Rachel Grunwald is a cultural leader and artist with 25 years’ experience across theatre, community arts and organisational strategy. She trained at RADA, Lincoln Centre and the National Theatre before establishing a career as an award‑winning theatre director with companies including the Kiln, HighTide and the Royal Shakespeare Company, as well as on participatory programmes at the Southbank Centre.
Her community arts work includes over a decade as Associate Director at SPID Theatre, where she founded a youth theatre now celebrating its 20th anniversary. A Fellow of the Clore Cultural Leadership Programme, Rachel previously served as Director of Programming at JW3 London, where she strengthened community engagement and launched the UK’s first professional Chanukah pantomime in 2023, achieving a major uplift in audience reach and loyalty.
Most recently, Rachel was Strategic Lead for Improbable, guiding an organisational change process that embedded the company into its new home in Kent through deep community and stakeholder development. She also volunteers as a facilitator for groups navigating difficult conversations.