Damian Hebron
I am interested in the small things that make a big difference in the way we talk to each other, how we listen and who gets to decide what questions get asked. I’m also keen to challenge the structural inequalities that affect whose voices get listened to (and whose don’t). I think creative approaches can help make conversations happen differently and can be a route for marginalised voices to be brought to the centre of decision-making.
Damian is the Dialogue Manager in Engagement and Society. His role involves trying to help scientists listen to people’s thoughts, ideas and concerns about genomics. He has worked for over 20 years in arts, health, campaigning and community engagement. He supports the campus Community Advisory Panel and a range of initiatives to spark new and hopefully surprising conversations.
Previous roles include being Head of Arts at Cambridge University Hospitals where he established the country’s first ongoing dance programme on hospital wards and created a number of patient-led overhauls of the hospital environment. He also worked at Nesta, the UK’s innovation foundation, where he led its work on social movements, supporting campaigns to change policy and approaches in health and social care.
He has campaigned extensively to promote the impact of creativity on people’s health and set up Creativity and Wellbeing, he is Co-Chair of 64 Million Artists which promotes the value of everyday creativity and is a Trustee of Magic Me which fosters conversations between generations through the arts and creativity.