Who We Are
Who We Are
The Board

Deborah Christie
Chairperson
Debbie’s background is in Journalism and Documentary making. She won an Emmy and a Royal Television Society award as a Documentary Director.
She then went on to be an Exec Producer in BBC Documentaries and a freelance Executive Producer making programmes for BBC and Channel 4 including Current Affairs,Specialist Factual series, Wildlife,BBC2’s coverage of the Edinburgh Festivals and award winning Drama shorts. She also chairs the Scottish Documentary Institute.
She lives in Edinburgh less than half a mile from Summerhall.
She then went on to be an Exec Producer in BBC Documentaries and a freelance Executive Producer making programmes for BBC and Channel 4 including Current Affairs,Specialist Factual series, Wildlife,BBC2’s coverage of the Edinburgh Festivals and award winning Drama shorts. She also chairs the Scottish Documentary Institute.
She lives in Edinburgh less than half a mile from Summerhall.

Colin Ferrier
Finance Trustee
Colin oversees finance, guiding both the Board and staff on day-to-day financials and long-term strategy.
Beyond his professional career, he has dedicated his skills to voluntary Finance Director roles with Scotland’s Skiing and Yachting governing bodies and is a former mentor in the E-Spark entrepreneur scheme.
Now running his own finance consultancy, Colin supports a select portfolio of businesses and charities. His greatest passion is his family, and when he’s not spending time with them, you’ll most likely find him out on the water, sailing.
Beyond his professional career, he has dedicated his skills to voluntary Finance Director roles with Scotland’s Skiing and Yachting governing bodies and is a former mentor in the E-Spark entrepreneur scheme.
Now running his own finance consultancy, Colin supports a select portfolio of businesses and charities. His greatest passion is his family, and when he’s not spending time with them, you’ll most likely find him out on the water, sailing.

Emma Aviet
Board Trustee
Emma currently serves as the Projects and Engagement Officer at the Hugo Burge Foundation.
Previously, she was awarded funding from the Scottish Graduate School of Arts and Humanities to lead the “Border Abbeys: Re-told” research project with Historic Environment Scotland, which explored cultural heritage sites as sources for creative inspiration. She also hosted the research podcast “Beyond the Books”.
Emma grew up in a Persian-Armenian and queer household in California and sees the arts as an essential platform for fostering meaningful connections between people and cultures.
Previously, she was awarded funding from the Scottish Graduate School of Arts and Humanities to lead the “Border Abbeys: Re-told” research project with Historic Environment Scotland, which explored cultural heritage sites as sources for creative inspiration. She also hosted the research podcast “Beyond the Books”.
Emma grew up in a Persian-Armenian and queer household in California and sees the arts as an essential platform for fostering meaningful connections between people and cultures.

Nancy Riach
Board Trustee
Nancy leads Arts Culture Health and Wellbeing Scotland (ACHWS), a national network linking together, advocating for and supporting those working at the interface of arts, culture, health and wellbeing in Scotland.
Nancy is a marketing, communications and stakeholder management specialist and has over 30 years of experience in the arts and culture sector from grassroots community practice to national companies and international festivals including Scottish Ballet and Royal Edinburgh Military Tatto
She is also on the National Centre for Creative Health Advisory Group, Healing Arts Scotland Legacy Leadership Group and the UK & Ireland Arts and Health Networks Forum.
Nancy is a marketing, communications and stakeholder management specialist and has over 30 years of experience in the arts and culture sector from grassroots community practice to national companies and international festivals including Scottish Ballet and Royal Edinburgh Military Tatto
She is also on the National Centre for Creative Health Advisory Group, Healing Arts Scotland Legacy Leadership Group and the UK & Ireland Arts and Health Networks Forum.

Jonathan Seddon
Board Trustee
Jonathan is a senior partner at Scottish law firm Morton Fraser MacRoberts LLP and previously served on the firm’s management board for almost 15 years.
He is also the current Europe, Middle East and Asia Chair of Interlaw Ltd’s real estate group.
Jonathan is a former volunteer with the Princes Trust Youth Business Scheme and a keen fundraiser for a variety of charities.
He is married with two daughters and in his spare time enjoys squeezing in the occasional run.
He is also the current Europe, Middle East and Asia Chair of Interlaw Ltd’s real estate group.
Jonathan is a former volunteer with the Princes Trust Youth Business Scheme and a keen fundraiser for a variety of charities.
He is married with two daughters and in his spare time enjoys squeezing in the occasional run.

Neil Manning
Board Trustee
Neil has worked in the College sector for over 25 years and is the Head of The School of Art & Design at Edinburgh College.
He initially specialised in art therapy at Gogarburn and Royal Edinburgh Hospitals. Whilst continuing to create and exhibit he also developed a career as an Artist Educator gaining a Post Graduate Teaching Qualification from the University of Dundee.
Neil is knowledgeable and passionate about the transformative power of the arts, creative education, and making arts education accessible to all.
He initially specialised in art therapy at Gogarburn and Royal Edinburgh Hospitals. Whilst continuing to create and exhibit he also developed a career as an Artist Educator gaining a Post Graduate Teaching Qualification from the University of Dundee.
Neil is knowledgeable and passionate about the transformative power of the arts, creative education, and making arts education accessible to all.

Marcus Pickering
Board Trustee
Profile to come.
The Team

Sam Gough
Chief Executive

Tom Forster
Fringe Producer & Programmer

Sam Chapman
Head of Visual Arts

Imogen Stirling
Development & Producing Lead

Amber Cordiner
Head of Commercial Operations

Matt Norris
Marketing & Communications Manager

Polly Bullock-Anderson
Customer Experience Manager

Rebecca Sweeney
Finance Manager

Brian Hutchison
Production Manager

Michelle Mangan
Head of PR