Paul Brown, Chair of the Board
Paul is currently Chair of the board for Ransack Dance Company. He is originally from Pontypool and has a background in IT project management. Paul is currently retired, but in his previous career he was employed by a multi-national Insurance company as a Project Manager. Projects were selected at corporate level to achieve one or more of the following increase profits, reduce costs or meet legal obligations. Paul’s role was to produce a project plan which acted as the boundary and was ultimately used as the criteria to determine if the original idea had come to fruition. This was based on pre-determined aims, objectives, targets and of course budget. He worked largely on projects which looked at increasing revenue by supporting the marketing group and increasing the company size by integrating newly acquired companies into our organisation. This was largely in Europe but also involved companies in Mexico, USA and Australia.
Sophie Angell – Jones, Board Member
Sophie Graduated from Liverpool John Moors University with BA Hons in Physical Education and Dance and QTS in 2001. She started her teaching career at the Netherhall Sports college in Cambridge which she thoroughly enjoyed, but after 4 years she decided to move back to Wales. Sophie initially engaged with Ransack through her previous role as Head of learning and skills and NQT mentor in dance at Treorchy Comprehensive School in Rhondda Cynon Taf. She is now currently teaching at Whitmore High School in Barry and is the Lead practitioner for Dance at the Central South Consortium and WJEC author.
Nick Banwell, Board Member
Since gaining an MA in Theatre and Media Production from Hull University Nick Banwell has enjoyed a career in theatre management spanning four decades Working firstly in No 1 Touring, Theatre-in-Education and Regional Repertory in England, he has extensive knowledge of the presenting sector in Wales as Director at the Borough Theatre Abergavenny for over 20 years and then latterly as Director of Creu Cymru before retiring in 2019. A past member of ACW's Dance Panel and South Wales Area Committee he has also been a board member of the Independent Theatre Council, Creu Cymru and Dance Blast, a dance project he partnered Carlson Dance Company in establishing whilst at The Borough Theatre in 1998.
John Graystone, Board Member
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Dr. John Graystone is a distinguished Welsh educational leader with over two decades of experience in further and adult education. He has held significant roles such as Chief Executive of CollegesWales, interim director of the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education Cymru, and Executive Chair of Agored Cymru. Currently, he serves as Chair of Agored Cymru and Adult Learning Wales, and is a member of the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, the Independent Welsh Pay Review Body, and a governor for Bridgend College .
Dr. Graystone has worked with over 200 governing bodies and senior management teams across the UK and internationally, providing consultancy services. His contributions to education have been recognized with honorary fellowships from Coleg Sir Gâr and Bridgend College, the Chancellor’s Medal from the University of Glamorgan, and a lifetime achievement award from the Times Educational Supplement in 2017.
Angharad Lee, Board Member
Angharad Lee is an award-winning director and producer who works across disciplines and with a keen interest in the development of the musical theatre sector and Welsh language sector in Wales. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, her practice spans the breadth of Musical Theatre, Opera and plays as well as creative earning. She is a fluent Welsh speaker. She is currently the Head of Acting at Wales Academy of Voice and Dramatic Arts in Cardiff as well as being the AD of Leeway Productions. She has worked for organisations such as Welsh National Opera as a staff and freelance director, Sherman Theatre, Arad Goch, RCT Theatres, Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru and
numerous others directing new works as well as main scale productions. Her expertise is working with large casts, music and ensembles. Something she adores. As the AD of Leeway Productions, their flagship and ground-breaking production of The Last 5 Years was explored uniquely and poignantly by outstanding musical theatre talent, D/deaf performers and beautiful choreography with integrated BSL by choreographer Mark Smith who is Deaf. The Last 5 Years was listed as one of the top 10 Regional Productions of 2018 by The Stage.
Kate Long, Board Member
​Kate has worked in the creative industries with roles crossing between theatre, dance, film and visual arts. As a freelance producer she was responsible for delivering large festivals and international creative projects across the UK, and has extensive experience running a cultural organisation in her role as Director of the Memo Arts Centre. Kate has been an advocate for dance development throughout her career, as a producer, mentor, and a Board member of many cultural organisations. Kate has experience of fundraising, income generation and managing large scale projects, including building projects. Her passions have always been to give artists and young people opportunities to achieve their aspirations and to empower creatives to develop and succeed.
Sarah Rogers, Artistic Director
Sarah leads the Ransack's artistic vision, choreographing original productions and overseeing collaborative work with dancers, musicians, and film artists. In addition to creating touring productions—including Murmur (2019) and Us and Them (2022–24)—Sarah has designed and delivered Ransack’s professional development programmes and community dance initiatives, such as the Gyda’n Gilydd programme in partnership with YMa (formerly Artis Community)and highly successful touring outreach programme, featuring the company's signature 'flash mob' scene, providing community members across Wales with the unique opportunity to perform on stage alongside our professional dancers.
Alongside her creative leadership, Sarah manages Ransack’s strategic development, operations, and fundraising, often fulfilling multiple roles including CEO, Finance Manager, and Producer between funding periods. Her multidisciplinary leadership has positioned Ransack as a growing force in the Welsh dance ecology.
Trained at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance (BA Hons Dance Theatre), Sarah completed an apprenticeship with Earthfall Dance Company and has performed with artists such as Rosemary Butcher, Charles Linehan, Kerry Nicholls, and 2Faced Dance. As a choreographer, she has presented work at London’s Resolution Festival and developed a wide-ranging practice in dance education and participation. Sarah’s experience includes roles as Education Manager at 2Faced Dance, Dance Ambassador for National Dance Company Wales, and lead artist for multiple Creative Schools projects across South Wales. She continues to deliver inclusive dance classes with Dance Blast in Abergavenny, where she directs the adult company MCDC.
