An experienced senior leader in the cultural sector, Mandy was Engagement and Learning Director at Theatre Royal Plymouth for 8 years, strategically leading 50 plus community engagement projects of all sizes and budgets, and leading on EDI, place-making, Trusts and Foundations fundraising and evaluation. Following a long freelance career, she was AD/CEO at Burnley Arts Centre – where she managed the organisation from near collapse to financial stability, and a second capital build. Her key interest is in socially engaged practice and co-creation, building projects from the ground up. Her experience includes Strategic Development; Fundraising and Fundraising Strategy; Business Planning; Producing; Event Management; Monitoring and Evaluation; Training and the development of strong Governance Practice.
She played a key role in setting up Plymouth Cultural Education Partnership, for whom she raised £1m for a schools-based arts programme. She is currently a trustee of Trigger Stuff Ltd. She also instigated the APPL (Arts Partners Pennine Lancashire).
She holds a PhD in Education/Sociology which focussed on social class and what characterises the journeys of successful artists from a working-class background.