People at the College for Creative Change

Leadership

Dr Andy Hickson

Vice Chancellor

Andy is a theatre director, educator and writer who has spent more than three decades helping people find their voice and use creativity to make change.

His work has taken him into schools, communities and universities around the world. As the founder of Actionwork, he has developed theatre, films and practical learning experiences that tackle bullying, explore difficult questions and support people to take action. He has also served as Dean and Professor in the Faculty of Arts and Communication at HELP University in Malaysia.

Andy left school without qualifications and later gained a PhD. That experience shapes his commitment to the College for Creative Change: opening up opportunities, making learning accessible and helping people build the confidence, critical thinking and courage to take their next steps.

Dr Sue Jennings

Chancellor

Sue brings together a life in theatre, a passion for play and an enduring interest in how people grow, connect and express themselves.

Originally trained as a dancer and performer, she became a pioneer of dramatherapy and developed Neuro Dramatic Play. Her work connects creativity, relationships and human development, with teaching and training that have reached people across many countries.

Sue is an author, researcher and teacher whose doctoral research with the Temiar people in Malaysia explored theatre, ritual and transformation. Her books and practical approaches have influenced work in education, play and therapy.

As Chancellor of the College for Creative Change, Sue brings this depth of experience to an approach to learning that values imagination, curiosity and the possibilities within people.

Assessment and quality assurance

Professor Andy Liew

Andy brings extensive experience in assessment, educational quality and opening up different routes into learning. He has held senior university leadership roles and served on assessment and accreditation panels for the Malaysian Qualifications Agency.

His work includes evaluating learner portfolios, developing assessment approaches and recognising knowledge and skills gained through work and life experience. He also brings expertise in open and distance learning.

This experience connects high educational standards with a practical understanding of the different ways people learn and demonstrate what they can do.

Our advisory board

The College for Creative Change draws on experience across education, theatre, peacebuilding, technology, community work and leadership. Our advisory board brings different perspectives to the development of learning that is creative, thoughtful and useful in people’s lives.

Professor Kyoko Okumoto

Kyoko explores how the arts can help people communicate across differences and find peaceful ways through conflict. Her work brings together peace education, drama, literature and practical facilitation. She has led workshops with schools, universities and communities, connecting creative expression with dialogue and understanding.

Professor Alberto Gomes

Alberto is an anthropologist and educator whose research includes many years of work with the Orang Asli peoples of Malaysia. His teaching and writing explore the connections between culture, community, the environment and social change. His work in dialogue and peacebuilding brings a strong interest in learning from different ways of knowing and living.

Professor Michael Balfour

Michael is a theatre researcher and educator whose work explores the relationship between performance and social change. His experience includes theatre with refugees, people in prison, military veterans and people living with dementia. He brings extensive experience in teaching, research and the careful examination of what creative work means for those taking part.

Dr Leyla Tajer

Leyla studies love, wisdom and the ways people understand life through religion, literature and culture. Her research includes the work of Rumi and the connections between different traditions of thought. She also supports researchers with developing ideas, writing and presenting their work, helping people find clarity and confidence in complex subjects.

Dr Mustafa Muwafak Alobaedy

Mustafa combines computer science research with practical software development and teaching. His work includes intelligent systems, digital comics for cultural learning and educational technologies involving language and mathematics. He brings experience in turning technical ideas into working tools, alongside an interest in how technology can support learning.

Dr Tan Choon Ling

Choon Ling brings experience in computing, data science and the practical use of information. His teaching has covered programming, analytics, research methods and technology project management. He has developed learning activities and workshops that help students work with data, understand technical ideas and apply them to decisions and practical problems.

Major Kalam Pie

Kalam is a retired Royal Malaysian Air Force officer whose experience spans leadership, logistics, training and the coordination of personnel for United Nations missions. His work has also included nature guiding. He brings perspectives on teamwork, preparation and responsibility, alongside practical experience of working with people in demanding environments.

Raïs Neza Boneza

Raïs is a poet, author and peace practitioner whose work connects creative expression with questions of conflict, displacement and belonging. His experience includes journalism, teaching, humanitarian work and international arts projects. Through writing and dialogue, he explores how people can understand one another and take part in building peace.

Dr Olivier Urbain

Olivier explores the relationships between music, dialogue and peacebuilding. With doctorates in French literature and peace studies, his work connects the arts with questions of human dignity, cooperation and social change. He has taught internationally, led research organisations and written extensively about the possibilities of music and dialogue in creating more peaceful relationships.

David Spence

David is a skills facilitator and performance coach with a background in financial services. His work centres on helping people identify what they want to achieve and develop the skills, habits and confidence to move towards it. He brings experience in leadership, team development and honest conversations that turn ambition into practical action.

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