I'm a fully-qualified Chartered Accountant - that's what the FCA bit at the end of my name signifies ("Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants" )

I've specialised in the arts and cultural sector for the past 30 years.

During that time I've worked for Northern Arts (now Arts Council England North East), the award-winning national awarding body NCFE and Creativity, Culture and Education (CCE), the charity which managed the Creative Partnerships programme across England.

I'm proud of working for all of them and very grateful that they have each allowed me to develop in parallel a freelance career, offering consultancy and training, which has led me to now set up my own practice.

When I'm not working, I'm either obsessively collecting and listening to music or following the (mis)fortunes of Newcastle United and my fantasy football team.