Board Members and Patrons
Ed Rochead
Chair and Trustee
Ed Rochead is a mathematician employed as the Commissioner for AI, Autonomy and Cyber at a government department. Previously he was Chief Mathematician of a government agency. Ed has a track record in leadership, evidence based decision making and change management, and these are the main skills he brings to the board. Ed also enjoys writing and is a frequent reviewer of popular-maths books for Mathematics Today and other publications, as well as writing reviews for recent Blue Apple productions that have appeared in the Hampshire Chronicle and elsewhere.
Ed is passionate about developing the links between the sciences and the arts, and as such holds fellowships in the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, and the Royal Society of the Arts. Ed is Visiting Professor of Innovation Strategy at Loughborough University and a Governor of the University of Winchester.
Ed lives in Eastleigh with his wife Nicki, he has a grown-up son, Adam, and an energetic spaniel called Sparkle.
“I love being a trustee at Blue Apple, I get to enable some fantastic people to perform great work in an inclusive environment. It is great to be able to play a leading role in this Hampshire institution, and it helps me grow my leadership skills too.“
Lead Blue Apple Theatre to widen our impact
We seek a new chair to lead the charity and support our expansion of performing arts services to reach more learning disabled performers across Hampshire.
Duncan Rutter
Trustee
Duncan has been a solicitor specialising in serious injury claims since 1988. For 20 years until 2017 he was a partner with international law firm, DAC Beachcroft, during which time he had various roles including Managing Partner of the Winchester office, Managing Director of DAC Beachcroft Claims Ltd and head of the claims litigation division of the firm.
Duncan is a past President of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers and in that role represented insurance litigators at a national level including liaising with the Ministry of Justice and Association of British Insurers.
Duncan is married to Jane and was Mayor's Escort when his wife served as Winchester's 817th Mayor. They have three grown up children. Duncan now works part-time as a consultant with DAC Beachcroft and is delighted to be able to spend some of his spare time working with Blue Apple Theatre.
Marilyn Weston
Trustee
Marilyn retired in April 2019 after working in sales for a large American pharmaceutical company. She has a great love of theatre and has been involved in amateur drama groups since the early 1980s.
She came across Blue Apple whilst serving as chairman of The Cheriton Players committee in Winchester and they chose Blue Apple as a charity to support.
Marilyn has lived in Alresford for 29 years but was born in Derby and came to Hampshire via Aberdeen, Brazil, Bedford and Exeter. She is married to John, and has three children and four grandchildren.
Lucy McKenna
Trustee
Following her degree in English and Drama from the University of Winchester (formerly King Alfred's College) and a PGCE from the University of Cambridge, Lucy taught in a secondary school in Basingstoke before specialising in supporting the education of Looked-after Children nationally.
Lucy has lived in the UK, Canada, USA and France, where she worked and volunteered in a variety of settings; including nurseries, schools, charities and the community.
She is passionate about the power of literacy and the creative arts to transform the lives of vulnerable learners.
Now settled in Winchester with her family, Lucy is excited to be a part of the groundbreaking Blue Apple Theatre Company, as it continues to evolve and embrace new ways of engaging with an ever expanding audience.
Megan Ball
Trustee
Megan works as the Public Affairs & Campaigns Officer at Sands. In her role, she works with Ministers and MPs to help secure baby loss and bereavement care firmly on political agendas, also operating the Secretariat for the APPG on Baby Loss. Before this, Megan was a two-term President and Chair of the Board of Trustees at Winchester Student Union, as well as the Student Governor on the University of Winchester Board of Governors. She still holds positions with Student Minds and NUS, as well as volunteering with the University. She studied Business Management with Enterprise and Innovation at Winchester between 2016 – 2019.
Megan has spent much of her life embedded in arts and theatre, enrolled in theatre school and dance lessons, performing at the Royal Albert Hall, Her Majesty’s Theatre and Sadler’s Wells. She is committed to improving social mobility and challenging prejudice, having done a great deal of volunteering and lobbying around equality, diversity and inclusion, as well as being involved in local politics.
Megan is from Oxfordshire but lives in Winchester with her partner, Joe. She is hugely excited to be joining the Blue Apple Board.
Lucy Tomlinson
Trustee
Lucy Tomlinson is an experienced cultural consultant based in Hampshire who believes in the special ability of the arts to nurture connections and unlock emotions, aspirations and confidence in all of us.
Lucy works with arts organisations of all sizes and creative disciplines on areas such as strategic visioning and planning, project and creative development, fundraising, and effective governance. Currently Lucy combines this varied and fulfilling consultancy with the role of Trusts and Foundations Manager at MAST Mayflower Studios.
Lucy’s background in the arts, prior to establishing her consultancy, is in large-scale partnership projects and arts festivals such as Southampton’s Cultural Quarter development, Salisbury International Arts Festival, Cheltenham Festivals and London Festival of Youth Arts.
Lucy will also bring to the role of trustee her previous experience serving on boards; with La Folia in Salisbury and SoCo Music Project in Southampton.
Lucy lives in New Alresford with her husband and two children. She is so happy and proud to be a part of Blue Apple Theatre and support the work of this wonderful charity.
Emma Taylor
Trustee
Emma Taylor is a Post Doctoral Research Fellow at University of Surrey, School of Veterinary Medicine, having completed an MSc in Veterinary Microbiology, and a PhD in Veterinary Epidemiology and Global Health. Emma focuses on tackling health care inequalities experienced by vulnerable communities across the world, and providing cost-effective solutions to disease control. Emma is also a member of the committee for neurodiversity and learning support at the University of Surrey, assisting students to access guidance and resources.
Emma has a background in healthcare and project management, having worked in the SEND charity sector for over 15 years, using the arts to foster independence and confidence in young adults with learning disabilities. Emma herself, is an experienced performer having performed at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Royal Opera House, Yvonne Arnoud Theatre, and Indigo at the O2, whilst holding positions as visiting vocal coach at a number of theatre schools, and working as a session singer.
Emma is passionate about evidenced based communication, advocating for interdisciplinary collaboration, especially between the arts and sciences. As a result, Emma holds a fellowship at Royal Society of the Arts.
Emma lives in Winchester with her partner Danny, and their cheeky dog called Frank.
“I passionately believe the arts can help to transform lives. I believe that we should continue to challenge discrimination and prejudice towards disability and the trustee role at Blue Apple will allow me to continue to be a part of that important conversation.”
Kim Gottlieb
Trustee
Liam Gifford
Trustee
Liam is a working/benefit-class theatre-maker of British and Irish heritage raised in North Devon and now living in Southampton. He has a broad range of experiences working within the education and theatre sectors.
His theatre work has seen him collaborating with creatives of all ages, stages and lived experiences on mass participation projects, new writing, devised work and dance theatre which have been presented across the UK and in Europe. Most recently he has worked with Critical Mass, an integrated dance collective of people identifying as D/deaf, Disabled and non-disabled working side by side to show how genuine inclusion can be achieved in mega-events.
Previously Liam has collaborated with Blue Apple during his time as Young People's Producer at Play to the Crowd, and has been an admirer of the company since his time leading the youth programme at Nuffield Southampton Theatres.
He currently works for the University of Southampton within their Widening Participation and Social Mobility directorate which works towards equality of opportunity in higher education for those from under-represented groups. Liam is also a qualified secondary school and sixth-form teacher, having worked in state schools across the South West and Wales from 2012-18.
Liam is passionate about working environments which are person-centred, embed co-collaboration and truly reflect the diversity of our society. Awaiting bio.
Trustee vacancies
There is currently a vacancy for the role of Treasurer. If you would like to be considered for this role please send your CV and a letter explaining what you would bring to Blue Apple Theatre, and what you hope to get out of being a trustee. Please send applications to the Chair of Trustees at trustees@blueappletheatre.com.
Georgiana Robertson
Chair Emeritus
Georgiana Robertson worked for Adult Social Services at Hampshire County Council for 25 years in many capacities, including developing four new Extra Care Housing schemes as well as being an operational manager in services for people with a learning disability.
She grew up in the world of professional theatre as her parents were world-class puppeteers, performing alongside the big names of stage and screen. She has two daughters, both in education (at time of writing). Georgiana was chair of trustees for almost seven years, and a trustee prior to that. Georgiana continues supporting Blue Apple in her new capacity as Chair Emeritus. She considers it a privilege to be part of such an inspiring organisation, and is looking forward to playing a part in its continuing success.
Photo credit: Mike Hall
Jane Jessop
Founder
Blue Apple was founded in 2005 by Jane Jessop to provide opportunities for people with learning difficulties to participate in professionally supported theatre and dance and be equally valued. At that time many of those people felt isolated and lonely, with very poor social networks and little to occupy them.
Jane’s vision was to use the challenge of high quality creative opportunities to provide a sense of purpose and to develop confidence, social skills and behavioural skills, improved physical and mental health as well as performance skills - with no fixed ceiling to the expectations placed on them.
Jane led the company for over 10 years during which time Blue Apple established its touring programme, performed in Parliament, celebrated at the Globe Theatre, became the 1,000th winner of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and won the Peace Child International ‘Rediscover Your Heart’ award for changing the way people see and understand learning disability.
As Blue Apple’s Founder, Jane continues to support the charity as our ambassador and a champion of people with learning disabilities, aiming to challenge society's preconceptions and open doors to greater opportunities.
Jane’s background is in publishing and brand management. She has been a governor of various primary and special schools is currently a Governor of the University of Winchester.
Alan Lovell DL
Patron
Alan Lovell had a career in business, much of it as a restructuring specialist; he also held senior roles in renewable energy and insurance. He is now Chair of the Consumer Council for Water.
In Hampshire he is Chairman of the Blue Lamp Trust and the Hampshire Cultural Trust, both of which he founded, and of the Mary Rose Trust. He is Chairman of the Board of Governors of the University of Winchester and a Trustee and Member of Council of Winchester Cathedral. He was High Sheriff of Hampshire in 2010/11 and is a Deputy Lieutenant. He was appointed DL in 2012.