Debi Gardner

Considered one of the most influential women in UK carnival arts, Debi is an Executive Officer of the British Association of Steelbands (BAS) and is on the Board of Directors of the world famous Notting Hill Carnival. A practising panist, she is part of the management team of Mangrove Steel Band (London) and performs annually with Phase II Pan Groove and Pamberi Steel Orchestra (Trinidad).

Debi is passionate about developing and empowering others and has served as a Trustee of numerous community organisations. As Economic Development Manager for the UK Centre for Carnival Arts, she established the Centre's business hub to nurture artists and those not in education, employment or training. She also founded BAS' youth engagement project to inspire young people and future leaders across the carnival arts community. In 2013 she worked with the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Arts and Multiculturalism to host the first international conference for visiting artists. This was followed by a meeting of national steel band organisations hosted by Pan Trinbago.

Debi is a visionary. She conceptualised 'Party Caribbean' (a one-stop-shop for carnival arts) and now has set her sights on developing a global network for female influencers and leaders in steel bands, as well as initiating a oral history project spanning all aspects of steel band and carnival arts.

Debi's achievements have been widely celebrated. She has received two achievement awards from BAS and was privileged when, in 2013, she was invited to attend an inaugural event honouring the UK's most influential black women. Most recently, her experience led her to being invited to become an Editor of the "International Journal of Carnival Arts" when it was launched in May 2020.