• - Planning & Strategy
• - Research & Evaluation
• - Visitor Experience
• - Workshops & Training
• - Heritage Fund Projects

About us

A Different View started around a kitchen table over 25 years ago. Two strangers became the best of friends and built a consultancy with energy and enthusiasm. Our goal? To support organisations that enrich all our lives to re-imagine, design new concepts and discover new futures.

Over the years it’s been our pleasure to support some of the most recognisable cultural institutions and conservation charities in the world and as you wander around our website you’ll find many inspiring projects and stories. They certainly make us believe that with creative thinking and an open mind, anything is possible.

Rosalind Johnson and Sylvia Matiko
Co-founders of A Different View

Who we are

Rosalind Johnson, co-founder

Rosalind Johnson, from Norfolk in the UK, brings over 25 years of experience in strategic planning, complex project development, visitor experience development, mentoring and general consultancy to clients of A Different View. She is an experienced facilitator and advocacy negotiator, with work across museums, culture, heritage, the arts and the outdoor sector. She has delivered projects with organisations including BFI, the Science Museum, the American Museum of Natural History, Arts Council England, the National Trust and others across the UK and Middle East. In her spare time, she loves to paint and spend as much time as possible by the sea.

Sylvia Matiko, co-founder

Sylvia Matiko, based in Nashville, Tennessee, brings 30 years’ international experience to her work with A Different View. She supports clients with leadership, organisational development, change management, human resources, strategy and business planning. Formerly Vice President at Ripley Entertainment, she has also co-created training programmes including Captivate and Success Guide to Business Planning. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking in the Smoky Mountains and trying new recipes in the kitchen.

Victoria Wallace, Senior Strategist

Victoria Wallace, based in Kent, UK, is a strategist with extensive senior leadership experience across the heritage and charity sectors. She spent 10 years as Chief Executive at Leeds Castle and seven years as Director General of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, where she led major organisational and public-engagement change. A former diplomat, she has worked on three continents, speaks six languages and brings deep experience in strategy, governance, income generation and stakeholder partnerships. In her spare time, she enjoys travelling around the world.

Matthew Dawson, Senior Strategist

Matt Dawson, based in Toronto, has had a front-row seat to many of the leading clients, projects and trends in the museum and theme park sector. He worked for eleven years in an executive position at Forrec, a global design and master planning practice. Earlier in his career, Matthew worked on staff at three major museums during their lead-up to their grand openings, directing their inaugural exhibitions and programmes of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the Musical Instrument Museum and the expansion of the Art Gallery of Ontario. He entered the museum sector as an exhibition designer and museum master planner. Matthew originally trained as an architect at Princeton University.

Geoffrey Dixon, Head of Research

Geoffrey Dixon has over 30 years’ experience in market research, working across 30 countries on projects involving complex cultural issues. He has worked with national museums, arts organisations, entertainment brands and major venues across the globe, including extensive research in the Middle East. His expertise includes audience segments, visitor experience, traffic flows, branding and marketing, and he is skilled at both research design and interpretation. In his spare time, he enjoys live music and organising music festivals.

Benedetta Tiana, Interpretation and Content

Benedetta Tiana, originally from Milan and based between London and Milan, provides interpretation and strategic content planning for museums and heritage sites. She works internationally across the UK, North America and Europe, creating visitor learning experiences that are engaging, imaginative and memorable. Her background includes English Heritage, Event Communications and a wide range of capital and content-led projects. In her spare time, she enjoys good food, cooking and singing.

Laura Crossley, Audience and Programming

Laura Crossley has over a decade of experience in museums, heritage and the arts, specialising in visioning, strategic planning, visitor experience, audience development, evaluation, partnerships, programming and interpretation. She has held senior leadership roles, including Head of Content at the National Football Museum, where she led strategy across collections, exhibitions, digital, learning and public programming. She also brings strong skills in training, facilitation and fundraising. In her spare time, she loves being outdoors, riding and walking her dogs.

Tamsyn Howes, Fundraising Strategist

Tamsyn Howes, from Cornwall in the Southwest of the UK, brings 20 years’ experience in fundraising and income generation. She supports clients with strategic fundraising planning, income diversification, project development, coaching, mentoring, prospecting, relationship management and bid writing. Her background includes 15 years with the National Trust, where she was Head of Fundraising for the Southwest. In her spare time, she is usually running the South West Coast Path or volunteering at her local junior parkrun.

Sean Mannie, Commercial and Business Planning

Sean Mannie is an experienced commercial leader with nearly 30 years’ experience across the private, public and charitable sectors. His background includes senior roles at the Royal Armouries and Marwell Wildlife, with expertise in operations, commercial strategy, finance, fundraising and visitor experience. He has led major redevelopment projects and supported long-term site and business planning for attractions of all sizes. In his spare time, he enjoys walking somewhere green and pleasant and researching medieval and Second World War history.

Steve Jaggard, Creative & Digital Engagement

Steve Jaggard is a Creative Director with a background in business, marketing and digital consultancy. He specialises in helping organisations challenge the status quo and find more innovative ways to connect with audiences, blending consumer insight with creative thinking. His experience includes work with the BFI, National Horseracing Museum, Althorp Literary Festival, Expedia, Crimestoppers and Santander. In his spare time, he enjoys the arts and has completed a ten-year tenure as Director and Trustee of Norwich Theatre.

Holly Burrows, Executive Assistant

Holly Burrows keeps A Different View running smoothly across three time zones, helping to prioritise workloads and support the whole team. With a BSc in Social Policy and Administration from the London School of Economics, she brings strong research skills and a steady hand to day-to-day operations. Before joining the team, she worked with Andersen Consulting and Hiscox. In her spare time, she enjoys being outdoors, riding and walking her many dogs.

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