Cariad Astles is a puppeteer, teacher, trainer, researcher and director. She works at as puppetry tutor at both Exeter University and also at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London. She specialises, amongst other things, in applied puppetry, with a particular focus on puppetry in healthcare settings, including hospitals. She has published widely on puppetry and is the President of the UNIMA research commission and currently one of the two UNIMA Vice-Presidents. She runs workshops internationally and delivers training in puppetry performance, directing, matter animation and applied puppetry.