Lois South

Learning Producer National Museums Liverpool

May 2023 - Present • 3 yrs 1 mo

As a Learning Producer and hiring manager at one of the UK’s leading museum organisations, I recruit, manage, and mentor museum educators, freelancers, volunteers, and emerging cultural professionals. Through my role, I have developed a strong understanding of what employers seek in applications, interviews, and professional practice within the arts and heritage sector. Key achievements: -Led recruitment processes, including shortlisting, interviewing, and supporting the professional development of museum educators and cultural practitioners. -Manage the only all-Black team within National Museums Liverpool, developing approaches to leadership, wellbeing, and inclusive management within a complex cultural institution. -Co-chair National Museums Liverpool’s Global Ethnic Majority network, advocating for equitable workplace practices and contributing to organisational conversations around belonging, representation, and career progression. -Developed extensive experience supporting Global Ethnic Majority professionals to navigate museum workplace cultures, understand organisational expectations, and progress within the sector. -Built expertise in anti-racist, decolonial, and inclusive practice through strategic programme development, community collaboration, and leadership within a national museum. -Deliver training, mentoring, and professional development opportunities, helping individuals articulate their skills, recognise their value, and progress confidently in their careers.

Research Consultant

Apr 2020 - Present • 6 yrs 2 mos

As a freelance research consultant, I collaborate with universities, museums, and heritage organisations to develop more inclusive and equitable approaches to researching and interpreting histories of transatlantic slavery and Black histories. My work centres community voices, builds meaningful relationships with participants, and ensures research is shaped by the experiences of those it seeks to represent. Key achievements: -Designed and facilitated community workshops and focus groups, creating trusted spaces where participants could share their experiences and knowledge. -Worked directly with Black communities and cultural organisations to gather oral histories and qualitative insights that informed academic research and public history projects. -Advised researchers and institutions on inclusive, anti-racist, and ethical approaches to engaging with marginalised communities. -Supported the development of research strategies and recommendations that improved representation, accessibility, and community accountability. -Created educational resources and toolkits that centre Black experiences and challenge traditional approaches to teaching history. -Built strong skills in communication, facilitation, active listening, and translating complex ideas for different audiences.

Community Engagement Manager National Museums Liverpool

Jan 2023 - May 2023 • 4 mos

As Community Engagement Manager, I worked at the intersection of museums and communities, building meaningful relationships with stakeholders and ensuring that community voices shaped the future direction of the museum’s transformation work. Key achievements: -Developed and maintained relationships with local, national, and international community partners, educators, and stakeholders. -Built trust with historically marginalised communities through transparent, equitable, and collaborative approaches. -Created opportunities for communities, particularly Black communities and young people, to influence museum programmes and decision-making. -Managed complex stakeholder relationships, balancing institutional priorities with community needs and expectations. -Facilitated co-production processes that centred lived experience and challenged traditional approaches to museum engagement. -Supported strategic planning for the museum’s transformation, ensuring community engagement was embedded within long-term organisational change.