

INTERNATIONAL APPOINTMENTS

1999- present Les Rencontres executive group producing the European white paper on culture

1996- present - Executive member European Sport for All


RECENT KEY NOTE SPEECHES

Culture and Tourism an East London Perspective
Tourism changes in London and the Mayor
Cultural Changes in London - Les Rencontres Annual Conference in Avignon
Playing Across Boundaries- Sport and Social Inclusion for London Sport/ Sport England Conference
Creative Industries and Cultural Diversity- CreAsia /TS2K
Urban Cultural Creators- London Library Development Agency Conference
Development of the Dome and the Peninsula Benefits for London Thames Gateway
Culture 2000 New European Cultural Funding opportunities for London
Arts and Culture- The Job spin off for London CBI conference
London in the Millennium- for London First conference
London Positioning Itself for the future- London Arts Board
Leisure and the wider Social Objectives, ILAM London conference
Agenda 21 and Culture- Association of London Agenda 21 conference
Sport for all in Large Cities -UESPT Rome
London in the 21st Century Public consultation by the ALG for the Greater London Assembly
Evening Standard sponsored London in the 21st Century
Arts and Regeneration   Common Purpose South East London Group
National Lottery Win or Lose ALG Seminar with the Culture Secretary of state
The National Lottery and Planning- London Planning and Development Forum
Developing Tourism in London- London Tourist Board Seminar
Creative Industries London Skills summit
Role of Transport in the Cultural Development of London   Waterfront Conference
Restoring London's Parks
Creating Cultural Strategies- ALG Seminar
London Demos Tourism Debate-Tourism Structures and London


RESEARCH

University of Greenwich South Thames Gateway Regeneration Strategy - 2005

The Bathway Centre - a new centre for the creative industies - 2004

I have played a key commissioning and directing role in the following research

Restoring London's Parks
London in the 21st Century
London and the Lottery distributors
Development of the Dome and its benefits
Relax and Renew, Regeneration and Tourism
Road to Regeneration
Ten ways to make a difference- Cultural Partners for London
London Library Service
Regeneration in South East London
Mayors Cultural Strategy

I am able to supply referees on request

Bob Harris
1:3:02


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