Meet The Trust

John is also a Trustee of the Sunderland MAC Trust and Ryhope Engines Trust. He retired as Director of Corporate Affairs at Northumbrian Water in 2012. During his career he has also been Chair of the University of Sunderland, President of the North East Chamber of Commerce, High Sheriff of Tyne & Wear, Co Chair of the North East Cultural Partnership alongside many other roles. He was awarded an OBE for services to the Water Industry and charity in 2012 and was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant for Tyne & Wear in May 2017. He is married and lives in Sunderland.

Although always interested in art and culture, John recognised the real power it had to change lives through a business sponsorship in the 1990’s. That kick-started a real involvement in supporting projects in the community but also in the workplace. John was the first Co Chair of the North East Cultural Partnership for all twelve north east local authorities. He was actively involved in the initial Sunderland Cultural Partnership and the set up of the MAC Trust, both leading to Sunderland’s bid for City of Culture 2021 and the establishment of the ground breaking Sunderland Culture. It was his initial idea to bring the Tall Ships to Sunderland in 2018 and he cites the cultural programme around that event as one of the best things he’s ever seen in the city-and of course, available for everyone.  

Sharon is Sunderland BID’s Chief Executive and not only works closely with businesses and organisations across the city but is also actively involved in shaping BIDs nationwide as part of the British BIDS Advisory Board.

She has worked in Sunderland for more than 20 years so has an unparalleled understanding of the area, and that experience – coupled with a real passion for her job – means she’s perfectly placed to help drive the city to achieve its aims and fulfil its ambitions.

Sharon has built a strong network and partnerships with stakeholders and key players across Sunderland and set up the city’s Recovery Task Force to help with post-Covid recovery – a forward-thinking group which has put Sunderland in a much stronger position than other places across the UK.

As someone who is particularly passionate about culture, seeing – and being part – of the cultural regeneration of the city is a cause close to her heart, as well as believing this is a real game changer in terms of Sunderland’s future growth and development.

She is a trustee of Sunderland Empire Theatre Trust, a director of Sunderland Business Partnership and as well as being involved in the day to day running of the BID, she also plays an important strategic role in the development of BIDs both locally and nationally.

Sam is a marketing and communications specialist whose experience has focussed on digital, social media and content marketing, predominantly in the arts, charity and fashion ecommerce sectors.
 

Previously she has held roles at Arts Council England, St Oswald’s Hospice and END. Clothing. She spent four years at END., a Sunday Times Profit Track 100 company, overseeing their global social media audience grow to over 1.5 million.

Returning to the Arts and Culture sector in 2017, Sam held the position of Marketing and Communications Manager for the Popular and Contemporary music programme at Sage Gateshead before moving onto her current role in 2021. 

A big football fan, Sam is now Marketing Director at FOOTY.COM, which was established to help consumers compare prices across a range of sporting products and accessories in one convenient place.  This role allows her to use her passion for connecting with audiences using digital and content marketing.

Sam also chairs the on the board of the National Football Museum, is the chair of Cap-a-Pie theatre company and is a Common Purpose Meridian programme graduate

I left school at 16 and began working for Midland Bank, now HSBC, until 1983.  I have three children and 6 grandchildren.  I’ve lived in Washington all my life and been involved in Toddler groups, Pre School Playgroups and delivered some adult learning tutoring for Bridge Women's Education Project.  I’ve studied as an adult and added A Level, an adult teaching qualification and achieved a Certificate in the  Elected Councillors programme, accredited by Sunderland University.  I have 60 points towards a degree!! 

I’ve been a school governor since 1990 and currently chair Lambton Primary and Oxclose Community Academy boards.  I also chair Discover Leaning Trust MAT. 

In 2004 I was elected as a Councillor for City and Sunderland Council and have held the role of Chair of Washington Area committee, 2017-2020, cabinet member for Vibrant City portfolio between 2021-2023 and in May 23 I became cabinet member for Children Learning and Skills. 

It is a privilege to be a Trustee of the Empire and it has been wonderful to see the development of the theatre during this time. The community work around the Empire with partners is so exciting and the opportunities this brings to our community is immense.  

Donna is Professor of Critical Cultural Studies at the University of Northumbria in Newcastle.  She has been a higher education professional for the past two decades and immediately prior to joining Northumbria University she was Professor of Tourism and Convenor of a cross-Faculty interdisciplinary research network on Race, Class, and Ethnicity (RaCE) at the University of Sunderland.  

She has sat on the editorial boards of prestigious academic journals and published numerous journal articles, books, book chapters and delivered many keynote sessions at national and international conferences.  

She is passionate about equity and social justice and in addition to her work in academia she is a member of several community organisations and initiatives.  

Currently she is a member of the Board of the Wordsworth Trust (responsible for Wordworth Grasmere) and a non-Executive Director of Newcastle Creates (the Cultural Compact for Newcastle).    

Finance Director at Sunderland City Council

Biog to follow  

Business Director (UK Venues) at Ambassador Theatre Group

Pippa is the Business Manager at Ambassador Theatre Group, supporting the leadership teams across 9 of ATG’s largest UK regional venues. Prior to this she held similar roles in the West End, and has previously worked for the Nederlander organisation.

She is also on the board of Outside Edge Theatre Company, a theatre company and participatory arts charity focused on improving the lives of people affected by any form of addiction.

Graeme is a writer, journalist and producer whose career has spanned newspapers, radio, television, theatre and academia. As a producer and executive producer for BBC and ITV Tyne Tees, his credits include You and Yours, Womans Hour (BBC Radio 4), North East Tonight with Mike Neville (Tyne Tees), The Dales Diary (ITV) and Chris Rea: Hard is the Road (ITV). He was Managing Director of ITV Tyne Tees Television until he left in 2009 to become Dean of Arts, Design and Media at the University of Sunderland. 

Graeme is currently a visiting Professor at the university. He chairs the Creative People and Places project The Cultural Spring as well as the Royal Television Society Education Committee which supports young people to consider careers in TV and Film. He is a board member for North East Screen and a council member for Creative UK and Arts Council England (North). His plays include The Donkey, The Whippet and the Giant Leek based on the songs of Sunderland’s Eric Boswell. 

Graeme has written more than 30 original pantomimes and was awarded an MBE for services to cultural regeneration in 2022. He’s married with three grown up children.