board of directors

Christopher (Kit) Bird, Chair (joined 2005)

Spent the first 14 years of his career in the leather chemicals industry, working in a variety of roles. From 1999 to 2002 he worked in North Yorkshire for the Prince’s Trust and it was during this period that he became interested in entrepreneurial activity. He has since become a “Business Angel”, working with start-up businesses in Yorkshire and London. Kit has served on the boards of a number of registered charities, including two arts charities (York Festival Trust and York Shakespeare Project), so brings to aod his knowledge of corporate and charity governance. He also has a strong interest in ancient Greek drama and is keen to help aod bring its 21st century perspective on these classic stories to audiences in the UK and beyond.

Steve Pavey (joined 2007)

Has spent much of his working life in the world of public sector finance, most recently as Finance & Business Director of the University of Sussex – a charitable organisation with an annual turnover of some £125m. He is a trustee of several charities, and was on the Board of the late lamented Gardner Arts Centre for many years. He has a strong enthusiasm for the dramatic arts, and acquired an interest in ancient Greece when studying political philosophy at university. He is keen on bringing the discipline of good corporate governance into the charity world.

Ian Angus Wilkie (joined 2010)

Ian is a professional actor and also works as a tutor in post-compulsory education at the Institute of Education in London. He has previously worked as a Visit Co-ordinator with the British Council and has taught drama to students in Oxford, Cambridge and Harlow! He is currently completing a part-time PhD in Theatre, Film and Television studies at the University of Aberystwyth. Ian is on the editorial board of the journal ‘Comedy Studies’. His own long- standing interests in drama, comedy and education are finding mutual expression in his association with aod.

Michael Blake (joined 2009)

Michael has been at Arts & Business for just over 9 years.  He originally joined as an administrator and has taken on various roles since then.  He is currently a Regional Manager with main responsibility for the arts in the south east.  His current role involves him providing training on sponsorship, individual giving and governance as well as one to one advice on those subjects.  He also has an overview of financial issues for the Brighton office, database management and their local marketing.  When A&B used to run funding programmes he was a project manager for successful applicants.  He also helps with organising events and does a small amount of business account management.  Prior to A&B he spent 10 years in the business sector mainly in customer service roles and prior to that he was in the Royal Engineers for 13 years.  He has a BA (Hons) in Literature and a Post Graduate Diploma in Arts Management.  He has a broad interest in the arts, but particularly in literature and theatre.

Catherine Livesey (joined 2010)

Catherine Livesey graduated from Cambridge in 1981 and was awarded the Ben Travers Scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Whilst there she was also awarded a Cripplegate Scholarship and in 1983 won Best Supporting Actress in a production of  Carl Sterheim’s ” Die Hoser”  with Simon Russell Beale at the National Student Drama Festival (NSDF). She was a professional actress for five years and was invited to become a Selection Judge for the NSDF. In 1990 she left the profession and accepted a teaching job at Wycombe Abbey School, where she became Head of Drama in 1992 and continues to work. She was Chairman of the National Independent School’s Drama Association ( NISDA) for four yearsand is now a Patron.