Ruth Borthwick, Chief Executive

Ruth is Chief Executive of Arvon. She was formerly Head of Literature & Talks at Southbank Centre, where she worked with the world’s finest writers, including Nobel Laureates Seamus Heaney, Doris Lessing, Toni Morrison, VS Naipaul, Harold Pinter and Derek Walcott.

Ruth has worked at Arvon since January 2009 and was drawn to it by its democratic nature: everyone can come to Arvon. It is the only creative writing environment where those who have never tried their hand at writing before come and learn alongside professional writers. If you can’t afford it, you can apply for financial assistance. It doesn’t have to be about publication. The unique thing about Arvon is that at its bedrock, it revels in the writing process for its own sake.

Nick Murza, Director of Operations

Nick's work overseeing Finance, Operations, and Properties is a neat fusion of his previous experience as General Manager at Spread the Word and the Little Angel Theatre, his studies for an Architecture degree and his own love of writing.

He finds the unique character of Arvon’s residential weeks, and the life-changing impact they have on so many writers and visiting school groups, a constant source of inspiration.

Away from Arvon he revels in the growth of vegetables, the waft of watercolour brushes and the glory of greasepaint and applause, and strives to live beyond reason, his means and, now, London.

Becky Swain, Learning and Participation Manager

Becky leads on our work with young people and a wide range of partnerships with charities, arts organisations and community groups.

She is inspired by the unique spirit of Arvon and its commitment to giving everyone the chance to write and develop their creative voice.

Before joining Arvon in June 2011, Becky was Learning Manager at Creativity, Culture and Education (CCE) and Creative Partnerships where she led on training and professional development for artists and teachers working in partnership. She is a Clore Fellow (2008/9) and accredited coach. Her experience has often bridged arts and learning, including youth and community work, English and Drama teaching, theatre education and arts project management.

George Palmer, Communications Manager

George is responsible for Arvon’s print and digital communications.

He has a particular interest in all things digital, and is always on the look out for stories from people who have been on Arvon courses – what happened on their course, and how it has influenced their writing and creative life – so do email him if you have such a story.

Before joining Arvon in July 2011, George was Marketing Coordinator at Apples and Snakes, England’s leading organisation for performance poets.  He has also been Sales and Marketing Manager at Poetry London,  and in the more distant past has worked in public relations.

Emma Johnson, Individual Giving Manager

Emma studied English and Creative Writing at University before working for Waterstones and Ottakars in management roles. A brief stint at a publisher’s producing music memorabilia books was followed by a move to London and a career in events management for a financial trade association. 

She has worked for Arvon since 2006, putting together various schools projects, including Writing the Game.  She is now the Individual Giving Manager for Arvon, with responsibility for funding via our Friends Scheme, Individual Donors, Corporate Donations, Fundraising Events and Legacies, as well as the Arvon Development Board.

Please contact her if you would like to  know more about any of our fundable work or about supporting one of our projects. 

Nick Kavanagh, Finance Officer

In the early 1980s Nick spent two years in Tanzania through Voluntary Service Overseas, lecturing in accounting, management and other subjects – mainly in Swahili, at a Conference and Training Centre in Dodoma.

He has worked mainly in the international aid area of the charity sector and in his time with Save the Children he was privileged to see first hand some of the work with vulnerable children in countries such as Niger and India.

Nick also lectures in Charity Finance and Taxation at St Mary’s University College Twickenham and London Southbank University. He volunteers with the Charity Tax Group and is passionate about trying to do something about the £500m a year charities have to pay in irrecoverable VAT instead of being able to spend it on more great work.

He likes running [slowly], used to do a bit of race walking, enjoys noisy rock music and watching his beloved Leeds Utd.

Laura Greenfield, The Hurst Campaign Manager

Laura manages the fundraising campaign for the redevelopment of The Hurst.  She has worked in fundraising and administration at a number of arts organisations, including LIFT (London International Festival of Theatre) and Clean Break, and has just completed a Masters in Charity Marketing and Fundraising at London South Bank University.  Her dissertation considered the implications of government subsidy on the health of arts organisations.

She graduated from Cambridge University in 2004 with a degree in Philosophy and experience of producing student shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Cambridge Arts Theatre and on tour around Europe.  She is Chair of fanSHEN, an emerging theatre company, and recently took a three-month sabbatical to travel overland from Shanghai to the UK.

Leanne Griffin, Communications and Participation Administrator

Leanne divides her time between Arvon's Learning and Participation work and marketing the wide range of courses on offer. 

She studied History at the University of Sheffield followed by an MA in Cultural Policy and Management at Sheffield Hallam University where she researched digital communications and engagement in the arts. She has worked at Sensoria, the festival of film, music and digital, the Barbican Centre, and the National Media Museum in Bradford before returning to London to join Arvon in June 2011.

Suzie Jones, National Administrator

Suzie is first point of contact at the National Office and looks after our Friends scheme.

Suzie graduated from Central St Martin’s College of Art and Design in 2010, where she studied a BA in Fine Art. Before joining us at Arvon, Suzie worked for Tate, and carnival company Mandinga Arts.

Suzie was drawn to Arvon as she believes that enabling others the chance explore  their creativity through writing is very special. She went on a Starting to Write Poetry course at Totleigh Barton in September 2011 and continues to write poetry in her spare time.