About Hilary Burrage

Hilary writes (on 1 January 2009):
I am an enthusiast who draws on wide practical experience to help and encourage people seeking to make things better…. the environment, renewal of our rural areas, towns and cities, social equity, and sustainable communities and economies are all a part of this.
Previously a Senior Lecturer in Health & Social Care, I have developed a fascinating new independent practitioner portfolio after the onset of my own mid-life health challenge. This led me, as I took control of the situation, to a different emphasis, on arts & culture, community engagement, regeneration, environmental issues and science / technology policy – a wholesale professional transition which, looking back, I have never regretted!
I am currently, or have recently been, a member of the Boards / Councils of the British Urban Regeneration Association (BURA), Defra Science Advisory Council, an NHS Ambulance Service (as a Non-Executive Director), Liverpool Chamber of Commerce (as chair of the Arts & Culture Committee), a group advising government ministers on Asset Transfer to the Third Sector, and a Trustee of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society, as well as the Equality and Diversity Champion for BURA, Founding Chair of HOPES: The Hope Street Association (Liverpool) and Vice-Chair of the NW Sustainable Development Group (which advises on / promotes S.D. in NW England). Details of these various roles are given below.
I also teach one of the new web-based Home and Communities Agency / Academy professional courses on Sustainable Development, and I am an Independent Consultant who advises Local Authorities and similar bodies on service and policy alignment to secure appropriate delivery for customers and the general public. Much of my work with local government has centred on services for the very early years (especially Sure Start and Children’s Centres) and for young people, with a focus on health, employment and economic issues.
As an adjunct to my usual activities, I am manager of a number of small ensembles of classical musicians (my husband, the musical director, is a professional violinist) who perform interesting concerts at a range of levels of formality in community, educational and local venues. I am also promoter and producer of an annual community-based concert, HOTFOOT on Hope Street, at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. In all these activities we have a particular commitment to promote the music of Britain’s foremost black classical composer, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. We also collaborate with classically trained Indian musicians.
In the course of this whole gamut of tasks and roles I have prepared and presented numerous papers and talks, and have led many workshops and debates.
I am a keen (published) writer, weblogger – http://www.hilaryburrage.com – and photographer, often combining these activities in my commentaries on Liverpool life and my visits to other European cities.
Originally a student of natural science (and a trained singer!), I have a first degree in Social Sciences, I am a qualified teacher, I have a Master of Science degree in the Sociology of Science and Technology and I am a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
A disciplined and focused researcher, speaker and teacher, I am always positive and enthusiastic about my work and interests, whilst also maintaining the experience-based realism required to deliver a balanced and pragmatic ‘can do’ approach to professional, policy and delivery issues. This focus on making things happen is my moving force, whether I am considering the knowledge economy, equality and diversity, regeneration and sustainability, science in government, life in Liverpool or how to put on a community concert!
I am consistently keen to promote discussion about how to engage people of all sorts more in the decisions which affect their lives. This relates both to community development and to wider issues around regeneration and sustainability at both local and national level. (I know that we all need to work harder to develop shared meanings in these matters; this is what makes it so interesting.)
I enjoy sharing my enthusiasm for the arts, and especially music, as a means towards social cohesion, or what we might call ‘social glue’….
My aim, whatever the topic and whoever the client or audience, is to get people to feel it matters, and to believe that they can (and indeed perhaps ‘should’) take a view for themselves.

Contact Hilary here

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Hilary’s professional and honorary roles and interests include:
* Independent Consultant in Strategic Policy, Writer & Public Speaker; areas of interest are indicated on this website and include
~ a specialist focus on complex organisational or public sector transitions requiring a multi-disciplinary or cross-professional approach;
~ issues around regeneration, the knowledge economy (highly skilled activities in technical and / or cultural and artistic areas) and sustainability; and
~ diversity and community cohesion.
Current and recent Appointments & Roles
* Independent Consultant in Strategic Policy, Writer & Public Speaker
* Member, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Science Advisory Council
* Vice-Chair, North West Regional Sustainable Development Group
* Hon. Director, British Urban Regeneration Association (BURA), with responsibility for BURA Education & Training, and as Diversity Champion
* Council Member, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(& Hon. Chair, LCCI Arts & Culture Committee)
* Member, Editorial Support Team, Neighbourhood: The International Journal of Neighbourhood Renewal
* Hon. Chair, HOPES: The Hope Street Association
* Member (previously Trustee), Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
* Member, North West Business Leadership Forum
* Founder / voluntary organiser of Monday Women
* Hon. Agent for Mrs Louise Ellman MP
* Manager-Producer of classical music ensembles (Ensemble Liverpool, Elegant Music and Live-A-Music)
Recent and Previous Appointments
* Non-Executive Director, Mersey Regional Ambulance Service NHS Trust
* Lay Partner & Lay Visitor, Health Professions Council
* Senior Lecturer in Health and Social Care, Wirral Metropolitan College
* Lecturer and Researcher, University of Liverpool and the Open University
* Hon. Chair, Liverpool Riverside Constituency Labour Party
* Vice-Chair, Liverpool Community Network Arts & Culture Steering Group
* Non-Executive Director, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society

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