During the first Board Meeting following our Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 23 November 2021 our Trustees elected Cathy Guthrie as our new Chair.
Cathy takes over the baton from Nicola Henderson who is stepping down as Chair. Nicola served as Co-Chair with Alistair Farquhar between 2015 and 2017 and as Chair since 2020.
Emyr Bell, Executive Director said “It’s been a privilege to work alongside Nicola to shape and form NEAT over the years. Her experience as an arts leader has been priceless. On behalf of NEAT, our volunteers and our audiences I would like to say a massive thank you to Nicola for her time, commitment and support as Chair”.
Nicola will remain as a Board Member.
Joining NEAT’s Board in 2015, Cathy has over 30 years’ experience at steering group and board level across tourism, culture and the arts.
Cathy has been the Haddo Arts Festival Administrator since its inception in 2012 and was fundraiser for the Haddo House Choral & Operatic Society for several years until she joined Con Anima chamber choir in January 2016.
Cathy said “It’s an honour to be asked to step up as Chair of NEAT. I look forward to working with the Board, Emyr, the team and all the wonderful Volunteer’s as we move forward from the disruption of Covid, as we return to sharing live performance and cinema in communities across the North East”.
Emyr said “I first met Cathy in her capacity as a development consultant when she helped develop our Business Plan back in 2014. Her contribution and support since joining the Board has been invaluable and I look forward to working alongside Cathy as we recovery from this dreadful pandemic”.
