Stuart Griffiths
I started my career at Birmingham Hippodrome and learnt a lot from observing Stuart as he took the organisation through a vast period of change. His quiet leadership style filled with passion, humility and humour coupled with a shrewd business approach was a revelation. Stuart placed value in creating strong strategic partnerships across Birmingham as a cultural city and within the building itself with resident organisations DanceXchange and Birmingham Royal Ballet. I saw a venue emerge from the tail end of a large capital build to a thriving and dynamic hub which captured the hearts and minds of theatre-goers all across the West Midlands. I also saw how Stuart transformed the programme to grow audiences for contemporary international dance, and it provided me with inspirational lessons in change management and audience development.