Manchester Camerata strengthens its Board of Trustees,
welcoming experts from the education, legal, human rights, entertainment, healthcare, and charity sectors
- Susan Acland-Hood, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Education
- Rudy Capildeo, Partner and Co-Head of Wedlake Bell LLP
- David Cutler OBE, Director of The Baring Foundation
- Stuart Galbraith, Group CEO of KMJ Entertainment
- Dr Jaweeda Idoo, GP and senior NHS leader
- Amy Shackleton, CEO of The Utley Foundation
Manchester Camerata today [5 Nov] announces six new members of its Board of Trustees, which is chaired by Nic Hailey CMG (Executive Director of International Alert), effective immediately. Following a review of the organisation’s strategic plan, the new Board members were chosen after an extensive recruitment process, bringing expertise in key areas of Camerata’s output. Their appointments signal an ambitious new direction for Manchester Camerata as it embeds itself further on the stage and across Greater Manchester.
Nic Hailey, Chair of the Board of Trustees, said:
“We’re delighted to welcome people from a range of professional backgrounds onto Manchester Camerata’s Board of Trustees. Together they strengthen the organisation, bringing their wide-ranging experience to bear on the orchestra’s activities and long-term strategic goals. The addition of these Board members represents an expanded ambition for Manchester Camerata, broadening its influence on the stage and in local communities.”
Manchester Camerata is a pioneering orchestra whose purpose is to make music for positive change through innovative programming, music for health and wellbeing, talent development and storytelling. Camerata’s stage output varies from performing Mozart with its Music Director Gábor Takács-Nagy through to collaborating with electronic artists such as Space Afrika and Afrodeutsche, or performing with the Pet Shop Boys live on MTV to over 300 million people.
Off the stage, Manchester Camerata is an industry-leading arts organisation which hosts the UK’s first Centre of Excellence for Music and Dementia, impacting thousands through its Music in Mind programme. Its community work spans Greater Manchester, working with schools, youth zones and care homes, and its two talent development schemes – 360° Ruth Sutton Fellowship programme and 360° Residency – work to enhance career opportunities for musicians in the North of England.
Susan Acland-Hood
Susan is a lifelong public servant, currently in one of the most senior roles in Government as the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Education. She is also the Head of the Policy Profession across the UK Civil Service. Her career has been spent mainly in Education and Home Affairs policy, and she has held roles including Chief Executive of His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service, and Director of Enterprise and Growth at HM Treasury. She has also worked at No 10 and in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
Rudy Capildeo
Rudy is a Partner and Co-Head of Wedlake Bell LLP’s top tier Art & Luxury law practice, where he advises creatives, collectors and cultural institutions. Rudy’s practice spans a broad range of matters relating to art, collections and luxury assets, working with individuals, families and organisations to help safeguard and develop valuable cultural and creative legacies. Through his work, he has developed a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing arts organisations and creative communities. He has extensive experience advising on the legal, commercial and governance issues affecting the arts and culture sector. Rudy brings a unique combination of legal expertise, cultural sector knowledge and philanthropic insight.
David Cutler OBE
David is the Director of The Baring Foundation, a British human-rights fund. In this role he has had two decades of experience in funding participatory arts organisations and has written over a dozen reports on creative ageing and arts and health. He has also created a number of national art funding initiatives. David has served on a number of boards including Amnesty International, Peace Direct and BBC Charities Appeals. He is currently a trustee of Settle Stories and the Autograph Gallery in London as well as serving as Adviser to the Frank Bowling Foundation. In 2026, David was awarded an OBE for services to charities.
Stuart Galbraith
Stuart is the Group CEO of KMJ Entertainment, home to one of the UK’s leading live music promoters, Kilimanjaro Live, and is the driving force behind the 16 group brands spanning festivals, West End and Broadway theatre, ticketing, comedy, spoken word, and immersive experiences. Prior to this, Stuart spent 15 years at Midland Concert Promotions (MCP) before becoming a founding executive at Live Nation where he led the creation of Download, Wireless and Hyde Park Calling festivals.
Dr Jaweeda Idoo
Jaweeda is a General Practitioner and senior NHS leader with over 25 years’ experience driving transformation across primary care, population health and integrated neighbourhoods. As Clinical Champion for Live Well in Greater Manchester, Jaweeda works across health, local government and the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector to bring organisations together around a shared vision for healthier, more connected communities.
Amy Shackleton
Amy is the CEO of The Utley Foundation and its flagship campaign, Music for Dementia, where she leads a diverse portfolio spanning music and dementia, service personnel and veterans, children and young people, and medical research. Before moving into the charity sector, Amy practised as a corporate lawyer specialising in mergers and acquisitions. She later joined StoriBoard, where she developed community-based initiatives tackling loneliness and social isolation. She brings significant experience in governance, strategic leadership, philanthropy and cross-sector partnership building, together with a strong commitment to helping organisations grow their impact and sustainability.
The six new trustees join Manchester Camerata’s existing Board members, comprising Martin Carr (brand and strategy consultant), Michelle Duncalf (Senior Private Banker and Team Leader and Weatherbys Private Bank), Steve Field (UK Government Special Healthcare Representative to Saudi Arabia), Karen Gabay (television producer and radio host), Kate Green (Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester), Samantha Kennerley (Tresco Ventures), Samantha McShane (Artistic Director of Kings Place) and Caroline Monk (Partner at Menzies LLP).
Donate now.
