The Poly announces its new President

The Poly announces its new President

Kim Conchie has been appointed as the new President of The Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society (The Poly), Falmouth’s community arts and cultural venue.

In welcoming Kim, The Poly extends thanks and gratitude to retiring President Professor Alan Cummings. During his term of office Alan applied his extensive professional experience of building relationships across science and engineering, art and design, the humanities and business through “The Future Of …”, an ambitious programme of talks and events that brought together a range of specialists, academics and the wider community. He encouraged open discussion of today’s big problems, helping to revive the Poly as a civic space for conversation.

As a well-known and respected figure in Cornwall’s business and cultural communities, Kim Conchie is well-placed to build on this legacy.

Kim graduated from Cardiff University with joint honours in English & Economics, going on to co-found Brass Tacks Publishing in 1986. Brass Tacks became one of the top customer publishing and website creation agencies in UK with offices in London, Bristol and Edinburgh, before Kim sold the company to Chime Communications plc in 2000. Kim continued to work for Chime and its subsidiaries until 2009. He was Chair of APA, the UK trade body for publishing agencies, from 1997-99.

He moved to Falmouth, near his spiritual and maternal home in 2002, Kim was CEO of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce from April 2012-July 2024. He created the 30 Under 30 awards, the Chamber Angel Network, was a judge on The Western Morning News Business Awards, sat on the Truro & Penwith College Employment & Professional Committee and was Chair of Governors at Truro School. He chaired Cornwall’s Raising Aspiration & Achievement Strategy board and served on the Falmouth and the Penryn Place Shaping Committees. He co-founded Navas Drinks Ltd in 2017.

He is Chair of Trustees at Cornwall Community Foundation. Kim was made a Cornish Bard in 2024 and given the bardic name Kannas Kann (Bright Messenger) ’for his extensive contribution to cultural life in Kernow’ having served on boards at Kneehigh Theatre, Golden Tree Productions, The Exchange and Newlyn Galleries, St Petroc’s Poetry Competition, feast, Krowji and Creative Kernow amongst others. He has been chair of judges for the RCPS Medal for Industry and gave the Smales Lecture at The Poly in 2019. He and his wife Sarah are Poly members. Each year he is a judge for the Cornwall Sustainability Awards, for the Cornwall Heritage Trust award and their blue plaque scheme. He has spoken at many conferences about the importance of the Kernewek language on Cornwall’s prosperity and values.

In October 2019, Kim was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Cornwall. He serves on the Business Group of DLs encouraging and assisting business applications for the King's Award for Enterprise; and on the King's Award for Voluntary Service.

In his leisure time, he is a life member of Cornwall Heritage Trust, a vice-president of Cornwall RFU, Falmouth Rugby Club, and a member of the South West Coast Path Association. He is a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, a member of Art Fund, a long-time Friend of the Royal Academy, a keen collector of contemporary Cornish and Newlyn School art with which he has a family connection, and of Cornwall Historic Churches Trust.

Kim says: 

“I am honoured and delighted to be President of The Poly. I undertake to add value, connections and energy to any aspects of the charity’s Strategic Plan that I can.  Specifically, I feel I can assist with improved outward communications, business introductions, sponsorship and proposing events involving potential supporters, sponsors, advocates and influencers across The Duchy and beyond. I will be creating events that enhance The Poly’s values and connectivity and I will enjoy advocating The Poly, its programme of activities and shows while personally feeling the glow of being more closely engaged with this wonderful Cornish, but globally significant, forward-looking institution.” 

Dr Ginny Button, Chair of The Poly says: 

“Kim has an ongoing relationship with The Poly. He gave The Paul Smales lecture in 2019, and is currently chair of the RCPS Medal awards panel for Industry. He’s a formidable communicator with an irrepressibly positive approach to everything he does. So we feel very fortunate he’s agreed to support us through this honorary role. I can’t think of anyone more suited to helping us in our charitable mission, which is to provide inspiring, inclusive and innovative entertainment, learning and development opportunities across the arts, sciences and history.”         

ENDS: 14th October 2026