We are delighted to announce the appointment of six new trustees to FACT Liverpool's Board. Coming from diverse backgrounds across the arts, culture, technology, and business sectors, they bring a wealth of experience and a shared passion for creativity, innovation, and community.
CATRINA HEWITSON
Catrina is a consultant, facilitator, and team coach with global experience in leadership and organisational development. She specialises in strategy, leadership programmes, and change management, drawing inspiration from history, philosophy, art, and contemporary culture. Passionate about helping leaders find confidence and purpose, her first book, The Neglected Acts of Leadership, will be published in 2025. She has held board roles in heritage, housing, and the arts.
ALISON LACY
Alison began her career running galleries across Europe before moving into leadership roles at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and Bentley Motors. In 2020, she helped establish Avalanche Studios Group's first UK studio in Liverpool, becoming a key figure in the local games community. Now Chief Operating Officer at Radical Forge, she also co-chairs GameChangers and serves on the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority's Digital & Creative Cluster Board.
SIMON DRYSDALE
With a career spanning contemporary dance, classical music, traditional music, and cinema, Simon has extensive cultural sector experience. He ran his London-based marketing business for 14 years, working with over 300 arts clients. More recently, Simon served as interim CEO at Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle, leading a significant turnaround of the charity. He is interim CEO at Regional Screen Scotland, focusing on stability and growth and leading a major capital project.
BAFF AKOTO
Baff is an award-winning director and artist whose work spans film, installation, photography, XR technology, and performance. In 2022, he won the Grand Prix at the 13th Bamako Biennial of African Photography and the Aesthetica Art Prize for LEAVE THE EDGES. He also received the inaugural CHANEL Culture Fund x BFI award for Creative Audacity. His practice explores how emerging technology and digital mediums can enfranchise communities and non-traditional art audiences.
PAUL MOORE
Paul is the Director of Production and Building Operations at Aviva Studios, home of Factory International and Manchester International Festival. With a long career in physical production across multiple art forms, he has supported artists at all stages of their careers. Passionate about community engagement, Paul has led capital projects to support diverse artists. Committed to skills development, he created an in-house Technical Trainer role at Aviva Studios to nurture emerging talent.
TOM HARRIS
Tom is currently Senior Manager of Transaction Advisory Services at PwC, focusing on supporting private businesses, private equity, and PLCs with mergers and acquisitions transactions. He brings a wealth of financial services expertise and is enthusiastic about contributing to a creative organisation in a city close to his heart.
We warmly welcome Catrina, Alison, Simon, Baff, Paul, and Tom to FACT Liverpool.
Top left to right: Alison Lacy, Baff Akoto, Catrina Hewitson.
Bottom left to right: Paul Moore, Simon Drysdale, Tom Harris.
Nicola Triscott, CEO/Director of FACT, said: "We are thrilled to welcome such a diverse and accomplished group of individuals to our Board of Trustees. Their collective expertise and passion for the arts will be invaluable as we make exciting plans for the future of FACT and continue to enrich lives and shape the future through art, film, and creative technology."
Katie Moffat, Chair of the Board, added: "It is an honour to have these remarkable professionals join our board. Their unique perspectives and experiences will undoubtedly strengthen our organisation and help us navigate the evolving landscape of the creative industries."
