MEGAN NICHOLS -

BOARD MEMBER

Megan is passionate about the promotion of the creative arts and vocational training having trained and worked as a professional dancer, teacher/educator and a senior leader within vocational education institutions.

Megan’s career as a professional dancer provided her with a wealth of experience and understanding of the challenges of training and working within the creative arts. She believes being able to champion and differentiate between the requirement to offer academic and vocational education to deliver a quality vocational training experience is vital.

Megan studied at the London School of Contemporary Dance and worked as a dancer in commercial theatre (summer seasons, pantomime and television) before becoming a member of English Dance Theatre, based at Dance City, Newcastle. Under the directorship of Yair Vardi, the company toured regionally, nationally and internationally. Megan worked with choreographers including: Robert Cohan, Robert North, Michael Clarke, David Glass, Kim Brandstrup and Matthew Hawkins. She also contributed to the company’s educational programme through the delivery of community projects, workshops, masterclasses and community dance classes.

Supporting and promoting an integrated approach to vocational training to provide an opportunity for everyone to have access to the creative arts has been a personal motivation and focus for Megan. She has worked within further and higher education for over 30 years as a dance lecturer, course leader, curriculum manager and senior manager. Her roles have involved working closely with students and staff taking responsibility for teaching dance, choreographing and leading dance performances, developing and designing higher education degree programmes, managing and providing training for staff. Working for Newcastle College Group (NCG), a large vocational education provider, Megan was responsible for the quality and standards of their higher education programmes across five colleges delivering over 60 foundation degree, honours and postgraduate programmes. Later, as Vice Principal Higher Education, Lifelong Learning and International Studies at New College Durham, Megan contributed to the strategic management of the College, leading the management and development of their higher education and collaborative partnership provision.

Megan is excited for the opportunity to work alongside fellow board members to support Gateway Studio with their vision for the future development of the creative arts in Gateshead and across the North East.