Meet Rubicon's Board
AVIJIT BHAGWANT
SENIOR FP&A PROJECTS MANAGER, ADMIRAL GROUP
Avijit is in strategy and finance with Admiral Group’s HQ in Cardiff. With a background in enterprise technology, corporate strategy, and project management, he’s delivered process improvement, efficiency, and capability development initiatives. Avijit spent 11 years in Singapore before completing his MBA at INSEAD and moving to the UK.
He enjoys working with data to develop easy-to-understand narratives and enable good decision making. Having grown up across a number of different countries, he’s also a passionate foodie and loves exploring new cultures.
JOHN CAVANAGH
COMPANY DIRECTOR
John has been a director in multiple organisations such as Airbus, the MoD, a start-up, a turnaround, and the third sector, including developing and running the commercial training division of St John Ambulance. He brings extensive experience from many different contexts and runs his own company providing interim and consultancy services. John seeks to help organisations and the people in them to achieve their potential, whilst enjoying their work and making a positive difference to communities.
John also enjoys managing an investment portfolio, playing golf and snooker, and lives in Bristol.
CHARLIE ELLAWAY
Chief People Officer, Hodge Bank
At Hodge, Charlie is responsible for the creation and delivery of the people strategy spanning Talent, L&D, Organisational Design, Business Partnering, Operations, Facilities and Culture, along with executive leadership direction across the business.
With a Master’s degree in strategic human resources management and over a decade of HR experience across multiple sectors from manufacturing to financial services, Charlie is passionate about creating a work environment where people can bring their whole selves to work, feel valued and ultimately thrive, making this and ED&I a focal point of her people strategy and leadership development initiatives to harness an inclusive and equitable culture.
JAIME FALARCZYK
FOUNDER, JME COMMUNICATIONS
Jaime is an experienced communications and engagement professional with over 25 years’ experience leading strategic communication, stakeholder engagement, and brand development across sectors including financial services, utilities, and the charity sector.
Having held senior leadership positions heading up corporate affairs teams, Jaime now runs her own independent consultancy, JME Communications, helping organisations engage and influence effectively to achieve their goals.
She is passionate about the power of communication to inspire connection and inclusion, and is proud to support Rubicon Dance in its mission to transform lives and communities through dance.
Diane Hebb
Experienced trustee and consultant in the arts, cultural and public sector
Diane Hebb was Director of Arts Engagement at Arts Council of Wales (ACW) until March 2025, after almost 33 years with the organisation having first joined ACW in 1992 as the Dance Officer.
On completing a dance degree, Diane moved to Wales to join a dance in education company and then took up the post of Dance Animateur and Joint Coordinator with Rhondda Community Arts. In her most recent role at ACW, Diane was responsible for developing, managing and implementing strategies and programmes that lead to more people creating, enjoying and taking part in the arts in Wales.
During her career she has undertaken many varied roles and responsibilities including as strategic lead for Inclusion and Participation, drafting ACW’s first equalities strategy and co-authored and overseen the implementation of its first arts and young people strategy. Diane worked in partnership with the Welsh Government to deliver an ambitious and pioneering arts and creative learning programme for Wales, supporting schools to develop approaches to the new Curriculum for Wales and also played a central role in the development and introduction of the highly successful Hynt arts access card scheme.
Diane is passionate about community engagement and the transformational impact the arts can have on the lives of individuals and communities. She is a highly experienced innovator and leader in the field who now works as an independent Arts and Cultural Advisor/Creative Consultant.
MICAELA OWEN
HEAD OF SKILLS AND WORKFORCE TRANSFORMATION, NCC
Micaela is a senior manager at the UK's top Composite R&D facility, part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult. With extensive leadership experience, having worked across various sectors including charity, not for profit and commercial organisations, and running teams from 6 to 250 people, she values ethics and innovation, promoting partnerships, teamwork and empowerment.
A compassionate, dedicated and approachable leader with a passion for building and maintaining high standards in training delivery, Micaëla seeks to enhance the learner experience within a supportive organisation.
PAUL WHITTAKER
ARTIST, WRITER, FILMMAKER, HEIW
Paul is currently a Lived Experience Peer Lead with Health Education and Improvement Wales, supporting the development of the Lived Experience workforce across Wales.
Alongside his own practice as an artist, writer and filmmaker working across different sectors in Wales, Paul has worked on several commissions from clients including Rubicon Dance, Arts Council Wales, Sherman Cymru, Channel 4, Public Health Wales and the Old Vic. His autobiographical play, Gods & Kings, was received to critical acclaim, as was his Miscellaneous Rules solo art exhibition at the Hearth Gallery.
As part of our board, Paul helps Rubicon find creative ways to present our work across all media and has been key in the incorporation of a digital alternative to our artistic programme.