Our Team
Meet some of the key people behind the programme of workshops and events for the Dare to Write?Academy.
Principal Investigator
Dare to Write? was created by Professor Bambo Soyinka of Bath Spa University. Find out more about her and how she created Dare to Write? on the About page.
Creative Producers
Lucy Sweetman
Lucy leads the Dare to Write? Academy programme. Her ethnographic research into the lives of writers has directly informed the themes and approaches explored in Academy workshops and events. She is a senior lecturer at Bath Spa University and teaches across all years on the undergraduate programme.
Amy Spencer
Amy is a writer of both fiction and non-fiction with a background in project management and research, particularly of experimental forms of digital writing. Her work at Paper Nations supports opportunities for writers committed to developing their practice and informs the Dare to Write? Academy.Management Team
Joanna Nissel - Engagement Manager
A graduate of Bath Spa University’s MA Creative Writing programme, Joanna has experience in schools, literary magazines, as a Dare to Write? Library workshop leader (or ‘Book Pilot’) and has investigated the barriers facing young carers. Joanna began at Paper Nations as a communications research assistant in 2017. Her work feeds heavily into the Dare to Write? Atlas, particularly our outreach and community mapping campaigns.
Greg Bond - Project Manager
Greg has a background in co-produced research and participatory arts alongside a PhD in Geography from the University of Bristol. After nearly two years as a research assistant in engagement with Paper Nations, Greg has since relocated to his home country of Yorkshire and now supports our work on an ad-hoc basis as a Project Manager. His work involves supporting engagement activities and overarching project coordination, which underpin the Dare to Write? Academy programme. Greg has particularly supported the development of the Writer’s Cycle.Laura Holdship - Arts and Partnerships Manager
Laura first came on board with Paper Nations in 2015 as our Partnerships Administrator. Her keen insight and systems expertise offer us valuable practical guidance on our creative projects. She works closely with Louise on the administrative aspects of Dare to Write?, focusing on partnership management and alignment with our overall aims.
