Mikaela Loach

Mikaela is an acclaimed author, climate justice organiser, and speaker, recognised as one of the most influential women in the climate movement by Forbes, The Guardian, Vogue, and BBC Woman’s Hour. Prospect magazine chose her as one of the “World's Top Thinkers” in 2024 and in 2022 she was the first climate activist to be on the cover of music and culture magazine, KERRANG!. Mikaela is the co-Director of the AWETHU School of Organising and a Safina Center Junior Fellow. She holds a degree in Global Health Policy and her impactful climate activism has garnered an online community of over 300,000 combined followers.

www.mikaelaloach.com | @mikaelaloach

Dr. Joycelyn Longdon 

Joycelyn is an award-winning environmental justice technologist, communicator and PhD Candidate at the University of Cambridge. Her PhD research centres on the design of justice-led conservation technologies for monitoring biodiversity with local forest communities in Ghana – essentially Shazam for nature.

www.joycelynlongdon.com | @joycelynlongdon

Naiya

Naiya is a local storyteller, community leader and is a Lighthouse Future Creative Leader. As an artist he pushes the boundaries of Music and Storytelling. His debut project “LSS” (Long Story Short) marked a defining chapter in his career, offering listeners a deep dive into his world. Naiya is deeply inspired by his lived experience, he aims to inspire and inform through his own personal growth, discipline and self-belief.

@thenameisnaiya  @alwaysflow__

Dr. Felize Sibanda

Fezis an Assistant Professor in Education at the University of Sussex. Her research focuses on race, coloniality and higher education. Fez is particularly interested in how marginalised groups experience education. She is also a consultant at Lighthouse, supporting the Pathways not Projects programme, and is a Lighthouse Future Creative Leader.

Felize Sibanda on LinkedIn

ACCESSIBILITY

​This event will be held at the Brighton Dome Studio Theatre, New Rd Brighton, BN1 1UG (map). This venue is fully accessible. Find the accessibility information for the Studio Theatre here. For further information, email: access@brightondome.org or phone: 01273 261541. For urgent requests call the box office on 01273 709 709 Mon-Sat, 10:00-17:00.

CODE OF CONDUCT

We are committed to providing a safe, inclusive, supportive environment for all. We ask that everyone follow our code of conduct, which you can read here.

PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO DURING EVENT

Just so you know, this event will be photographed/filmed. If you prefer not to be photographed, please speak to a member of the Lighthouse team. The photographs and film we capture at our events are used for marketing and promotional purposes for our programme only and are stored securely.

ABOUT FUTURE CREATIVE LEADERS

Future Creative Leaders (FCL) is a 12-month paid programme offering young creatives from underrepresented backgrounds the opportunity to work closely with Lighthouse's leadership team to explore various aspects of creative leadership.

FCL redefines youth engagement by sharing power and resources directly with young people. This 12-month programme goes beyond access or participation. It places real influence, leadership, creative agency and decision-making power in the hands of those traditionally underrepresented in the creative industries.

Over the year, participants will co-curate programmes, select participants for mini-residencies, and recruit their successors, all while exploring alternative governance structures, accountability, and power-sharing.

We're grateful to: ​​​Innovate UK, Chalk Cliff Trust, Sussex Community Foundation, Enjoolata Foundation, Brighton Festival, Brighton Youth Centre, The Old Market and Art in Mind.