Our Trustees

Ross Mackenzie has 30 years experience in licensed retail, and is the founder of the award-winning Liars Club Group – 6 highly profitable late-night bar/restaurants in Manchester and Liverpool, including Crazy Pedro’s that turnover £9m.

Ross founded, and recently sold, the trio of Black Dog Ballroom bars, he was voted NW Leisure & Retail Entrepreneur of the year in 2013 and 2016 at the EN for Business Awards.

Ross completed the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses course at MMU and he graduated from the ELITE program at the London Stock Exchange in 2019. Both courses focused on Business Growth and fundraising for growth.

Jon is a qualified leadership coach and psychotherapist working with a wide range of clients, and specialising in supporting leaders in the arts and third sectors through the Resilient Leader initiative. He has over 35 years’ experience in theatre and arts management including roles as Director of the Theatres Trust, Director of the Federation of Scottish Theatre, Director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Executive Producer at Contact Theatre, Manchester and General Manager at TAG Theatre, Glasgow. He has always championed the arts as a social good and the important role of theatres and cultural spaces in making our communities, towns and cities great places to live. Jon has a keen interest in film, theatre and music alongside philosophy, psychology, running and hill walking. He lives with his husband in south Manchester. 

Martin is a senior leader in the arts sector, with more than 25 years’ experience that includes his role as Head of Arts at Guardian News and Media, followed by 11 years at the National Theatre where he was first Deputy Director of Development before being appointed Director of Communications. He left the National Theatre in 2018 to set up his own business, providing public affairs and corporate partnerships consultancy to the arts sector. His clients include RADA, the BRIT School, Artichoke, and Lightroom, the new immersive arts space in King’s Cross. He is a trustee of Theatre Peckham, a UK Council member of Creative UK, a Board member of the European Sponsorship Association, and he is a Governor at two Primary Schools in South London. He is an LGBTI+ activist, working with the Bisi Alimi Foundation, Intersex Equality Rights UK, Opening Doors London, and he is a Speaker for Schools, speaking at schools all over the country about careers in theatre and LGBTI+ issues. Martin is also a pianist and singer, performing at his own cabaret nights at the National Theatre, Crazy Coqs, the 1901 Arts Club and Wilton’s Music Hall. He lives in Camberwell, South London, with his husband Mark.