trustees

good governance

There are currently twelve trustees of the charity.

DR Anne Wright CBE is currently the Chair of the National Lottery Commission, and also a member of English Partnerships Board and the Armed Forces Pay Review Body. Anne has wide ranging experience in the education sector: from 2001 to 2007 she provided strategic advice as an independent consultant to the DfES and the NHS on their e-learning strategies; as Chief Executive of Ufi Ltd she set up learndirect as a nationwide e-learning network; from 1990 to 1998 she was Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Sunderland University. She trained as a professional singer and recently returned to singing after a gap of some years. Anne is Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Alan Cranston is a senior civil servant in the Department for Children, Schools and Families. He has a broad knowledge of education and skills policy, including for the less advantaged, and he has a key interest in children's and young people's development, especially in enriching and broadening learning. He has been involved in theatre in various ways for many years. Alan is Deputy Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Fran Barson is a Detective Inspector and has spent the last 27 years with The Metropolitan Police Service. She has worked in a variety of roles within the MET including Child Abuse Investigation and recently coordinating a project focusing on youth intervention and diversions in South London, in relation to gang offending. She has a personal interest in theatre and her experience has enabled her to contribute to the child protection policy ensuring the safety and welfare of young people involved in YMT.

Gareth Bunn recently set up a business specialising in executive training and coaching in communications skills. He was previously Vice President in Capgemini, a global technology and consulting company where he was responsible for its business in the UK public services. He has always had an active interest in both music and theatre. He spent half his professional career in the public sector before moving into the private sector. Gareth offers YMT those facets of his experience that could be of benefit – sales and marketing, business and financial management, a very well established network across government departments and agencies, and of course a natural excitement about the work of YMT.

Stephen Chaytow is a chartered accountant and consultant, contracting to both larger corporates and smaller businesses. His lengthy experience of financial services, manufacturing and commerce has included twelve years with KPMG's management consultancy practice. Aside from YMT, he also undertakes other voluntary roles within primary education. Also, as a trained tenor, Stephen performed on stage with many amateur groups. Today his vocal efforts are mostly confined to the Imperial Male Voice Choir, his role as cantor at Maidenhead Synagogue and intermittent "Three Tenors" events with the YMT Finance Director.

David Corless is a highly experienced, international, strategic CFO with extensive engagement in M&A and business transformation. Fellow of the Association of Certified Accountants (FCCA). David's strategic leadership skills are demonstrated by the successful merger of regional management of different companies following significant acquisitions in the US.
David has extensive experience in corporate structuring and M&A: as a Director of Business Evaluation & Development his team assessed fifty targets of which over 30% were examined and negotiated in detail, leading to five significant acquisitions and an MBO. He provided innovative approaches to strategic alliances (JV's) during negotiations, to hasten agreement and management of integration programmes.
In Operational Management David has 10 years Board level responsibility for business performance. He has multi-disciplinary management experience of IT, Human Resources, Legal Services, Purchasing & Property Management, Tax & Treasury and operational development, and delivery of significant investment projects - manufacturing process upgrade and systems implementations.

Andrena Cumella is the Director of ACC – Andrena Cumella Consulting. She is a highly experienced facilitator and qualified coach. Andrena has over fifteen years experience nationally and internationally designing and delivering programmes on leadership and personal development. She joined the YMT Board in 2006. In addition to her role as a trustee, she chairs the board’s Development Committee.

Mary Howard was a teacher of English for fifteen years of secondary age pupils prior to her career with the NASUWT, which she began in 1989. As Assistant General Secretary at NASUWT, Mary is principally responsible for casework services and the development of the union’s twelve regional centres. This involves ensuring that the union’s organising agenda is rolled out and becomes part of the ethos of the NASUWT. Prior to holding this post, Mary has held positions of Legal Officer and Equality Officer within the Union.

Richard Jordan is one of the youngest independent producers in England and in November 2000 he was the first recipient of the TIF/Society of London Theatre Producers Award for theatrical production. He has a long list of credits to his name in both West End and regional theatre and acts as consultant to many organisations including Ambassador Theatre Group, Cyprus International Festival, Morocco Festival and Teatros Art, Brazil. He was a Patron of the Norwich European City of Culture Bid, and is a consultant for the Fine City of Culture campaign.

Mark Owers is Head of Performance Improvement at the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales. He is a qualified social worker and he has extensive experience in working as a practitioner and manager within a statutory children and families and youth justice setting. He has also worked for Childline as a telephone counsellor on the national night service. Mark was a Senior Research Associate at the University of East Anglia and his research into fatal child abuse and serious incidents was published. He has lectured in social work at Middlesex University since 2000. Mark is passionate about helping to improve outcomes for children and young people and he is committed to supporting YMT to bring as many young people as possible into music theatre projects

Martin Shippen is a freelance Press Representative.

Tom Shortland works for Capgemini’s UK consultancy practice, in addition he has strong interests in development and its role within the arts. He is also involved two further companies: Aurora Orchestra and Mahogany Opera.

The Secretary to the Trusteees is Sarah Hargreaves who is an independent consultant working in the commercial sector.

The charity has also established a regional committee to oversee activity in Northern Ireland. In the future the company hopes to establish further regional committees in Scotland, Wales and the English regions.