Trustees

Karen O’Neill is the CEO of the Dukes in Lancaster, Lancashire’s only producing theatre and independent cinema. The Dukes has a hybrid model of touring and produced work alongside a curated cinema programme, with an extensive outreach programme working across Lancaster and Morecambe. 

Karen is a senior creative leader with extensive experience in the culture sector, in both a commercial and subsidised environment, leading organisations in the middle and large scale. A Clore Leadership Fellow (2017/18) and an International Fellow of the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at Kennedy Centre in Washington (2014).

As a Trustee of Hope Mill I passionately believe in the power of the arts and culture to transform communities, regenerate towns and cities, influence positive social cohesion and drive development and growth.

Tom is Hope Mill Theatre’s HR Lead Trustee.

Tom has been on the FOC Board since its inception, working alongside the Trustees and Management Team to ensure HR processes and policies are embedded into the culture. 

He has worked as a HR professional for 14 years within multinational retailers, consultancy, charities and hospitality so has a wide range of experiences to support the Charity

Rachel joined the Lowry in November 2011 as Head of Quaytickets before being promoted to Head of Ticketing later that same year and was subsequently appointed as Director of Marketing and Communications in June 2014. In early 2021 Rachel’s department transitioned into Audiences, Sales and Marketing with a renewed focus on CRM and Digital. Rachel is now not only responsible for providing the strategic marketing vision for all aspects of the Lowry, but also tracking and evaluation the customer journey at every touchpoint with the organisation. Rachel has retained responsibility for the Ticketing department throughout ensuring the delivery of the highest standards of customer service whilst maximising revenue opportunities through the ticketing operation and the Lowry’s ticketing agency, Quaytickets.

Prior to The Lowry Rachel was Divisional Manager at the Ambassador Theatre Group with overall responsibility for twelve venues and as a member of the Senior Operations team, also delivered a number of companywide strategies and initiatives. Before this position Rachel was Sales and Marketing Director (UK Venues) for Live Nation creating a central marketing resource, including a profitable design agency, and ensuring standard marketing practices across the Live Nations estate – 16 theatres and 5 music venues. Rachel enjoys engaging with external producers, clients and partner organisations and this is as important to her today as it has been throughout her working career. Rachel is also passionate about delivering the very best customer experience end to end in the customer journey, with data lead decision making driving progress and change.

Originally from Leicester, Rachel studied her degree in Drama and English at Roehampton Institute, Surrey University. She has worked at theatres in Torquay, Bristol, Oxford, and Middlesex. In 1995 Rachel managed the major refurbishment and building project at the Liverpool Empire. As well as securing the lottery funding of £11 million she then site managed a five month building project which involved a stage extension, complete backstage rebuild, and front of house refurbishment with extensive reconfiguration of all public areas. Rachel then hosted the Queen for the official reopening of the Empire before moving to Manchester in 2000 to open the first region tour of Miss Saigon at the Palace Theatre. 

Rachel lives in Stockport with her husband and daughter and loves walking, spending time with family and friends, watching shows and holidays.

Born in London, Denis started his working life in 1979 as a food scientist with early roles in Unilever, Arla Foods and In-Bev. Denis joined United Biscuits in 1988 as Microbiologist and progressed through various roles to Group Technical Controller. When United Biscuits was bought by Turkish conglomerate Yildiz Holdings in 2014, Denis was appointed Global President of Safety, Quality, Security & Environment for the holding company & was based in Camlica, Istanbul for the next 5 years, where he learned to speak basic Turkish.

In 2019 Denis retired and set up his consultancy, Culture Compass.

Denis nownworks with the UK Food Standards Agency, Food Standards Scotland, is a Food Supply Chain adviser to the UK government, where he enjoyed daily video calls all through the Covid pandemic to keep the food supply chain flowing and food on the shelves. Denis speaks at international conferences and as a Fellow of the Institute of Food Science & Technology has published standards & papers for BSI, IFST, CIEH. Denis is also a guest lecturer in Leadership at Nottingham University and in Food Safety & Quality at Coventry University.

Denis volunteers for Manchester Growth Company as a mentor for SMEs where he first met Will & Jo. After a few strategy sessions, Denis was appointed trustee and brings his corporate, Leadership and Project Management skills, together with his love of washing up as a volunteer on show nights.

Kathy is a qualified accountant and has spent the majority of the last 20 years working in charities and theatres. She grew up in Manchester, where her love of musicals began with the 1992 production of Les Miserables. Kathy now lives in Sheffield where she is Finance Director at Sheffield Theatres. Having been captivated by Hope Mill’s streamed productions during the pandemic, Kathy is very excited to be involved with the organisation and to be using her theatre and charity finance expertise to contribute to Hope Mill’s continued success.

Outside of work and theatre, Kathy enjoys spending time with family and friends as well as walks in the Peak District (providing the weather is nice and there is a tea room at the end!).

Eve has worked in arts fundraising for the past 10 years and is currently Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships at the Royal Northern College of Music.

After studying English & Drama at the University of Birmingham, Eve undertook a Masters degree at the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon. Whilst there, she worked a number of part time jobs and internships at the RSC until falling into her first fundraising role as Development Assistant. Since then, Eve has been fortunate to work at some incredible cultural institutions including the Roundhouse, The Old Vic and HOME. 

Although a native southerner, Eve now lives with her husband and Labrador-Staffy cross Kilo in Miles Platting, just around the corner from Hope Mill.

Julie joined HMT’s board in 2022. She has worked in arts and social change in the UK and internationally for 25 years and is currently strategic lead for Creative Health and Greater Manchester Integrated Care.

Caroline helped to set up the HMT charity and has been a trustee since then. She worked as a solicitor and retired in 2020. Being on the Board combines her legal background with her love of the theatre and the arts in general. 

I’ve been in the broadcast and media world for many years, working on all forms of Television, Digital Audio and innovative content across multiple genres.  I’ve worked with many of the UK’s top broadcasters and most recently as a commissioner for BBC Children content.

I have a passion for creating great content for audiences, working with creative and inspiring colleagues and collaborators; working to develop great IP and to support the career development of teams I work with. I’ve loved mentoring and growing the skills and approaches of teams too and was a diversity champion for the BBC, supporting and developing new diversity and disability approaches.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have been able to continually re-invent myself over the past decades to contribute to all the roles which I’ve undertaken.

I have lived in Manchester for over 35 years and loved the city and the people.

My family live in Hale. My passions include theatre arts and culture, music and sport. I love meeting people and exploring new experiencing, and learning more about the world we live in.

if you were to ask me to describe myself in a few words, they would be:

Passionate, curious, collaborative, connected and creative and focussed. I want to make a difference and add value to whatever I do whilst really enjoying the journey.