Rowan Mackenzie is founder of Shakespeare UnBard and Artistic Director of three permanent, collaborative, in-prison theatre companies. She has a PhD from the Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham, UK. She has received a number of prestigious awards for her work, including Shakespeare Association of America Public Shakespeare Award 2021, Butler Trust Commendation 2021, Worshipful Company of Educators Inspirational Educator Award for Teaching Shakespeare 2020, Prisoner Learning Alliance Outstanding Individual Award 2019.