Counterculture Partnership LLP is pleased to announce that two of its long-standing and well-respected Associates, Noa Bladon and Susanna Eastburn, have been formally appointed as Partners.
Noa Bladon is a chartered accountant with 20 years post-qualified experience working in the music, theatre and charity sectors, providing consultancy services to a range of charities and small businesses. With Counterculture, Noa has provided finance support as an associate for the past 10 years, working with a variety of clients including Artichoke, LIFT and Panos Pictures.
Susanna Eastburn MBE, has worked at a senior leadership level in the cultural sector for over two decades, including roles as Chief Executive at Sound and Music and as Director, Music at Arts Council England. In 2018 she was awarded an MBE for Services to Music. She is Chair of Orchestras for All and holds a Professional Practitioner Diploma from the Academy of Executive Coaching. As a Counterculture Associate, Susanna has worked with a number of our clients including the National Gallery, Lewisham Council and St Martin-in-the-Fields.
On taking up her new role, Noa says: “I am thrilled to be joining Counterculture as a Partner, having got to know the organisation well as an associate for the past 10 years. I couldn’t be happier to work alongside such a talented and experienced group of individuals and with such a fascinating and diverse portfolio of clients.”
Susanna adds: “I have hugely enjoyed working as a Counterculture Associate and am excited for the next step as a Partner. At a time when the creative and cultural sectors are going through great change, I have seen first hand the value that Counterculture offers to so many organisations through the incredible range of insight, expertise and experience it can draw from. It’s an organisation that cares deeply about supporting the cultural sector to thrive in the future, and as Partner I’m looking forward to contributing even more to that work.”
Welcoming Noa and Susanna as Partners, Partner and Vice Chair, Tim Ellison, comments: “The Partners are delighted to welcome two more high-calibre individuals to the firm. Susanna and Noa bring with them a wealth of experience and skills that will continue to take the Partnership forward and help us to deliver even more for our clients. We are delighted to have them on board.”
Further information about Noa Bladon:
As a finance professional, Noa provides both high level strategic financial support to organisations, as well as excellent accuracy and attention to detail.
As a director of her own business, Noa has worked with a wide range of charities and small businesses, providing finance support, supporting systems change and offering accountancy services.
At EMI Music, Noa worked first in the internal audit function in London, followed by 3 years in the catalogue, sync and licensing business in Los Angeles.
On a voluntary basis, Noa is a governor and chair of the finance committee of a secondary school in London, treasurer of the PTA at her children’s school and conducts the annual independent exam for Flamingo Chicks pro bono.
Further information about Susanna Eastburn MBE:
A highly-regarded and well networked leader in the cultural sector, Susanna has an enviable track record in supporting and leading organisations through change. Her skills include business planning, governance, strategy and policy development. A people-focused individual, Susanna has a proven ability to work strategically and effectively with diverse stakeholders and teams.
Susanna is an accredited coach, holding a Professional Practitioner Diploma from the Academy of Executive Coaching.
As an independent consultant her clients have included Help Musicians, The National Gallery and Cheltenham Festivals.
As Chief Executive of Sound and Music (2012-2023) Susanna turned the organisation around following a difficult merger, establishing it as an award-winning organisation with an international reputation. Previous roles include Director, Music at Arts Council England (ACE) where she was one of a small team who worked with the Department of Education and DCMS on the first National Plan for Music Education (2011) and ACE’s management of DfE funding of music education hubs.
She is Chair of Orchestras for All and previous non-executive roles have included membership of the (then) Queen’s Medal for Music Committee. She was awarded an MBE in 2018. Other accolades include the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Leslie Boosey Award for service to contemporary music (2022) and she is a Fellow of Leeds Conservatoire.