The Liverpool digital and creative hub, Baltic Creative, has named 3 new board members, all of whom are under the age of 30.
The 3 co-opted members of the Baltic Creative Community Interest Company (CIC) are Aaron Fontenot, Geraldine Achieng and Lila Tamea.
Their appointments are in response to the organisation’s new diversity and inclusion policy to ensure a “broader range of voices from across Liverpool’s thriving digital and creative sector are represented and have an opportunity to help shape its future.”
Aaron Fontenot is the business lead at Matchstick Creative, as well as project lead on Firestarters, a cross-sector community of Liverpool City Region organisations coming together to do good.
He’s also the founder and Head of Programming at Liverpool urban media platform, Culture Deck.
Geraldine Achieng is a PR Executive at Liverpool City Council and also works with Merseyside Youth Association, The Women’s Health Information & Support Centre (WHISC) and the Basement Advisory Centre.
Achieng also co-founded events company, DATWAYSEASONS.
Finally, Lila Tamea is currently studying for a Master’s in education at Liverpool John Moores University. She is the former president and vice president education of its Student’s Union.
“We’re excited to have three new additions to the board, and we are already enjoying their fresh input from a younger perspective, as well as drawing on their varying cultural and career experiences to date,” said Baltic Creative CIC Managing Director, Mark Lawler.
“Diversity within the digital and creative sector as a whole is a challenge and we hope that the appointment of Aaron, Geraldine and Lila will enable us to be more proactive in addressing where the gaps are, so that there are more opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to get involved.”
A 2019 recent survey of tenants at Baltic Creative found that 72% of employees were aged 20-39, 91% were white British and 63% were men.
“The diversity survey data made for interesting reading and really highlighted to us that more needs to be done to bring more representation into the sector. We hope that with Aaron, Geraldine and Lila’s help, together we will continue to learn and facilitate positive change,” he added.
