Julie's Bicycle - working for a low carbon creative economy

Tony Wadsworth was Chairman and CEO of EMI Music UK & Ireland from 1998 to 2008. In a 26 year career with the UK based company, he held many roles including Managing Director of the Parlophone label, a label which he relaunched in the 1990's achieving sustained hits with artists such as Blur, Radiohead, Crowded House, Pet Shop Boys, Tina Turner and Queen.

His subsequent move to running all of EMI's UK labels saw a period of global success with artists such as Robbie Williams, Coldplay, Kylie Minogue,the Rolling Stones and the Beatles. Having overseen the combination of the Virgin label with the UK company, recent worldwide chart profile and multi million sales have been achieved with brand new signings such as Lily Allen, KT Tunstall and Corinne Bailey Rae.

Prior to joining EMI, Tony gained a degree in Economics from Newcastle and spent the following 3 years playing in a band with his college friends. He later worked for various record labels before joining EMI.

He is currently Chairman of the BPI and Chairman of Brit Awards Ltd and on the board of the Brit Trust charity. He is a trustee of the Music Sound Foundation, a charity devoted to improving young peoples' access to music education, and a trustee of the EMI Archive Trust.

Tony holds the post of Visiting Professor in the music and business schools of the University of Newcastle-on-Tyne. In March 2008 , he was awarded the prestigious `Music Week' Strat award for outstanding contribution to the UK music industry and in 2009 was awarded the Scott Piering Award by the Radio Academy to recognise outstanding contribution to music radio .

Tony lives in London with his wife and 2 children.

Melvin Benn had a ten year background of producing political and campaigning festivals throughout the UK before establishing The Festival Office Ltd in 1989 to create and produce festivals for the Mean Fiddler.

This was the same year that the Mean Fiddler took over the Reading Festival, which has sold out ever since. In 1999, Benn took the event to Leeds. In 1996 Benn took ‘The Festival Office’ to be part of the Mean Fiddler Music Group and became Managing Director. In 1999 he became Group CEO taking Mean Fiddler and its associated companies into a plc structure. This made Mean Fiddler the first publicly quoted music company on to the UK Stock Exchange.

Benn is also the licensee for all Finsbury Park outdoor shows and sits as a representative on the Concert Promoters Association (CPA). He was influential in re-writing the Guide to Health and Safety at Outdoor Events (‘the Pop Code’), and regularly makes presentations to the Emergency Planning College, the police and other bodies.

In August 2007 Benn sold the majority of the Mean Fiddler Music Group venues as well as the Mean Fiddler Music Group name to concentrate on the full festival portfolio ; Carling Weekend Reading & Leeds, Latitude, Rise, St Patrick’s Day, Fleadh and the involvement with Glastonbury Festival under the new name of Festival Republic.

Ben Challis is a UK lawyer specialising in music and entertainment law. A graduate in law from Kings College London and the City University, Ben also holds the degree of Master of Arts in Mass Communications from the University of Leicester and is is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Ben acts as General Counsel for 3A Entertainments, one of the UK’s leading concert promoters, and is Executive Producer for television of the Glastonbury Festival. Glastonbury is the UK’s leading music and arts festival attended by over 177,000 people. For Glastonbury, Ben combines the role of managing the Festival’s broadcast and other media rights alongside acting as General Counsel for the Festival. Ben’s other clients have included the Prince’s Trust, the Granada Media Group, Pioneer LDCE and British Telecom.

Ben regularly writes articles and other material on music business and intellectual property law, contributes to books, teaches law and is a regular conference speaker in particular on the live music industry. Ben sits as a magistrate in Cumbria, England. Ben is also co-founder of A Greener Festival which was set up in 2006 to champion sustainable events and promote environmentally friendly practices at music and arts festivals.

A Greener festival promotes an annual awards scheme (The Greener Festival Awards) for green festivals in association with the UK Festival Awards and they also endorse a discount insurance scheme for green events provided by Robertson Taylor insurance brokers. AGF also have ongoing training and research activities.

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Ben Challis is a UK lawyer specialising in music and entertainment law. A graduate in law from Kings College London and the City University, Ben also holds the degree of Master of Arts in Mass Communications from the University of Leicester and is is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Ben acts as General Counsel for 3A Entertainments, one of the UK’s leading concert promoters, and is Executive Producer for television of the Glastonbury Festival. Glastonbury is the UK’s leading music and arts festival attended by over 177,000 people. For Glastonbury, Ben combines the role of managing the Festival’s broadcast and other media rights alongside acting as General Counsel for the Festival. Ben’s other clients have included the Prince’s Trust, the Granada Media Group, Pioneer LDCE and British Telecom.

Ben regularly writes articles and other material on music business and intellectual property law, contributes to books, teaches law and is a regular conference speaker in particular on the live music industry. Ben sits as a magistrate in Cumbria, England. Ben is also co-founder of A Greener Festival which was set up in 2006 to champion sustainable events and promote environmentally friendly practices at music and arts festivals.

A Greener festival promotes an annual awards scheme (The Greener Festival Awards) for green festivals in association with the UK Festival Awards and they also endorse a discount insurance scheme for green events provided by Robertson Taylor insurance brokers. AGF also have ongoing training and research activities.

Chris Cotton RIBA is a Chartered Architect with over 40 years expertise in conservation, restoration and design of commercial buildings. In 2005, having had a lifelong interest in the building, Chris became Building and Operations Director of the Royal Albert Hall, a charity and Grade I listed building of national importance. He became Chief Executive in 2010.

As well as being a Director of Julie’s Bicycle, he is also a Trustee of the Exhibition Road Cultural Group (ERCG), which represents and champions the collective view of the 16 national and international cultural and educational organisations and two local councils within the Exhibition Road area, and a non-executive Director of Saia Group, a design, planning and project Management Company.

Originally from Edinburgh, Chris enjoys all forms of live performance and is a keen sailor particularly on the west coast of Scotland.

Ayesha Hazakira was a founding member of the Julie’s Bicycle Board while Vice President of Government and Industry Affairs at EMI. In August 2007 she was appointed Special Advisor to The Rt Hon Harriet Harmen QC MP, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.

Ayesha first joined EMI in 2005 as business co-ordinator in the Group Chairman’s office working for Eric Nicoli and was seconded to the Labour Party in April of that year to work on the then Prime Minister Tony Blair’s campaign during the general election.

Prior to joining EMI, she spent seven years in Westminster including four years as chief press secretary to Patricia Hewitt, then UK Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. Ayesha has also worked in other Government departments including Downing Street, the Home Office and the Ministry of Agriculture. Ayesha studied law at university and completed a postgraduate diploma in journalism and politics.

Ayesha is a stand up comedienne in her spare time.

Neil Johnston has worked in creative industries in the UK, US and Europe all his life. Now Chief Executive of Paddington Development Trust he works in creative regeneration in some of the poorest neighbourhoods in London.

He is also Director of London Westside, an agency supporting new business and is involved in a number of other charitable and business initiatives in the UK. He operates an organic smallholding from his home in Northamptonshire and grows thirteen varieties of English apple, as well as plums, pears, quince and French walnuts.

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Neil Johnston has worked in creative industries in the UK, US and Europe all his life. Now Chief Executive of Paddington Development Trust he works in creative regeneration in some of the poorest neighbourhoods in London.

He is also Director of London Westside, an agency supporting new business and is involved in a number of other charitable and business initiatives in the UK. He operates an organic smallholding from his home in Northamptonshire and grows thirteen varieties of English apple, as well as plums, pears, quince and French walnuts.

David Joseph recalls that given the amount of time his father, an artist manager who handled acts like Billy Ocean, spent away from home, he decided “the music industry was not the life I was going to choose for myself”. But try as he might, including successful stints in advertising and games company Sega, Joseph was destined to follow in his father’s footsteps. He started out as RCA’s chief of press relations. David joined Universal Music in August 1998 as general manager of Polydor UK before moving up in February 2002 to become managing director and later co-President of Polydor alongside Colin Barlow. In April 2006, Joseph was promoted to President, Universal Music Operations, overseeing Universal Classics & Jazz, UMTV and the launch of TV production division Globe alongside his Polydor responsibilities. In March 2008 he was appointed to the role of Chairman and CEO, Universal Music UK, overseeing all divisions of the UK’s leading record company. David became a member of the BPI Council in 2005 following two years on the Brits Committee.

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David Joseph recalls that given the amount of time his father, an artist manager who handled acts like Billy Ocean, spent away from home, he decided “the music industry was not the life I was going to choose for myself”. But try as he might, including successful stints in advertising and games company Sega, Joseph was destined to follow in his father’s footsteps. He started out as RCA’s chief of press relations.

David joined Universal Music in August 1998 as general manager of Polydor UK before moving up in February 2002 to become managing director and later co-President of Polydor alongside Colin Barlow. In April 2006, Joseph was promoted to President, Universal Music Operations, overseeing Universal Classics & Jazz, UMTV and the launch of TV production division Globe alongside his Polydor responsibilities.

In March 2008 he was appointed to the role of Chairman and CEO, Universal Music UK, overseeing all divisions of the UK’s leading record company. David became a member of the BPI Council in 2005 following two years on the Brits Committee.

Jeremy Lascelles started his career in the music industry in the early 70’s as a band/tour manager before joining Virgin Records in 1979 as an A&R Manager. He spent 13 years there in various A&R, Marketing and MD roles before joining Chrysalis as MD of Chrysalis Music in 1994.

He has overseen the growth and expansion of the publishing company which has now become the leading UK independent music publisher. Appointed as Managing Director of the Echo Label in 1998, he was then promoted to Chief Executive of the Music Division in 2001 before, being appointed CEO of Chrysalis PLC. In 2003 he was elected to the council of the BPI, and also to the board of AIM where he was made vice-chairman in 2004.

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Jeremy Lascelles started his career in the music industry in the early 70’s as a band/tour manager before joining Virgin Records in 1979 as an A&R Manager. He spent 13 years there in various A&R, Marketing and MD roles before joining Chrysalis as MD of Chrysalis Music in 1994.

He has overseen the growth and expansion of the publishing company which has now become the leading UK independent music publisher. Appointed as Managing Director of the Echo Label in 1998, he was then promoted to Chief Executive of the Music Division in 2001 before, being appointed CEO of Chrysalis PLC. In 2003 he was elected to the council of the BPI, and also to the board of AIM where he was made vice-chairman in 2004.

Diana Liverman is Director of Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute and holds a university Chair in Environmental Science in the School of Geography. As director of ECI, Dr. Liverman co-ordinates the work of 80+ interdisciplinary contract researchers and doctoral students who work primarily in the areas of climate, energy and ecosystems with a strong applied and policy focus. ECI hosts or co-hosts national and international projects that include the UK Climate Impacts Program, the Oxford node of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, the U.K. Energy Research Centre and the ICSU/ESSP Global Environmental Change and Food Systems (GECAFS) programme.

Her research focuses on the human dimensions of global environmental change including climate change policy and impacts, the social causes and consequences of land use change, and environmental management in the Americas. She has made substantial contributions to our understanding of vulnerability to climate change and to developing larger research agendas on the social science of global change.

Dr. Liverman’s leadership roles include chairing the U.S. National Academy of Sciences Committee on the Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change and the science committee and the Inter-American Institute for Global Change (IAI). She has been a member of committees that include the UK Human Dimensions Committee, US National Academy of Sciences committee on the U.S. Climate Change Science Plan, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Social Science Advisory Board, and advisory boards for NASA, the NOAA Global Change Program, and the U.S. National Centre for Atmospheric Research.

She is a member of editorial boards of the Annual Review of Environment and Resources, Global Environmental Change, Annals of the Association of American Geographers, and Climatic Change and was a contributing author and reviewer for three intergovernmental panels on Climate Change assessments.

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Diana Liverman is Director of Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute and holds a university Chair in Environmental Science in the School of Geography. As director of ECI, Dr. Liverman co-ordinates the work of 80+ interdisciplinary contract researchers and doctoral students who work primarily in the areas of climate, energy and ecosystems with a strong applied and policy focus. ECI hosts or co-hosts national and international projects that include the UK Climate Impacts Program, the Oxford node of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, the U.K. Energy Research Centre and the ICSU/ESSP Global Environmental Change and Food Systems (GECAFS) programme.

Her research focuses on the human dimensions of global environmental change including climate change policy and impacts, the social causes and consequences of land use change, and environmental management in the Americas. She has made substantial contributions to our understanding of vulnerability to climate change and to developing larger research agendas on the social science of global change.

Dr. Liverman’s leadership roles include chairing the U.S. National Academy of Sciences Committee on the Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change and the science committee and the Inter-American Institute for Global Change (IAI). She has been a member of committees that include the UK Human Dimensions Committee, US National Academy of Sciences committee on the U.S. Climate Change Science Plan, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Social Science Advisory Board, and advisory boards for NASA, the NOAA Global Change Program, and the U.S. National Centre for Atmospheric Research.

She is a member of editorial boards of the Annual Review of Environment and Resources, Global Environmental Change, Annals of the Association of American Geographers, and Climatic Change and was a contributing author and reviewer for three intergovernmental panels on Climate Change assessments.

Jazz Summers turned to management in the early 80s and publishing in the late 80s. 25 years on as CEO of Big Life Group Of Companies , Summers has been responsible for managing Wham!, Lisa Stansfield, Yazz, Soul ll Soul, The Verve, Badly Drawn Boy, Nigel Kennedy, Snow Patrol , Klaxons and the Futureheads.

Between them these artists have sold over 40 million albums and 47 million singles around the world, including 95 top 40 hits over the past 18 years. Big Life Music has grown to become one of the most respected independent publishers in the UK, recognized as the largest independent publishing company in the last two quarters of 2007.

In 2003, as a member of the Music Managers Forum, Summers was awarded the prestigious Peter Grant award and in December 2004 was elected chairman of this organization. At the 2007 Music Week Awards, he was honoured with the Strat Award.

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Jazz Summers turned to management in the early 80s and publishing in the late 80s. 25 years on as CEO of Big Life Group Of Companies , Summers has been responsible for managing Wham!, Lisa Stansfield, Yazz, Soul ll Soul, The Verve, Badly Drawn Boy, Nigel Kennedy, Snow Patrol , Klaxons and the Futureheads.

Between them these artists have sold over 40 million albums and 47 million singles around the world, including 95 top 40 hits over the past 18 years. Big Life Music has grown to become one of the most respected independent publishers in the UK, recognized as the largest independent publishing company in the last two quarters of 2007.

In 2003, as a member of the Music Managers Forum, Summers was awarded the prestigious Peter Grant award and in December 2004 was elected chairman of this organization. At the 2007 Music Week Awards, he was honoured with the Strat Award.

Martin Talbot is the Managing Director of The Official UK Charts Company, providers of the most accurate intelligence data on the British video and music industries – and the most sophisticated chart system anywhere in the world.

Talbot joined the OCC in October 2007, following several years as Editor of Music Week, a trade paper for the UK music industry. Martin started his career in local news at the Hackney Gazette, where he reported on crime, politics and entertainment. His time at Music Week began in the early 1990s, interrupted by a spell as a staff writer at the NME. Stints as News Editor, then Launch Editor of Fono (MW’s European sister publication) led to his promotion to Executive Editor in January 2002 — overseeing the editorial team behind the magazine-to-web business information service — before taking on the title of Editor in January 2005.

Jon “Webbo” Webster has worked for two people most of his life - himself and Richard Branson. The former paid better.

Most of his career was spent at Virgin, both retail where he began as a shop assistant in 1975, and at Virgin Records where he started in 1981 as Sales Manager where he progressed to Managing Director in 1988. In 1983 he was instrumental in devising the Now! That’s What I Call Music brand. He was a member of the BPI Council from 1985 – 1992.

Following the EMI purchase of Virgin in 1992 Jon left corporate life, set up his own company, and worked with Virgin acts Genesis, Peter Gabriel, UB40, Mike and the Mechanics and others. In 1992 he founded the prestigious Mercury Music Prize. From 1992 – 2002 he wrote the “Webbo” column for Music Week.

From 2000 Jon moved into management with D*Note and Francis Dunnery (former singer with It Bites) setting up the internet sales label Aquarian Nation.

In May 2005, after 13 years working for himself, Jon was appointed Director, Independent Member Services at the BPI, the UK record industry trade body. In October 2007 he embraced the artist centric future when he was appointed CEO of the Music Managers Forum.

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Jon “Webbo” Webster has worked for two people most of his life - himself and Richard Branson. The former paid better.

Most of his career was spent at Virgin, both retail where he began as a shop assistant in 1975, and at Virgin Records where he started in 1981 as Sales Manager where he progressed to Managing Director in 1988. In 1983 he was instrumental in devising the Now! That’s What I Call Music brand. He was a member of the BPI Council from 1985 – 1992.

Following the EMI purchase of Virgin in 1992 Jon left corporate life, set up his own company, and worked with Virgin acts Genesis, Peter Gabriel, UB40, Mike and the Mechanics and others. In 1992 he founded the prestigious Mercury Music Prize. From 1992 – 2002 he wrote the “Webbo” column for Music Week.

From 2000 Jon moved into management with D*Note and Francis Dunnery (former singer with It Bites) setting up the internet sales label Aquarian Nation.

In May 2005, after 13 years working for himself, Jon was appointed Director, Independent Member Services at the BPI, the UK record industry trade body. In October 2007 he embraced the artist centric future when he was appointed CEO of the Music Managers Forum.

Alison set up Julie’s Bicycle in April 2007. Before that she led the music consultation for the National Skills Academy, was the Music Director at Creative and Cultural Skills (which she helped set up) and prior to this had spent fifteen years developing the community music sector at Community Music.

Alison trained as a musician and teacher. Her advisory roles have included the Live Music Forum, Music Manifesto Steering Group, and the Music Business Forum. She is on the Board of Sound Connections.

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Alison set up Julie’s Bicycle in April 2007. Before that she led the music consultation for the National Skills Academy, was the Music Director at Creative and Cultural Skills (which she helped set up) and prior to this had spent fifteen years developing the community music sector at Community Music.

Alison is Associate Professor at Buckinghamshire New University, a member of the Events Supplement Working Group for the Global Reporting Initiative, and a founder participant on the United Nations Music & Environment Programme, 2010.

Alison trained as a musician and teacher. Her advisory roles have included the Live Music Forum, Music Manifesto Steering Group, and the Music Business Forum. She is on the Board of Sound Connections.

Sian is an independent consultant in the arts sector.  She was Head of Theatre for Arts Council England, London for ten years until February 2010.

Prior to joining the Arts Council Sian worked for a range of performing arts companies, producing and touring theatre and contemporary dance throughout the UK and overseas. She was Executive Director of Siobhan Davies Dance Company; Manager for Michael Clark Company, Aletta Collins Dance Company and Laurie Booth; and Assistant Manager of the Bush Theatre.

Sian is a Clore Fellow. During her fellowship (2006 – 2008) she was seconded to Tate to develop a Climate Change Strategy and undertook a research project ‘Cultural Leadership in a Changing Climate.’

Sian is a CLP/PCT accredited coach and action learning facilitator. She is Chair of Governors at Grove Park Primary School, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a graduate of Balliol College, Oxford where she studied Modern History.

Catherine is an energy researcher focusing on the capacity of businesses and individuals to reduce carbon emissions. Her recent research has included examining the viability of personal carbon allowances to incentivise energy efficient behaviour. Catherine is lead inventor with Dr. Russell Layberry of two online energy management tools, i-measure and SMEasure, designed for individuals and businesses to measure, benchmark and target their energy use and carbon emissions.

Catherine has been the lead researcher from Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute to indicatively estimate the greenhouse gas emissions of the UK music industry. The research has identified some of the main blockages and opportunities for the industry to collectively reduce emissions. Catherine is taking forward this work in her doctorate studies with the Resolve Group at Surrey University. Her doctorate research will be studying the response of the music industry to climate change action and its ability as a creative, cultural and lifestyles industry to encourage a transition to low carbon lifestyles.

Catherine has a Masters in Environmental Management from Yale University (USA). She has done environmental research in the UK, USA, India and Pakistan. She is passionate about the development of climate change solutions that are visionary, equitable, and affordable.

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Catherine is an energy researcher focusing on the capacity of businesses and individuals to reduce carbon emissions. Her recent research has included examining the viability of personal carbon allowances to incentivise energy efficient behaviour. Catherine is lead inventor with Dr. Russell Layberry of two online energy management tools, i-measure and SMEasure, designed for individuals and businesses to measure, benchmark and target their energy use and carbon emissions.

Catherine has been the lead researcher from Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute to indicatively estimate the greenhouse gas emissions of the UK music industry. The research has identified some of the main blockages and opportunities for the industry to collectively reduce emissions. Catherine is taking forward this work in her doctorate studies with the Resolve Group at Surrey University. Her doctorate research will be studying the response of the music industry to climate change action and its ability as a creative, cultural and lifestyles industry to encourage a transition to low carbon lifestyles.

Catherine has a Masters in Environmental Management from Yale University (USA). She has done environmental research in the UK, USA, India and Pakistan. She is passionate about the development of climate change solutions that are visionary, equitable, and affordable.

Helen trained as an environmental economist and has been applying it to buildings, energy, climate change and our behaviour ever since. As
Director of Energy and Environmental Management at Julie's Bicycle, Helen has been undertaking carbon audits and reduction advice since its inception. Helen is passionate about transforming our relationship with ourselves and with our planet.

Catherine supported Julie’s Bicycle while working in the Government and Industry Affairs Department at EMI Group, before becoming Julie’s Bicycle’s Operations Manager in November 2007.

Prior to moving to the UK, Catherine worked in the music industry in New Zealand, as Communications and Events Coordinator for the collecting society APRA, as well as a period with the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra, and tutoring English at the University of Auckland.

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Catherine has worked across a wide range of music and arts organisations, and been involved with Julie’s Bicycle since it launched in July 2007. 

Prior to Julie’s Bicycle, Catherine most recently worked with EMI’s Government and Industry Affairs team and produced events and communications for the Australasian Performing Rights Association.

Her background is in GHG accounting, carbon auditing and sustainability through her work in the financial services industry and in the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment in her home country, Cyprus, as well as through her placements in UK sustainability consultancies.

Wren brings more than 10 years of experience in marketing and sustainability strategy and communications, working on behalf of sustainability leaders and some of the world’s most successful bands and brands. She’s helped members of the entertainment industry in her native US and across the world reduce their impact and mobilize millions of fans to join their efforts.

Wren has an MBA with a focus in Corporate Social Responsibility and consults with sustainability-based organizations on a variety of business and environmental issues.

Sholeh joined Julie's Bicycle in September 2010 to work on communications and administration, managing events and supporting JB's theatre programme.

Sholeh completed a Masters in Creative and Media Enterprise at Warwick University in 2008, and spent two years as an Arts Projects Manager for Visiting Arts before coming to JB. 

Jazz Summers turned to management in the early 80s and publishing in the late 80s. 25 years on as CEO of Big Life Group Of Companies , Summers has been responsible for managing Wham!, Lisa Stansfield, Yazz, Soul ll Soul, The Verve, Badly Drawn Boy, Nigel Kennedy, Snow Patrol , Klaxons and the Futureheads.

Between them these artists have sold over 40 million albums and 47 million singles around the world, including 95 top 40 hits over the past 18 years.Big Life Music has grown to become one of the most respected independent publishers in the UK, recognized as the largest independent publishing company in the last two quarters of 2007.

In 2003, as a member of the Music Managers Forum, Summers was awarded the prestigious Peter Grant award and in December 2004 was elected chairman of this organization. At the 2007 Music Week Awards, he was honoured with the Strat Award.

Bryan Grant is Managing Director of Britannia Row Productions which for the past thirty five years has been providing audio for major tours and events around the world. 

Nick Levitt is Managing Director of Live Gallery Productions Ltd. Nick is a tour and event producer with over 30 years experience in global tour and event production, currently involved in helping produce the Sonisphere festivals through Europe , The Papal visit to London  and both Simply Red's and Simple minds world tours.

Steve Strange is one of the founding partners of X-ray Touring and looks after acts such as Eminem, Coldplay, Snow Patrol, Queens of the Stone Age and Scissor Sisters to name but a few. He has been an agent in the Live Music Industry for 20 years now since leaving his home country of Northern Ireland.

We are working with a small group of senior industry figures to inform and guide our UK-wide theatre programme which aims to support the theatre industry to improve its environmental sustainability and adapt to a low carbon economy.

Nick Starr has been Executive Director of the National Theatre since 2002, working alongside Nicholas Hytner, Director of the NT. Nick was previously Executive Director of the Almeida Theatre and responsible for its expansion in the late nineties into touring, West End seasons, the conversion of Gainsborough Studios and Kings Cross, and started the refurbishment of the Islington theatre.  Previous to that he ran his own production company, was Director of Warwick Arts Centre, and Head of Planning at the NT. 

Over the last five years the NT has played to record capacities and numbers of first-timer attenders, enabled particularly by the Travelex £10 season.  The company has extended its touring and commercial production activities, with seasons on Broadway and in the West End; and has refurbished the NT Studio where new work is developed for the National’s stages and beyond. 1.3 million people saw NT shows last year.  Future plans include NT Future, prompted by the NT’s 50^th birthday in 2013, which plans to open up the NT building, literally and metaphorically.

He is the Arts trustee of Nesta, is on the board of the Bush Theatre, the Young Vic and the Society of London Theatre, and has recently stepped down from BAC after seven years in the chair.  He runs the Step Change career development programme.

Paule Constable is a freelance lighting designer working in Opera and Theatre throughout the world. Paule studied English and Drama at Goldsmiths College and trained in lighting design while working in the music business. She is a Technical Associate at the National Theatre and an Associate at the Lyric Hammersmith and of Matthew Bourne’s company, New Adventures. 

Recent Design Credits include: Warhorse, St Joan, Women of Troy, Some Trace of Her, Waves, Paul, The House of Bernarda Alba and Coram Boy for the National Theatre.  Ivanov for the Donmar season at the Wyndhams as well as The Chalk Garden, Othello, The Man Who Had all the Luck, The Cut and Proof for the Donmar, The Good Soul of Szechuan and Vernon God Little at the Young Vic, Oliver in Drury Lane and Evita in the Adelphi, Play Without Words, Dorian Gray and Highland Fling for Matthew Bourne and Moon for the Misbegotten at the Old Vic, as well as many productions for The RSC, The Royal Court and for Theatre de Complicite. 

She has designed opera throughout the world; including Giulio Cesare, Cosi fan Tutti, Carmen and St Matthew Passion at Glyndebourne, Marriage of Figaro, The Magic Flute, Faust and Rigoletto at the Royal Opera House; Satyagraha and Rosenkavaliar at ENO; Tales of Hoffman for Salzburg and Peter Grimes for Opera North.  Recent dance credits include 7 Deadly Sins for the Royal Ballet and Naked for the Ballet Boys.

Awards include: Hospital Creative Award in Theatre 2006 for contribution to Theatre, 2006 Olivier Award for Best Lighting Design for Don Carlos; 2005 Olivier Award for Best Lighting for His Dark Materials; LA Critics’ Award for Amadeus 1999.  She has received a further 5 Olivier Award Nominations and a Tony Nomination for Coram Boy on Broadway in 2007. Paule is a Technical Associate of the National Theatre and a Fellow of Goldsmiths College.

Paule has two children and lives in Brighton. 

Vikki Heywood was appointed as Executive Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2003.  She is a Governor of the Company and a member of its Board.  The company has a turnover of £30 million per year, employs 700 staff and produces over 20 productions a year from its home in Stratford upon Avon.  The RSC regularly performs in London and tours the UK and abroad.  The company is also undertaking a £112.8 million building project to transform its theatres in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Prior to this, Vikki was Joint Chief Executive of the Royal Court Theatre, the country’s foremost theatre for the development of new writing. During that time she was responsible for overseeing the £20m redevelopment of that theatre and producing over 100 world premiere productions in London and on Broadway.

She is a board member of the Society of London Theatre, Warwick University, Cultural Leadership Programme Advisory Board and The London 2012 Cultural Olympiad and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.  She is also a member of the Chartered Management Institute.  In October 2007 she received the Vitalise Midlands Woman of Achievement Award.  She was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Birmingham and became a Doctor of Letters in December 2009.

During her career she has led a wide range of theatre companies, having trained as a Stage Manager before moving into theatre management. She has advised the Arts Council and other stakeholders and arts boards and has been Vice Chairman of both the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith and The Young Vic Theatre.

(Image credit: Stewart Hemley)

Kate Horton became the Executive Director of the Royal Court Theatre in January 2008 and is responsible for its business, financial and producing activities.  Before joining Dominic Cooke at the Royal Court, Kate was previously the Commercial Director for the Royal Shakespeare Company, where she worked for a decade.  

Having started her career in advertising, Kate’s other arts roles include Marketing Director of Warwick Arts Centre, a multi-artform presenting venue and the Director of Sales and Marketing at Birmingham Repertory Theatre, producing large and small scale, new and classical drama.

Judith Knight is co-Director and founder of Artsadmin.  After working Hull Arts Centre, Glasgow Citizens’ Theatre and Oval House London, she developed a particular interest in new theatre and interdisciplinary performance, and set up Artsadmin in 1979 with Seonaid Stewart. 

Over the last thirty years, the organisation has developed into an internationally recognised company with a staff of 25, which has, initiated, produced and supported some of the most innovative arts projects in the UK and abroad, across the spectrum of theatre, visual arts, dance, live art and performance. At Toynbee Studios in East London, Artsadmin has developed a creative environment for artists and arts professionals, with a theatre, five rehearsal spaces, offices and studio spaces and the Arts Bar and Cafe. Artsadmin runs an education programme, a Summer School and offers support services for artists including a free advisory service, mentoring and development programmes and a bursary scheme.

Artsadmin is a partner in the Imagine 2020 Network of European collaborators producing artists’ projects on the subject of climate change, and investigating more sustainable ways of producing and touring work. Through commissioning and presenting projects in the Two Degrees festival that cross the line between art and activism, Artsadmin hopes to influence participants and a wide audience into engaging further with the subject.

John E McGrath is the first Artistic Director of the new National Theatre Wales, where he will be developing a wide range of work with a focus on location, engagement, innovation and internationalism. For the company’s launch year John is directing two plays - A Good Night Out in the Valleys by Alan Harris, and Love Steals Us From Loneliness by Gary Owen - as well as overseeing a launch programme of 13 shows, the Theatre Map of Wales. 

From 1999-2008 John was Artistic Director of Contact, Manchester's award-winning space bringing new theatre to diverse young audiences. As a director John has recently worked with hip hop theatre artist Benji Reid (b like water), with poet Lemn Sissay (Storm, Something Dark, Why I Don’t Hate White People), on a multi-media collaboration with writer Kaite O'Reilly and visual artist Paul Clay (Perfect) and with Contact Young Actors Company on the theatre installation Close Up. 

Prior to his time at Contact, John trained and worked in New York for several years, including a stint as Associate Director of leading experimental company Mabou Mines.  His book, "Loving Big Brother: Performance, Privacy and Surveillance Space" was published by Routledge in 2004.  He was the Co-Founder and Chair of PANDA, the Performing Arts Network and Development Agency.  In 2005 he was awarded the National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts (NESTA) Cultural Leadership Award.  

André was appointed Chief Executive of the Really Useful Group in December 2005 after four years as Chief Executive of Really Useful Theatres. In that time he was responsible for employing over eight hundred people and programmed and managed twelve theatres in the West End. André recently retired after nine years on the Board of the National Theatre and is an ex-President of the Society of London Theatre. André is currently producing Love Never Dies, the sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, for The Really Useful Group. He was also producer of the recent revival of Evitawhich was nominated for four Olivier Awards in 2007. He was executive producer on the ‘Bollywood’ musical Bombay Dreams and consultant producer of the Olivier Award winning Best Musical Our House. 

Before running Really Useful Theatres, André was an active producer for twenty years.  During that time he produced over 50 shows in London and on tour. This included winning Evening Standard or Olivier Best Musical Awards for five separate productions including Return to the Forbidden Planet,Spend Spend Spend and Tommy.

As a leading comedy promoter, André presented many comedians on tour and in London, from Rowan Atkinson and Dave Allen in the early 1980’s through to Eddie Izzard and The League of Gentlemen in the late 1990’s. 

Alongside his theatrical activity, André ran a television production company, which produced a number of specials for the BBC and Channel 4 and five sitcom series for the BBC including Joking Apart, which won the Bronze Rose at the Montreux International Television Festival in 1995.

Rosemary Squire is the co-owner of 23 West End and UK regional theatres and Joint CEO of ATG, also one of the most prolific and broad-based commercial theatre producers in the world. Rosemary and her husband/business partner, Howard Panter, have been dubbed “theatreland’s power couple”. As co-founder and Joint CEO of The Ambassador Theatre Group Ltd (ATG), Rosemary is responsible for the company’s core business and new projects team.

 Rosemary is also Chair of Great Ormond Street Hospital’s Theatres for Theatres Appeal and Vice Chairman of Dance Umbrella, the UK’s foremost international contemporary dance festival. She is also a Trustee of The Hall of Cornwall.

In June 2005, when Rosemary was elected President of the Society of London Theatre (the trade organisation of London’s theatre owners and managers), she became the second only female President in the organisation’s 100-year history. She completed her three year term in July 2008 and is now serving a further three years as Vice President. She was a member of The Arts Council of England Lottery Advisory Panel from 2000-2005 and is a member of the Theatrical Management Association.

In June 2006, Rosemary won the prestigious CBI Real Business First Women Award for Tourism and Leisure, and in December 2007 was awarded an OBE for services to Theatre.

In January 2009, Rosemary was appointed a National Member of the Arts Council England Board. Rosemary’s term of appointment runs until January 2013.

Rosemary has three children, aged from 23 to 7, the eldest has Down's Syndrome.

Ben Todd is Executive Director of Arcola Theatre. London's largest studio theatre, Arcola is critically acclaimed for the excellence and variety of it s programming, encompassing new and experimental works, classic drama, music and comedy, as well as community and youth programs. With the mission to become the world's first carbon neutral theatre, Arcola is also a global leader in environmentally responsible arts production and performance practice. While winning accolades for its productions, the theatre is also reaping awards for its sustainability initiatives through Arcola Energy. It won the 2008 CBI Growing Business 'Green Award' and was the Energy Globe UK winner in 2009.

Ben Todd holds a PhD in engineering from Cambridge University and has worked in R&D, technical and strategy consulting on both commercial and government projects, including at Cambridge Consultants, Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems and Synnogy. As well as managing Arcola Theatre, he is Managing Director UK for Horizon Fuel Cell developing new markets and applications for fuel cell and renewable energy technologies.

Steve Tompkins is a director of Haworth Tompkins architects.  In the performing arts he led the design of the Royal Court, the Almeida @ Gainsborough Studios, the Almeida @ Kings Cross, the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, the Young Vic, the Egg children’s theatre and the Ustinov Studio in Bath, the North Wall in Oxford, the National Theatre Studio and the Snape Maltings music campus in Suffolk.  He is currently working on performance projects with the National Theatre, Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse theatres, BAC, the Bush and the Donmar.

Steve studied architecture at Bath University and travelled extensively in Asia before joining the multi-disciplinary practice of Arup Associates in London.  He was a founding member of Bennetts Associates in 1987 prior to forming Haworth Tompkins Architects with Graham Haworth in 1991.Haworth Tompkins is a creative team of 35 architects based in Clerkenwell.  Other projects include a new campus for the Royal College of Art, housing and community buildings for Coin St Community Builders and the Peabody Trust, and the major expansion of the London Library. The studio’s completed buildings have won design awards and have been published nationally and internationally; the practice was nominated for the Stirling Prize in 2007 and Steve was awarded an Evening Standard Special award in 2008 for his contribution to theatre architecture.

Haworth Tompkins has contributed to a number of publications on sustainable architecture and is developing methodologies for sustainable theatre design with clients, technical specialists and funders.

Steve has taught and lectured extensively at a number of UK schools of architecture and is currently a visiting critic at Cambridge University and Visiting Professor of Architecture at the University of Greenwich.  He has exhibited architectural work at the RIBA and the RA, and paintings at various UK galleries.

Erica Whyman is a theatre director with 15 years experience, directing at the National, Sheffield Crucible, Oxford Playhouse, The Gate Theatre and Southwark Playhouse and numerous tours. Since 2005 she has been Chief Executive of Northern Stage with responsibility for the creative and strategic direction of the company.  Northern Stage is the North East’s premier producing theatre, with three flexible stages and a very diverse programme of performances and opportunities to make theatre. 

In her current role she has overseen the completion of their capital redevelopment, enacted major cultural change, a new repertoire and a new business model.  In 2007 Northern Stage played host to Robert Lepage and his company Ex Machina who rehearsed and premiered a new piece, Lipsynch in Newcastle. Erica has also directed seven productions for the company including Son Of Man by Dennis Potter, Ruby Moon by Australian Matt Cameron, the flagship Our Friends in the North in 2007, a Spring 2009 tour of Look Back in Anger, and Oh What A Lovely War which has just completed a national tour.

She was the first theatre fellow on the Clore Leadership Programme in 2004, seconded to Tate to work in the Directors' Office, looking at diversity across all the museums and collections. Her mentor was Richard Eyre.

Previous posts include Artistic Director/Chief Executive at the Gate Theatre in Notting Hill, where she was responsible for paying actors for the first time in the theatre's 25 year history and for inaugurating the UK’s only award for translation.  She was also artistic director of Southwark Playhouse, and Associate Producer at the Tricycle Theatre. Erica’s directing and producing work has been nominated for several awards including the Evening Standard Awards and twice for the Peter Brook Empty Space Award.  In 2008 she was nominated (by her team) for the TMA Manager of the Year Award.

Erica serves on the Boards of the Tyne Theatre & Opera House Preservation Trust, Entrust (Tyne & Wear Enterprise Trust), NE1 (The City Centre Partnership) and the steering group for the North East Cultural Leadership Programme.

Our 2010 report into theatre touring,  Moving Arts: Managing the carbon impacts of our touring, Volume 3: Theatre, and the legacy programmes resulting from it are guided by the touring steering group.

Prior to joining the Arts Council Sian worked for a range of performing arts companies, producing and touring theatre and contemporary dance throughout the UK and overseas. She was Executive Director of Siobhan Davies Dance Company; Manager for Michael Clark Company, Aletta Collins Dance Company and Laurie Booth; and Assistant Manager of the Bush Theatre.

Sian is a Clore Fellow. During her fellowship (2006 - 2008) she was seconded to Tate to develop a Climate Change Strategy and undertook a research project ‘Cultural Leadership in a Changing Climate.'

Sian is a CLP/PCT accredited coach and action learning facilitator. She is Chair of Governors at Grove Park Primary School, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a graduate of Balliol College, Oxford where she studied Modern History.

Phillip Brown is Group Head of Safety and Environmental Services at the Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG). The Group Head of Safety and Environmental Services provides professional advice and guidance on all matters relating to health, safety, environment, welfare and fire. Phil also has lead responsibility for the continuous development and implementation of safety and environmental management and training for ATG.  

Andrew Jones is Drama and Dance Advisor for South East Europe, Russia and North Europe, Central and Southern for the British Council. 

Bryan Raven is Managing Director of White Light and has been with the company for over 20 years. His career started with a brief spell at Theatre Projects after spending two years realising that lighting was a lot more fun than mechanical engineering at Imperial College. White Light now has a turnover of £13M and over 100 staff, and is one of the biggest suppliers of lighting equipment for live performance in the UK. Traditionally known for supplying theatre shows such as Miss Saigon, Lord of The Rings & Mary Poppins; the company has diversified and grown so much since moving to Wimbledon in 2001 that theatre only accounts for 25% of the turnover.

Rachel Tackley is Director of English Touring Theatre. Rachel has produced numerous shows in the UK, USA and all over the world. Since taking over as Director of ETT Rachel has produced: Uncle Vanya and Where There’s A Will (national tours, directed by Sir Peter Hall); Entertaining Mr Sloanewith Imelda Staunton and Mathew Horne (West End co-production with MJE); Hello and Goodbye (directed by Paul Robinson at the Trafalgar Studios); Far From the Madding Crowd (national tour, directed by Kate Saxon).