Meet the Board

Find out about all of our board members

Emma Hutchinson – Managing Director

Emma joined the Senior Management Team as Business Development Director in May 2012,  when the services provided by LiveWire and Culture Warrington were transferred from Warrington Borough Council, and played an integral part in the development of LiveWire and Culture Warrington.  From February 2015 Emma provided cover for the role of Cultural Director at Culture Warrington for 12 months.

Emma has contributed fully to the high level of success experienced across both Companies during their first three years of trading by leading, planning and managing all business development activities and by providing strategic direction on the implementation of a business infrastructure that has achieved company growth and increased participation in sport, health and cultural activities.

Maureen is a retired teacher, she has retained a keen interest in education and is passionately committed to early years’ education, both as chair of governors for the only statutory nursery school in Warrington at Sandy Lane and Forest School and as chair of the Warrington Schools’ Forum.

Previously, Maureen was a non-executive member of the board of Warrington and Halton Hospitals Trust, spending five years as deputy chair and also chairing the audit committee. As a former member of Warrington Borough Council, Maureen held a number of Executive roles and has remained as a local parish councillor and chair of Rixton with Glazebrook parish council.

Alessandro holds a PhD History of Art at the University of Edinburgh. His research includes museum and display studies, material culture, participation, fashion theory, and art theory.

He has been active in curating exhibitions and educational programmes in Italy, Sweden, and the UK. He graduated in English and Russian at the University of Bari (Italy) and then successfully completed an MA in English and Russian at the University of Bari and a second MA in Fashion Theory at the University of Stockholm (Sweden). He currently works in Engagement at the Imperial War Musuem North.

Mike is an Associate Director at Do Well UK Leadership Consultancy working with clients across the North West and North Wales.  Previously he was an Assistant Director at the largest registered social landlord in Trafford,  Trafford Housing Trust. He was responsible for neighbourhood management, caretaking, grounds maintenance, allocations and lettings and the customer contact centre.

Mike has worked in social housing for over 20 years and is passionate about the need for service organisations to understand their customers’ demands and redesign services in ways that make it easier for customers to get what they want.

Alex has an LLB Honours Degree in Law from University of Liverpool.  She was admitted as a Solicitor in 2005.  She joined Watsons Solicitors in Warrington in 2007, and became a partner in 2013, specialising in Probate, Wills, Trusts and all aspects of private client work, having a particular interest in advising the Elderly.  She is a student member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) Group.  Her hobbies include playing Hockey for Lymm Ladies Hockey Club.

Lynda is an education consultant working with a variety of educational instuitutions, including University Technical Colleges and University Initial Teacher Education providers. She provides support and guidance on Quality Assurance, including policy making, strategic planning, governance and curriculum.
Until May 2015, Lynda was employed by the University of Chester, firstly as Associate Dean in the Faculty of Education and latterly as Deputy Provost, based at the Warrington campus. Her main responsibility was to develop a strategy for engaging the Public Service programmes, including Cheshire Police, early years initial teacher training (ITT), nursing, social work and youth work with a particular focus on Safeguarding.

Hannah Chellaswamy’s career spanned several decades in the NHS, many of which were at Board level as a Director of Public Health. As Training Programme Director across Cheshire and Merseyside, she helped instruct, guide and prepare the next generation of senior public health professionals for many years. Until retirement, she was a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health of the Royal College of Physicians.

She is a scientist by background and her particular strength is strategic leadership to achieve evidence-based interventions in the field of population health and to bring about improvements in health and wellbeing outcomes. She is skilled in working across sectors, including health services, local government, voluntary and charitable organisations.

Anthony is an arts marketer, actor and educator based in Liverpool.

Having worked in the cultural sector since 2004, Anthony witnessed the power of cultural events and how they can revitalise a city during Liverpool’s historic Capital of Culture year in 2008. This event inspired Anthony to pursue a career in the arts with the aim of making a positive impact on communities. Anthony is the Marketing and Customer Experience Manager at Unity Theatre.

Anthony has worked at the Liverpool Empire Theatre and at the ACC Arena & Convention Centre (Echo Arena), key projects include managing marketing account for St Helens Theatre Royal, Epstein Theatre and Liverpool Pride (Bill Elms Associates), the immensely successful Farmageddon, In the Night Garden Live and directing professional Pantomime for Trio Entertainment.

Anthony is a proud member of the Labour Party, AMA, Equity and Spotlight.

Anthony was the recipient of the Best Creative Professional Award at the Liverpool Lifestyle Awards 2018.

Cathryn is a HR Manager at Liverpool Hope University, supporting a range of operational areas, as well as taking a lead on staff wellbeing.  Cathryn’s first career was as an academic librarian, working in the art & design library of Manchester Metropolitan University before becoming a Library Manager at Liverpool Hope.

Cathryn is a strong believer that culture can connect people, encourage learning and improve wellbeing.  As a board Director, she is eager to support strategies that can engage Warrington communities with a wide range of cultural activities.

Biography to follow.

Born in Warrington, Lindsey has a 30 year career in marketing, communications and stakeholder engagement, across public, private and third sectors in areas as diverse as economic development and inward investment, leisure and tourism, public transport, heritage and latterly as part of the Government Communications Service.

A BA (Hons) in Humanities was followed by postgraduate diplomas in Marketing and in 2010 an MBA.

As a life long resident of the town, (moving away only for study and a secondment overseas) Lindsey has witnessed at first hand the positive economic growth in the town.   As one of the region’s most economically prosperous towns, with a large population within its boundaries, Lindsey believes that there are many more opportunities to develop the cultural offer through existing venues, new channels and outreach across the town,  and is relishing the opportunity to play a part in its renaissance.

Rachael is the Senior Marketing and Sales Manager at HOME, a multi-arts centre in Manchester that has welcomed over 2 million through its doors since it opened four years ago. Rachael began her career in arts marketing working at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and has since gone on to work at institutions such as The Lowry and the Imperial War Museums group. A firm believer in the imperative role culture and art plays in the health, happiness and growth of an area and community, Rachael has been an admirer of the work of Culture Warrington for a long time. Born and raised in Liverpool but currently residing in Manchester, Rachael is delighted to play a small part in the exciting journey of Culture Warrington, the half-way point between her two cities. Rachael was educated at the University of Sussex, graduating in 2014 with a First Class Honours degree in History and Sociology.

Biography to follow.

Warrington Borough Council Representatives

CLLR Hilary Cooksey