Speakers' Corner

Kat Marks, Fashion Designer

A host of guest speakers, over recent weeks, have visited the University Centre Doncaster at High Melton to give talks to some of the students there.

It was an excellent opportunity for students to hear some of the top names in their respective industries draw on their particular experiences and pass on vital tips that could help them in the future. Students were also given the chance to ask questions about their lives and the personal journeys travelled.

Among the visiting professionals was Canadian fashion designer Kat Marks, who visited fashion students from the University Centre. The up and coming, London based designer is recognized for her fusion of rigid body wear, accessory and tailored clothing. Many of her ideas use visual media, photography and film, and she gave the students an insight into how she works and how they can aspire to the level she has achieved.

Another high profile visitor was VJ Steve Gormley, whose career as a visual disk jockey has seen him perform at some of the UK’s largest music venues. ‘VJ Steve G’ is known around the world for working with some of the biggest artists, from Microsoft to DJ Tiesto, and he has been working with Japanese artist G.E.M.

Steve’s talk centred on his latest stadium tour with G.E.M. in China, showing extracts of footage and the journey from ideas to technical set up.

Music lecturer Graham Thorne said, “This was a great opportunity to see some stunning audio-visual work.”

Another visitor was the Ex-England Football physiotherapist Alan Smith who worked under several England managers including Bobby Robson, Terry Venables, and Sven Goran Ericson. He has worked with Paul Gascoigne and David Beckham and helped sort the famous metatarsal injury that threatened to keep Beckham out the 2002 World Cup. He is still in contact with him and recently went across to Los Angeles to help him through an injury. His talk to sports students was entertaining and packed with knowledge and insight.

Amongst other visitors were, Dr Mark Nesti and Dr Martin Littlewood, sports psychologists from Liverpool John Moores University, who have worked with Bolton Wanderers Football Club, ex-University Centre Doncaster student and music studio wiz, Steve Dixon, and Karl Bower, lead Clinician at the Doncaster & Bassettlaw Speech and Language Therapy Unit.