Our Trustees

Sallie has recently retired from running a national network of estates teams within the public sector, a network she grew over tenfold within 6 years, turning it from an old boys’ club into a vibrant, respected and valuable asset for the sector. Using a variety of initiatives, such as regular training workshops, setting national standards, driving change at governmental level, Sallie was able to increase membership and influence and provide a cohesive approach across the sector and into other emergency services.

Prior to this, Sallie worked as a client representative for organisations in Bristol, delivering capital projects of all sizes, many of which had a unique or specialist focus. These include Wild Place Project, a specialist firearms training centre, a helicopter base and the extension to St George’s Bristol, among others.Sallie remains extremely proud of all the projects with which she has been associated.

Sallie’s interests are wide ranging and infinitely expandable. She sings in several choirs, enjoys attending all sorts of arts events and sporting activities and is deeply engaged with her family.

Doug is Chief Executive of Music Therapy Works and Artistic Director of Open Up Music, which he co-founded in 2014. Starting out as a Cathedral chorister before an early career in experimental rock, from 2000 Doug increasingly focussed on inclusive music-making, with extensive experience as a music leader, arts manager and consultant. Music Therapy Works delivers a wide range of music therapy services across the Midlands, while Open Up Music’s award-winning programmes are transforming the artistic landscape for young disabled musicians in England and Wales.

Mark Bowers boasts over 15 years of experience in the music industry. He began his career as a drummer and DJ before transitioning to roles behind the scenes in artist management, touring, and promotions. During his seven years as a national promoter for Metropolis Music, he had the privilege of working with top acts like Oasis, Emeli Sandé, and Netsky.

Mark’s true passion lies in artist development. Currently, he serves as Group Head of Careers and Artist Development at BIMM, overseeing seven creative arts universities across Europe. Additionally, he has launched a new management and PR company under the Crosstown group, focusing on developing and signing outstanding new artists.

Kat Branch is Head of Centre for Music at UWE Bristol making music facilities, professionally-led groups, teaching and events available to everyone at the university, supporting university strategies on wellbeing, mental health, equity, practice-led learning and cultural exchange whilst helping students and staff towards their musical goals. Focused on innovative applications of music education with a background in creating performing arts programmes for secure environments, Kat is also interested in equitable access to the arts and how to increase engagement with music from disenfranchised groups. Kat is an educator at heart and so she still lectures and leads a choir focused on singing for wellbeing. Kat’s first instrument is French horn but she is most at home at a piano or singing, ideally in a big group.

Jonathan Brecknell is a ‘converted Bristolian’, having moved to the city for University and never left! He is owner and Manager of Urban Creation, who’s office resides on Park Street. Therefore, the location and ecosystem of St. George’s is close to his heart.

He refers to himself as a ‘semi-talented’ musician, with grade 8 piano, grade 7 clarinet and a is a former chorister who has recently started re-enjoying the beauty of song.

Born and educated in Norwich and at the University of Sussex, Simon moved to Bristol in 1983 to study at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. After twenty years as a professional actor appearing widely on stage and screen, he became involved in local politics, serving as Lord Mayor of the city in 2004, Deputy Leader then Leader of Council. He stood down in 2016 after having served three years as assistant to the first elected Mayor. During this time, he focussed on renewing the city’s cultural life and institutions and was awarded an MBE in 2017 for his contribution to Bristol’s cultural life and made an honorary Doctor of Letters by the University of Bristol.

Maria is a freelance Marketing Consultant with over 30 years experience both in agencies and as a client. She has valuable experience of destination marketing and working with organisations that have both a commercial imperative and charitable objectives.

She has been a NED for over 10 years; including 6 years as a Trustee of the RWA, 8 years as a Governor at BGS and has recently been appointed as a co-opted Trustee by St Peter’s Hospice.  She was a trustee at SGB for 3 years 2019 – 21and has returned to the board for a second term.

She is an Art History graduate who is passionate about supporting Bristol’s cultural venues.

Christian Cull is currently responsible for communications at The Open University, having previously been Director of Marketing and Communications at the University of Bristol, where he worked in offices in the same street as St George’s. Having to spend most of his time at working at a screen, he relishes the atmospheric beauty of the concert hall, and enjoys the soup and toasties from the café bar. Christian has fully embraced the transferability of communications and marketing skills in a career that has included directorate roles at Waitrose and Sky, Vodafone and TUI, among others. Sadly, his musical skills extend no further than rudimentary violin and classical guitar at school, and no one is likely to ask him to sing twice.

Anna is a freelance creative director and cultural consultant and is also a trustee of National Museums Liverpool. A Bristol University graduate, she undertook post-graduate study in at the Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada and gained a PhD from Manchester University. Starting out as a theatre director, Anna has since worked as a creative director across a number of art forms including opera, film, literature, heritage and festivals. She has a particular interest in cultural development in port cities and coastal communities. She delivered key projects for city of culture programmes in both Hull and Liverpool, and for Bristol European Green Capital. As Arts Programme Director for University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, she founded the hospital arts programme, and the Weston Arts and Health Festival. Having contributed to a number of cultural initiatives in Bristol and beyond, she is delighted to support the St George’s team.

Born in Dublin, Roland founded WatchHouse in 2014, having prior and extensive experience in running small to medium sized businesses. In addition he holds non-exec and exec directorships in the fields of property and management. Roland is a MSc graduate of Economic History from the LSE and recently graduated from Oxford University where he holds an Exec MBA.

Roland lives in Bristol with his Partner, Lizzie and three young children. He is a keen supporter of Ireland’s national rugby team.

Stephanie is a PhD candidate at UWE Bristol, working in partnership with Colgate-Palmolive. In 2017, Stephanie co-founded SEPH Group, a creative management brand focused on nurturing creative talent across sectors including music, film, design and photography. She is also a creative producer, photographer, and curator who has worked with creative institutions in Nigeria and within the UK. Some of these exhibitions have been featured on the BBC, ITV, the Voice, Tafari Art Gallery, the Arnolfini, and across the streets of Bristol city.

Paul is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and has just retired from a 37-year business career, latterly as Group CFO at companies spanning the frozen food, footwear and veterinary services sectors. In addition to serving as Deputy Chair at St George’s, he is a Governor at Nottingham Trent University. Paul has a varied performing background having sung in a number of choirs, performed on stage in everything from musicals to Grand Opera taking in Gilbert & Sullivan along the way as well as playing the trumpet in concert bands, dance bands, orchestras and brass ensembles.

Chris has been part of the business community in Bristol for nearly 40 years, over which time he has built an expansive network of professional contacts and friends. He has been involved in fundraising for St George’s for over 10 years, with a particular focus on the successful completion the new building in 2018. Chris’s professional specialism is in insurance, where he has owned or run a number of businesses in the Bristol area over three decades. Chris has a classical singing background, from head chorister of St Albans Cathedral to singing in various choirs and musical theatre clubs.

Ian is the Head of Supporter Recruitment at the National Trust, Europe’s largest conservation charity. He is accountable for defining and delivering the new member and donor recruitment programme, growing income for the National Trust, broadening and diversifying its supporter base, and developing long lasting relationships with supporters. Ian has a passionate and lifelong interest in music beginning in the 1970s listening to LPs belonging to friends and family that continues to this day with regular attendance at concerts in Bristol and beyond. Ian has a strong belief in the ability of music to inspire people and bring them together.

Professor Sue Rigby has been Vice Chancellor of Bath Spa University since 2018, and previously held senior roles at the Universities of Lincoln and Edinburgh. Sue is passionate about the arts. Her academic background lies in palaeontology, having held roles at Cambridge, Leicester and Edinburgh Universities. Sue is an Executive Member of the MillionPlus group, a Trustee Board member at Student Minds, and is also acting Chair of the QAA Credit Framework Group.

Madeline is an events professional with a background in arts festivals and trade publishing. She has been Head of Events and Stakeholder Engagement at UWE Bristol since January 2022. She started her career within the PR teams at Random House, moving to London following a postgrad in publishing at Plymouth University. Since moving back to Bristol at the end of 2013, she undertook various freelance PR projects before becoming part of the programming team at Cheltenham Literature Festival and then moving on to become Head of Literature Programming at Bath Festivals. She believes strongly in the shared experience of audiences coming together for live events and in the importance of community engagement projects within organisations, especially those related to education and the arts.