Bringing Out Leaders in Dementia was the brainchild of Professor Heather Wilkinson from The University of Edinburgh and Professor Brendan McCormack from Queen Margaret University. Launched in 2019, the bold programme was delivered for five years as a partnership project between both institutions.
This work was supported by the Life Changes Trust, 2019 and the UK Research and Innovation Healthy Ageing Catalyst Award, 2023 [grant number ES/Y00812X/1].
The focus of bold is to use a mixture of creative methods to encourage creativity, innovation and personal development. The design and methodology of the bold in-person & online programmes were created and based on the work of the founding team listed below:
The original Founding bold Team:
Professor Heather Wilkinson
Founding bold Project Co-director
3 words which describe me: collaborative, curious, plate-spinner
Founding bold Project Co-director and Director of E-CRED, University of Edinburgh.
My work focuses on developing better understandings of methodological and personal perspectives of people with dementia and redressing the neglect of the perspectives of those with learning disabilities and dementia. I am currently training as a psychotherapist in order to work more closely with people affected by dementia to understand their emotional experiences and needs.
Professor Brendan McCormack
Founding bold Project Co-director
3 words which describe me: high-energy, creative, person-centred
Founding bold Project Co-director and Head of The Susan Wakil School of Nursing & Midwifery/Dean Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of Sydney.
My work has always focused on person-centred practice, gerontological nursing, and practice development. This research has resulted in successful long-term collaborations in Ireland, the UK, Norway, The Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Slovenia and South Africa. I am particularly interested in the use of arts and creativity in healthcare research and development.
Magdalena Schamberger
Founding bold Creative Director
3 words which describe me: curious, enthusiastic and playful
Founding bold Creative Director and Honorary Professor, School of Health Sciences, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh.
I am passionate about using creativity and the performing arts to engage, collaborate and co-create with people living with dementia. I am an independent creative collaborator, theatre maker, facilitator and teacher. I combine 30 years of experience in physical theatre and clowning with 19 years of creatively engaging with people living with dementia. I regularly teach Compassionate Clowning across the globe.
Dr Karen Barrie
Founding bold Project Director
3 words which describe me (according to my kids!): Creative, Kind, Conscientious
Founding bold Project Director, E-CRED, University of Edinburgh.
I love walking, nature and gardening. I started out working in IT, moved to health informatics and then on to health and social care practice development and service improvement. I’ve also worked as a researcher, lecturer and facilitator. My passion is working with older people. I love working with story and creative, inclusive approaches.
Dr Lorna Hill
Founding bold Senior Project Facilitator
3 words to describe me: (according to a quick poll) : Kind, Creative, Patient
Founding bold Senior Project Facilitator, ECRED, University of Edinburgh.
I have always loved words and stories and am a passionate advocate of the positive impact that creative writing and reading can have on people’s health and well-being. I am particularly interested in using, testing and developing creative methods to engage people in the community and have a particular interest in working with those living with dementia.
Dr Frankie Greenwood
Founding bold Senior Project Facilitator
3 words which describe me: Hopeful, Gregarious, Creative
Founding bold Senior Project Facilitator, ECRED, University of Edinburgh.
Having spent many years leading music workshops for people living with dementia, I have a strong interest in how connections between people with and without the ability to use words to communicate develop in creative ways. My interest led to PhD research that explores the experience of making meaningful connections with people with advanced dementia and has brought deep insight into how relationships between people with and without dementia can continue to flourish throughout the dementia journey. Committed to the ongoing development of fully inclusive communities, I am excited to be one of the project facilitators on the bold project team.
Alison Bacigalupo
Founding bold Project Administrator
3 words which describe me: Enthusiast, Listener, People-focused
Founding bold Project Administrator, Queen Margaret University
I have many years of business management experience in the travel, leisure and hospitality sectors and latterly shifted my management focus to human resources and people development before joining the team at Queen Margaret University (QMU). I work closely with the Division of Nursing giving admin support to the Post-graduate Person-centred Programmes and several additional projects that promote Nurse learning, development and practice. My career has, and will always remain focused on people, believing that people really are at the heart of everything we do!
Other bold Team Members:
Lorna Lyons
bold Communications & Marketing Project Manager
3 words which describe me: empathetic, open-minded, creative
bold Digital Content Manager, Queen Margaret University
bold Communications & Marketing Project Manager, The University of Edinburgh
I have many years of marketing experience in the publishing sector. Before the pandemic I was running my own business in hospitality. When that closed, I decided to shift my focus to working in care in the community. I had a particular soft spot for the people I cared for with a dementia as my own Gran lived with dementia and our family with her on the journey.
Joining the team at bold has allowed me to combine my marketing background with continuing to work with those living with dementia. I strongly believe that bringing light to what can be a scary diagnosis by using creativity is an inspiring objective, and one I am delighted to be a part of within the bold team.
Joy Dias
bold Project Administrator
3 words which describe me: Joyful, Kind, Patient
bold Project Administrator, Queen Margaret University & The University of Edinburgh
For the last 20 years I have worked in administration in health care and education sectors. I enjoy working with people and I’m particularly interested in creating healthy environments for people to live and work in, both mentally and physically. Joining bold has allowed me to be a part of that and it continues to be a rewarding experience.
Dawn-Claire Irvine
bold Project Manager
3 words which describe me: creative, empathetic and championing
bold Project Manager, ECRED, University of Edinburgh.
I have developed a Dementia Friendly Community at Capital Theatres which is now regarded as a sector leading example of best practice. In that time, I have also been a trustee for the Forget Me Notes Project and the Creating Better Lives Co-ordinator on behalf of Life Changes Trust.
Working alongside communities of people with lived experience of dementia and the opportunity to co-create numerous projects has stolen my heart. I am passionate about person-centred approaches so that people with dementia can flourish and I focus whole heartedly on what people can do and not what they can‘t. I have a strong interest in accessibility, enabled built environments and dementia responsive theatre and have enjoyed sharing this across Scotland’s art sector.