Trustee Biographies
Susan Mail (Chair)
Susan has worked at a senior management level in the public, private and third sectors. Living in London she was the HR Manager and then Staff Development Manager for the YMCA in England then returned home to Scotland to take up the role of HR Director for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. Married to a Shetlander, they returned “home” in October 2018.
Chris Gadsby
Chris is a Project Manager working for Shetland Island Council. Originally from Leicestershire Chris Joined the Royal Navy as an Engineer in the early 1990s. After leaving the navy Chris worked across Africa for several International Aid Organisations. Chris moved to Shetland with his young family in 2018 and is an active member of several Westside community groups and is a retained Fire Fighter in Bixter.
Malcolm Innes
Malcolm is a very experienced light artist and architectural lighting design consultant with experience on large scale projects around the world. He combines his architectural lighting design work with art projects and commissions working principally with light, sound and projection. Malcolm is now based at Shetland UHI and is Director of the Centre for Island Creativity. He also leads the Creative Economy Knowledge Exchange Group across UHI.
James Johnston
Extensive experience of running third sector organisations currently working as the trading coordinator for the Shetland construction industry.
Michèle Kerry
Michèle currently works for Shetland UHI in the Student Support Team. A decision to study Forestry at university resulted in her leaving Shetland and spending most of her career working in woodland management and the environmental sector in various parts of the UK. With a keen interest in the arts Michèle has always tried to support the sector as a volunteer. Michèle and her family moved back home to Shetland in 2017.
Kerry Larbalestier
Kerry was a solicitor in England for many years, working in a market town practice primarily in the area of Family Law. She trained and worked as a collaborative lawyer to offer her clients a different way of resolving family issues.
She is a Rotarian and was a member of Newton Abbot Rotary Club before transferring to the Lerwick Club following her move to Shetland. During her time with the Newton Abbot Club she supported a number of art projects with local schools or local charities such as The Helen Foundation helping young people to access the arts, and this remains a particular passion of hers.
Renzo Spiteri
Renzo is a multi-media artist, arts collaborator, improviser, composer and multipercussion player who is active on the international arts circuit, and who, throughout his 30-year professional career as an arts practitioner, has performed in major festivals and venues around the world. As a percussionist his work spans from cross-cultural world music performances to jazz and beyond while, as a multi-media artist and composer, he pushes the boundaries of innovative and experimental productions and performances in solo acts and collaborations with choreographers, theatre directors and visual artists. Renzo has led numerous workshops and participates in career pathway presentations encouraging younger generations to pursue a career in the arts. Together with his partner, Renzo moved to Shetland in September 2019. www.renzospiteri.com www.soundmigrations.com
Catriona Macdonald
Currently living in the Scottish Borders, Catriona was brought up in Lerwick and has been a professional fiddle player since leaving the islands aged 17. Through her performance work she has gained valuable experience in the Creative Arts sector at both national and international levels. She is currently a Senior Lecturer and Degree Programme Director for the BA in Folk and Traditional Music course based at Newcastle University. Researching and promoting Shetland's cultural heritage is Catriona's passion, since her early days as a founder member of Shetland's Young Heritage up to present times when she is in the final stages of a creative practice doctorate which aims to investigate, recover and highlight women's role in Shetland's cultural past.
Jamie Manson
Currently working as the Finance Director for Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd Jamie brings extensive experience of finances and resource management to Shetland Arts. Previous roles include Executive Manager, Finance at Shetland Islands Council and Director of Resources for Ascension Island Government.