Karen Simporis BA(Hons), MBAcC, TnISPE cert is a local entrepreneur who runs her own Eco–business, Henry House Hot Pool & Therapy Centre, in Worthing. As a Long term Vice-President of the Worthing & Adur Chamber of Commerce, and active supporter of the arts locally, ( organiser and participant) she believes that creative thought is crucial to the regeneration of our local economy in all sectors and to our community’s well-being.

Karen chairs the Adur & Worthing Trust and the Colonnade House Management Board. She looks forward to performing on her clarinet and saxophone again soon!

Neville Pressley is a retired chartered accountant. He has been involved in many local charities and organisations over more than 40 years, including Northbrook College, Guild Care and Worthing Homes. He remains as a trustee of West Sussex Mind.

His main experience in creative fields has been with the Ropetackle Arts Centre, for which he acted as Finance Director.

He is committed to the encouragement of cultural and creative activities in Adur and Worthing.

Angela Shaw LRAM ARCM FISM is a singing teacher and Fellow of the Incorporated Society of Musicians.

She was a founding member of Worthing Arts Council, and is a long-serving trustee of Heene Community Centre. For more than 20 years, she was organiser of the annual Worthing Music and Arts Festival.

She has always been acutely aware of the importance of the Arts to everybody’s mental and emotional well-being, and is a firm believer in giving the townsfolk of Worthing and Adur opportunities to experience the widest variety of creative, performing and visual arts, whether as practitioners or consumers.

Tom brings to the Adur & Worthing Trust a mix of creative skills and regeneration experience. He has MA Fine Art from University of Brighton, and has exhibited paintings in shows in London, Brighton, Adur and Worthing, including Colonnade House.

Tom has supported a variety of organisations with successful regeneration and development schemes, and currently manages a partnership growth programme with investment across the West Sussex Coastal area, of Adur & Worthing, and Arun. Tom is involved in revitalising town centres economies, enhancing public spaces, making accessible and attractive places for residents, visitors, businesses, and creative enterprises to thrive within. Engaging with local stakeholders and interest groups to design sustainable solutions, aimed at reducing carbon, improving connectivity and community well-being.

Tom believes the creative industries are a key stimulus to individual and community health, local economy, employment, regeneration of communities, environment, and infrastructure.

Tom is excited about collaborating with talented local people and experts to develop a future arts and cultural strategy in Adur and Worthing, promoting Colonnade House’s offer and engagement with creative community. He wants to incorporate diverse and innovative ideas to develop a sustainable creative hub. Offering digital and art opportunities, projects happening both physically in the community and virtually on-line, to ensure inclusivity.

Slavka is a visual artist, theatre maker, producer and arts education consultant, having worked with organisations such as Watermans, Battersea Arts Centre, Crying Out Loud and Little Angel Theatre – where, as Head of Creative Learning, she was instrumental in setting up a new Creative Learning Centre with a comprehensive public engagement programme.

Slavka moved to Worthing in 2019, to take up the role of Creative Producer and Programmer at Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival. She specialises in participation and community engagement, and she supports/develops work with local, national and international artists/creatives.  Slavka is committed to access, disability and inclusion, and set up/chairs the Access Action Group and the Disability and Carers Equality Group at the Dome.

As a visual artist Slavka has enjoyed exploring the creative scene in Worthing. In 2021 Slavka’s photos and collages were exhibited on Worthing Pier as well as the Museum, as part of Worthing Open 21. She also undertook a social engagement project, entitled Angels All Around, which celebrated the role of unpaid carers, with exhibitions at HISBE (Worthing), Colonnade House and online.

Slavka is passionate about art changing lives, whether as makers, participants or spectators. She believes that all people should have access to the arts for fun as well as to support wellbeing. She is delighted to join the Board of Trustees and hopes that she can support the trust in working with local creatives to realise engaging innovative projects for the communities of Adur and Worthing.  

Since arriving in Worthing in the late 70s, then finally settling here in 1992 and bringing up a family, Mike has worked in Music and Education at all levels, but always with a focus on building community.

From a career as a professional musician and producer, through helping build the Music Department at Northbrook College, to working with uniquely Worthing entities such as S’koolFest and Spring into Soul Gospel choir, Mike loves this town and its unique cultural mix, and hopes as a Trustee of Adur & Worthing Trust to be instrumental in continued growth, reach and relevance.