David recently retired from the role of Northern Ireland Director at the MS Society. Over the previous 25 years, he held senior positions at the Department of Health and RNIB. David served on the board of the NI Consumer Council between 2012 and 2020 and was a member of the NI Advisory Group for Action on Hearing Loss/RNID from 2014 to 2018. He is currently Treasurer of the Northern Ireland Neurological Charities Alliance.
Beverley McGeown is the Musical Director for Open Arts and MD of the Open Arts Community Choir, which she has led over the past 25 years to great success and accolades. She is also a classical flautist, and the primary tutor for Javanese Gamelan in Northern Ireland, the instruments of which are currently housed in Connswater, just a few doors from Arts Care. Beverley is also a wheelchair user and a keen visual artist.
Nuala is currently Head of Delivery at The King’s Trust, with over 12 years of experience as Head of Student Support at Belfast Metropolitan College. A safeguarding, care, and welfare expert, she is passionate about youth development, inclusion, and well-being. With strong leadership, partnership, and change management skills, Nuala is committed to creating safe, impactful opportunities for young people and communities through education, training, and the arts.
Robin works for the Department of Economy, most recently in the Permanent Secretary’s office. Robin has always been involved in the Arts and is a musician playing piano, percussion and previously playing in bands. Robin studied English at University and is keen to get Board experience with Arts Care given his background in the Arts.
Former: Consultant Microbiologist, Infection Control Doctor and Clinical Lead for Molecular Sciences at the Mater Hospital, now Belfast HSC Trust. Former: Expert member of several Government microbiology-related scientific advisory committees. Former: Scientific Adviser to the Chief Medical Officer in N.Ireland. Present: Consultant Microbiologist, NI Public Health Agency
Former performance analyst for Ulster Rugby and IT Support Engineer, Simon is now a Business Manager of Iberian wine tours. Simon is a key advisor at Director level regarding company strategy as well as website and social media manager for strategy content online. Simon is a musician himself and has already helped out the arts care team to play music alongside us in Connswater shopping centre.
Former: Director of Business & Corporate Services, Causeway H&SC Trust Current: Member, Dalriada Partnership Steering Project Current: Chairman, Board of Governors Kylemore School, Coleraine
Former: Senior Manager, Medical HR, Belfast HSC Trust Former: Director of Human Resources, South and East Belfast HSC Trust Present: Retired
Jane has held a number of senior nursing positions in Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland, including 15 years as a Nurse Consultant for Older People from 2003-2018. Now retired from this post, Jane is currently in practice as a District Nurse.
Dr Gavin Adams is an experienced Senior Manager, with 8 years’ experience as Director of Business Development for Extern group and more recently with Cochrane the Global Health Care Charity. Dr Adams is a previous manager in business development for RNIB, securing grants to aid employment and training opportunities amongst blind and partially sighted adults and young people.
Joining Arts Care in October 2022, Rachel Battersby brings over a decade of business administration expertise, with experience spanning Queen’s University, construction management, and The MAC. An art college graduate, Rachel also worked abroad as an arts facilitator, collaborating with arts centres and homeless charities. She continues to pursue her artistic passions and enjoys quiet moments reading in the woods, accompanied by her husky and a flask of Earl Grey tea.
Karen Parkinson joined Arts Care in November 2022, bringing a wealth of expertise in finance and accountancy across diverse sectors. Since joining, she has transformed Arts Care’s finance department, providing invaluable insights and support. Passionate about the charity sector, Karen previously spent over 13 years with Sure Start and continues to volunteer with Helping Hands – Autism Support. Known for her vibrant personality, she’s also recognised for having the prettiest office and the most impressive nails around!
Julianne Skillen joined Arts Care in October 2023, bringing over 28 years of experience in participatory arts, community, and education. Originally trained as an art historian and teacher, Julianne has held diverse roles, including Funding Officer for ACNI, Belfast City Council, and TNLCF, as well as Development Manager at Community Arts Partnership and Heritage Officer for ArtsEkta. She is deeply passionate about the transformative power of the arts and the joy of creativity for its own sake. Julianne is also a skilled florist and floral arts facilitator. In her spare time, she loves connecting with nature, spending time with family and friends, and relaxing with her dachshund, Frank.
Stephanie McKervill joined Arts Care in 2018, bringing a wealth of experience and a lifelong passion for inclusive theatre. A trained actor, Stephanie has toured extensively across the UK, Ireland, Europe, and the USA in both plays and musical productions. Her work spans roles as director, producer, playwright, and facilitator, with a commitment to creating accessible theatre. Previously, as Creative Manager at Dark Horse Theatre, she championed ‘the Silent Approach,’ fostering an inclusive space for all. Stephanie is a dedicated advocate for Creative Health and collaborates closely with Arts Care’s talented artists. In her downtime, she enjoys singing, playing piano and clarinet, blues dancing, and performing whenever she can.
Barry Macaulay BEM brings over 25 years of expertise in health, social care, and disability to Arts Care, joining from his role as NI Director at the Stroke Association. His career began in social work and advanced into senior management within the third sector, notably with RNIB and Stroke Association. Recognised for his impact on Disability Sport in Northern Ireland, Barry was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2019. A dedicated musician, Barry has been involved with Arts Care for over 15 years, volunteering his talents at countless sessions and events, making him a familiar and passionate advocate for the transformative power of the arts.
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At Arts Care, we bring the healing power of the arts directly to you and your community. Since 1991, we’ve been creating innovative projects that support well-being and mental health in healthcare, social care, and corporate settings.
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