Meet the Board

Jan-Pieter Costima

Jan-Pieter has been on the Board of Ascendance since 2013 and is presently the Chair. Before joining the Board, Jan-Pieter helped the company with IT and website development in a voluntary capacity. 

Jan-Pieter has a business background, and founded and ran his own successful company developing Innovative Process Control Concepts, mainly for the food industry worldwide.

Away from work, Jan-Pieter is interested in the arts including music, architecture and Medieval history. He belongs to the Yorkshire Archaeological and Historical Society and to the Classical Association (Leeds) (where he is currently President). 

Beatriz Fuentes

Beatriz brings over 20 years of experience in strategic and operational human resources across the healthcare, technology, and service sectors in both the UK and Europe. A passionate advocate for people-first leadership, she has spent the last decade as a senior HR leader and board member, driving culture change, employee wellbeing, and organisational transformation.

Beatriz has a proven track record of designing inclusive people strategies, leading complex change initiatives, and championing health, wellbeing, and belonging in the workplace. Her work has earned national recognition, with multiple awards in Diversity & Inclusion and Employee Engagement.

As a Trustee of Ascendance, Beatriz contributes her expertise in people, culture, and organisational sustainability. She is committed to strengthening the charity's internal capabilities and supporting its mission.

Sam McCormick

Sam is a Dance Artist with over 14 years of professional experience, primarily around community practice and positive social change. Sam has a passion for working with people, and loves to explore and discover, providing an inclusive space for people to take risks and be themselves.

Sam runs her own dance organisation, Curious Motion, which is based in Calderdale and aims to address inequalities with a focus on health and happiness. Sam also works freelance for a number of other organisations; including as Head of Dance for Flamingo Chicks, an inclusive dance charity that provides opportunities for disabled children to dance alongside their friends, English National Ballet, and the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. 

Sam is passionate about dance, health, and inclusion and is proud to be a member of the Ascendance team.

Janet Mitchell

Janet joined the Board of Ascendance in 2005 and is currently the Company Secretary. Ascendance has undergone a lot of changes since Janet joined, and she's really impressed with how the company is doing so well to adapt to the Covid situation. Janet enjoys watching Ascendance’s activities when possible, but also contributing to the running of board meetings and other governance matters.

Following training in town planning, Janet's working life has been in local government, initially in planning and later in arts funding and committee administration, finishing with a stint as a Parish Clerk.

Janet is also involved with a Patients Participation Group at her doctor’s surgery, and other interests include performing and visual arts, walking, yoga and trying to play the piano.

Teresa Widera

I am thrilled to be joining Ascendance and looking forward to continuing my passion for the arts.

I am an art teacher initially working in mainstream and then moving to special needs, currently a teacher of complex needs in further education at Leeds City College.

Away from work I spend time on my allotment and am a member of a local Tai Chi group with a holistic focus on mental and physical wellbeing. Whenever possible I enjoy going to exhibitions, shows and travel.