About Me

Over the past 20 years I have slowly moved from being an arts and entertainment technician and technical department head to realising that the thing that brought me the most pleasure, and in turn what I was best at, was making an environment where other people can shine through the management of venues and spaces. I have worked to make my venues allow production teams, events staff and creatives to be able to do their best work, in safe, efficient and sustainable environments.

Whilst I still have passion for the creative process, I know my role is now elsewhere, ensuring that the buildings, infrastructure, policy and procedure in and around which people work need to help and not hinder them. 

Head of Technical Resources - Royal Shakespeare Company

The RSC's Garden Theatre from above

Achievements
• Redevelopment of technical and production services, plus auditorium works to renovate the RSC’s Swan Theatre (Grade II listed) over the course of a year.
• Development and deployment of the RSC’s Garden Theatre in six months from conception to press night as part of the covid recovery strategy
• Implementation of a revised Capital Expenditure model for the company with a clearer, more transparent process.
• Development of decentralised Project Management Office and bespoke project development and deployment pathway.

Responsibilities
• Close working with colleagues across Executive office, Estates and IT teams to ensure safe, sustainable and effective operation, development and deployment of RSC buildings, Systems, Infrastructure and Equipment in support of artistic, community and commercial program.
• Management of compliance systems (such as LOLER, PUWER, and Asbestos management) in Technical and Production areas, leading a small team to do this
• Develop projects from client driven triggers to deliverable programmes of work, including liaison with planning officers and building control, funders and key stakeholders
• Work with Front of House and Catering colleagues to ensure auditoria and front of house spaces are presented in best possible manner for audiences, staff and performers.
• Manage budgets and procure items and services in line with procurement policies to ensure financial sustainability.
• Response to major incident and recovery (flooding, fire, covid, etc.)

Events and Logistics Manager - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Key Achievements

  • Building a new team of event technicians to a point where they were a fully functional team capable of delivery of a wide variety of activity.
  • Raising production standards of Kew events (such as the Orchid Festivals) whilst reducing costs.
  • Delivery of activity and events in all weathers and seasons whilst maintaining safe and efficient practices

Responsibilities

  • Management, recruitment and deployment of full-time team of event crew and technicians, to deliver a program of event activity throughout the gardens, its glass houses and historic buildings.
  • Develop department in line with strategic aims of RBG Kew, with particular focus on compliance, safety and sustainability for value driven delivery of KPIs.
  • Develop systems of work and data collection to allow for forecasting of future demands on the team and that suitable resourcing was in place.
  • Technical Management of RBG Kew venues, including venue development and specification, within Grade I and II historic buildings
  • Liaison with Operations, Catering and Security teams in the preparation and delivery of event and public activity.
  • Client and contractor management and education in line with best practice health and safety and environmental protections.

Project Developer - Bee Equipment Ltd.

Key Achievements

  • Production of redevelopment plan and client specification for the Snowdown Colliery in Kent, liaising with local authorities, UK Coal Authority, and national government to secure approvals and support for a business and conference centre on a site.  The site had been closed since 1987, and the redevelopment project carried particular interest in the local community and with industrial heritage groups.
  • Management of business transition following Brexit to alternative funding streams at the termination of the project and loss of main funding body.

Responsibilities

  • Development of client brief and specification for the redevelopment of the heritage site to seek approvals from local and national stake holders in the site, and the formulation of a planning application.
  • Consultation with community and heritage groups in addressing sensitivities around the development of the area.

Formation of business plan to accompany planning documents to form part of a funding application and gaining support of local authority and national bodies in bringing 150 jobs to a disuse site.

Senior Technical Manager - The O2

Achievements

  • Management of key client groups for landmark events and liaison around technical and production expectations to ensure safe and effective delivery of in-house services.
  • Development of in-house systems of work and operation to reduce operational costs and to increase interdepartmental sharing and delegation.
  • Introduction of CDM2015 practices for event activity to the venue.

Responsibilities

  • Management of team of five technical managers and contract service providers, including setting SLAs and assessing KIPs
  • Providing technical and building management services to venues and event spaces on the campus

Technical Director - The Marlowe Theatre (Canterbury, Kent)

Achievements

  • Specifying, recruiting and developing team of technicians and operations staff to open the redeveloped theatre, with the aim to become the most successful regional theatre for opening work in the UK.

Responsibilities

  • Operational safety and technical management for two venues (a 1200 seat main house and a flexible 200capacity studio) plus ancillary spaces within the building
  • Close liaison with the Artistic Director, Operations Director and Finance Director in the development of strategy and policy in the operation of the new venue to attract client companies and new audiences, with performance ranging from circus and opera to club nights.

Head of Stage - Roundhouse Trust

Achievements

  • Technical lead on special projects such as the BBC Electric Proms, iTunes Festival and Circus Fest.
  • Designing systems and processes from the opening of the new Roundhouse and its development over its first years

Responsibilities

  • Safe and effective management of staging and rigging operations in the Roundhouses two performance spaces, and procurement of rigging and staging services
  • Client management and liaison with partners such as the BBC, RSC and No Fit State Circus
  • Project management of large-scale and special activity in performance spaces.

Qualifications

BA(Hons), Stage Management (II:i), Rose Bruford Collage

From 2000 to 2003 I undertook a degree in Stage management at Rose Bruford College, but quickly changed my focus towards Technical Management for Theatre and other performance venues. The breadth of the degree allowed me to pursue this interest for much of my second and third year.

NEBOSH General Certificate

A general certificate in Health and Safety, promoting a working understanding and competence in Health and safety law and good practice in the management of working environments for staff and visitors.

Level 5 apprenticeship as an Improvement Specialist

My apprenticeship has focused on the development of processes and systems to allow for the voice of the customer to be heard and balanced against operational pressures in the delivery of systemic improvements.  Picking up practice from LEAN Six Sigma, and project development practice, it has given me new tools and approaches in my work.

Other Qualifications

I hold A levels in Physics, Geography and General Studies, and 9 GCSE’s including English Language and Maths.

Other Relevant Training and Skills

I have undertaken training in Carbon Literacy from the University of Bristol, Situational Leadership (SL2) and Coaching for Performance.

I am computer literate and very familiar with MS Word, Excel, Power Point, Project and Visio; I use AutoCAD and Minitab to a good standard and am familiar with the use of more specialist systems such as Artifax and finance systems.

Hobbies and Interests

Outside of work I am a member of my local Parish Council, and sit on their Emergency Response and Communications groups, as well as being an irregular member of the planning committee.  In this role I take a special interest in the improvement of our local environment and the development of community activities. I take an active interest in training and development issues surrounding our sector and have particular interest in the promotion of vocational training in the arts.

Beyond this, I enjoy spending time with my family, spending time on my allotment, traveling (when the opportunities arise) and attending comedy, theatre and dance performances.