Claire Spencer - CEO, Barbican

Claire Spencer leads the Barbican Centre after being appointed by the City of London Corporation as its first-ever Chief Executive Officer, following a far-reaching recruitment search.Claire is an experienced and dynamic arts leader and took up her new post in May 2022, after stepping down from Arts Centre Melbourne, where she has been CEO since November 2014. She has nearly 20 years’ experience at the Sydney Opera House and Arts Centre Melbourne.Claire will play a key role in the work underway to embed equity, diversity and inclusion across the Barbican Centre’s operations. She will also be an integral part of the Barbican Renewal Project, the design teams shortlist was announced last month, which will put culture front-and-centre of the City of London’s recovery from the pandemic. In her new role, Claire will drive forward the Barbican Centre’s innovative agenda as an international centre of creative excellence; pushing ambitious targets for audiences, education, and the workforce, and building strong relationships with the diverse and vibrant communities the Centre represents and serves.

Joel Carnegie - Multi-award winning Storymaker, Broadcaster, Musician, Performer & Producer

Joel Carnegie is a multi-award winning Australian storymaker, broadcaster, musician, performer and creative producer – and is known for his high-energy, steadfast curiosity and passion for storytelling.

He’s worked on a raft of radio shows, documentary projects and podcasts with Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Audible Originals, American Public Media, BBC World Service, CBC, Deutsche Welle and others. And at the heart of his work is storytelling – and a drive to hold up a mirror to our changing world.

He is the Artistic Director of The Space Company - an award-winning team of Australian storymakers creating original stories for the stage - and most recently produced and performed in The Space Company’s nationally touring production of Stardust + The Mission (double bill) which toured to 32 cities across Australia in 2022.

Joel was also a selected participant in the Australia Council for the Arts “Future Leaders” program (2020-2021). He also holds a Bachelor of Music (Honours), a Master of Arts (Media & Communications) and a Graduate Certificate of Business (Arts & Cultural Management).

Joel can be heard regularly spinning records on ABC Classic - when he’s out on the road or at home, he can be found immersed in music of all styles, shapes, forms and colours.

www.joelcarnegie.com