Meet the Board

Rachel has worked across a number of sectors, specialising in the strategic development of commercial income t support sustainable business ambitions. Currently head of commercial services for QMU, in the past she has been responsible for delivering a £30m budget for Marie Curie Cancer Care and developing a commercial strategy for Scotland food and drink to strengthen its financial resilience. She started her arts career as a Venue and Performers Development Manager at Edinburgh Festival Fringe. As a Leither since 1996, she is committed to protecting Leith Theatre for future generations.

Helen is Co-owner and Director of ScotInform, a research agency based in Edinburgh and specialising in culture and nonprofit sectors. She holds a First Class (Hons) Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Edinburgh and the MRS Advanced Certificate in Market and Social research. Helen lives locally and is the Chair of the Parent Council at the local primary school.

Harry has worked in financial deal advisory roles within the Scottish market for over 20 years, acting as advisor, retain board consultant and latterly adopting a dual role with client portfolio responsibilities. He has advised public sector bodies, companies and management across a range of sectors and scale of business, from early-stage and grant review, due diligence to assisting expansion. With this background, Harry assists the board and executive team on financial and treasury aspects, and as a local, he has a keen interest in gigs and performances at the venue.

Joe is a Bafta Award-winning designer with two start-ups under his belt and a rare mix of creative tech and commercial experience. In 1995 he cofounded rocket visuals, a digital agency headquartered in Leith. Fifteen years later, he launched the photo-journaling platform Blipfoto, which by 2015 had grown to a worldwide phenomenon home to 5 million days of human life. He now leads the tech accelerator for the Scottish Government’s ground-breaking CivTech programme and works as an independent consultant helping other start-ups with their products, branding, strategy and investment.

Mark is Strategy Director at Dentsu Creative, the fifth biggest agency group in the world. Previously, Mark was CEO of Leith based agency Citigate Smarts after running his own advertising agency, 1576 Advertising, and before that was Group Account Director at the Leith Agency. He has chaired Creative Edinburgh for nine years and sat on the Royal Lyceum Theatre’s board for eight years. His love of theatre and music is lifelong and has included working with B2 Productions at the Leith Theatre itself.

Jane is Director of Audiences and Support with the National Trust for Scotland, responsible for building reputation, reach and supporter revenue. Previously, she played a key role in the creation of V&A Dundee developing its audience, delivering its public launch and devising a major festival to mark its opening. She led significant growth in audiences across a decade of change and capital investment at National Museums Scotland, a Leither for over 20 years, Jane is passionate about finding ways to open up Leith Theatre to the widest public audience.

Jason is an experienced and successful fundraiser having worked in fundraising for a range of causes for over 27 years, including 17 years at Director level and with experience across all specialisms, for both capital and revenue projects. Jason has extensive knowledge of the fundraising sector in the UK with significant experience in the Scottish arts and heritage sectors, having worked on the campaign to restore Abbotsford (the home of Sir Walter Scott) and refurbish the Trimontium Museum in Melrose (Scotland’s only museum dedicated to the Romans and Iron Age)