Our Directors
Karen Taws
Founding Director
Karen is a Creative Producer and Project Manager with nearly 30 years experience working in the creative and cultural sectors locally, regionally and nationally. Over her career she has work in diverse settings including sectoral development / funding agencies the voluntary and community sectors, local authorities, and FE.
Above an beyond her supporting creative practice she has experience and expertise in: Partnership development; Project management; Evaluation and impact assessment; Stakeholder management and communication; Fundraising and income generation.
Prior to setting up GSD Creatives Karen was project Manager for the North Shields Cultural Quarter. In this role I supported over 200 creative practitioners enterprises and cultural organisations to designed and delivered a programme of creative activity which included 28 projects, 24 events and 43 bursaries.
Karen’s career has been defined by one consistent thread: she helps people get things done. She removes barriers, builds connections, unlocks funding, and supports artists and organisations to deliver work that has real impact. GSD Creatives is the natural evolution of that legacy — a platform where her experience, networks, and values come together to support the existing and next generation of creative practitioners.
Jacqui Martin
Jacqui has over 30 years of experience in workplace, education and healthcare design, alongside deep expertise in client engagement, organisational development and creative sector collaboration.
Jacqui’s career spans the UK, Europe and Australia, working with global corporates, universities and public‑sector organisations to shape environments that support learning, wellbeing and community. She has held senior roles at DEGW, FaulknerBrowns, and Envision Design Group, and now leads her own practice, Jacqui Martin Design Ltd, alongside her design leadership role at Consult North.
Her work is grounded in co‑creation, stakeholder engagement and the belief that design should remove barriers, empower people and enable meaningful participation. This aligns directly with GSD Creatives’ mission to support grassroots artists, strengthen creative ecosystems and champion fair access to opportunities. Jacqui provides strategic guidance across governance, organisational growth, partnership development and long‑term planning. For GSD Creatives she brings a designer’s clarity, a consultant’s rigour and a deep commitment to nurturing creative talent across the North East.
Lisa Laws
Lisa is North East Screen’s Development Director, working as part of the senior leadership team. In addition she is responsible for the development of North East Screen’s business and talent initiatives and overseeing the organisation’s marketing and communications strategy.
Recent initiatives include the BBC Digital Accelerator, Content Without Borders, 5 co-developments, Channel 4 Digital Developments, Commissioner briefings, Comedy Hot House digital commissions and support for Indies ranging from IP and slate development investments across factual, scripted comedy and drama.
For GSD Creatives she brings her passion as well as numerous years of screen industry experience and knowledge to her role which see her work alongside broadcasters, streamers and industry partners to provide pitching, development and commissioning for companies and talent creating major sustainable career opportunities for regional creatives.