People behind Creative Edinburgh

Ola oversees Creative Edinburgh’s strategic development, creative programmes and advocacy. She has over two decades of experience in various senior roles across the creative sector including at National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh International Book Festival and Edinburgh International Festival. She is a passionate and results-focussed cultural leader with an interest in diversity of thinking, civic debate, and sustainability.

Inga looks after our membership and mentoring programme. Inga has a MA in Social Sciences, her research investigates social groups affected by marginalisation, exclusion and powerlessness. As a result of working in the arts industry and performing as a Spoken Word Artist, she has established a significant network in Scotland and is extremely passionate in widening participation for all creatives, artists and entrepreneurs living in Edinburgh and beyond.

Zoë oversees our programme strategy and delivery of all Creative Edinburgh events. She has over 7 years of experience in events management and is passionate about collaborating with and supporting creative communities. An accomplished theatre-maker, she co-founded Prickly Pear Productions, a female-led theatre company that champions underrepresented artists. She is also a Board Member at Stellar Quines, an intersectional feminist theatre company based in Scotland.

Vicky is the Marketing and Communications Manager here at Creative Edinburgh. She is a digital marketing and brand professional with over ten years’ experience working in creative organisations around the world, including World of WearableArt in New Zealand. She is passionate about supporting and facilitating opportunities for artists and creatives, has recently become Carbon Literate Certified, and enjoys volunteering her time and skills to performing arts organisations. 

Amanda has over 20 years’ experience working in various management roles across the creative sector, primarily in literature and performing arts. Her experience spans both national and local organisations including Scottish Book Trust, Scottish Ballet, literaturetraining, Toonspeak Young People’s Theatre and most recently eight years as General Manager of the Federation of Scottish Theatre. Amanda is a trained mentor with an interest in supporting both the professional development of individual creatives and organisational development within the sector.

Eva is an early-career visual artist and illustrator working across multiple disciplines. She previously worked as a community fundraiser and as an activity coordinator for the Peanut Press community café.  She is currently working towards an MA at Queen Margaret University in Applied Arts and Social Practice. Eva is passionate about building creative communities, making creative networks accessible to all, and collaborative making.

Marie Christie is currently Head of Development for Events at VisitScotland. She has more than 25 years of experience delivering and supporting festivals and events and raising the profile of Scotland as a cultural destination. Having worked across the public, private and third sectors she has run high profile campaigns, produced major events and led key national initiatives.

Miriam Nelken has a successful track record of supporting creative people and places to thrive through a diverse portfolio of work across the UK. Most recently she was responsible for commissioning and overseeing the Scotland-wide Dandelion project for EventScotland and prior to that her roles have included Executive Producer of the London Borough of Culture 2020, Producer for Artichoke, Director of Creative Barking and Dagenham, Head of Arts at Croydon Council and a wide range of freelance work for organisations including Arts Council England and Goldsmiths, University of London.

Cristina Zani is an Italian born artist with a background in marketing and communication. She completed an MFA in Jewellery at Edinburgh College of Art in June 2012 and after living and working in different countries, she established her workshop at Coburg House Studios, in the vibrant area of Leith, Edinburgh. Prior to that she worked in corporate communication for the Royal Bank of Scotland Group, in internal communication for Direct Line Spain and in marketing for The National Trust.

Amy Kelly is a creative marketing leader, currently working in the B2B tech space as the EMEA Marketing Director at UserTesting, the leading Human Insight Platform. Amy, a graduate of Glasgow University, is also CIM certified and has over 10 years of global experience across both agency and brand and has previously held marketing roles at ITV, YouTube and Facebook.

Ana Betancourt is a sound designer and the co-founder at Black Goblin. Her focus on art and experimentation as well as an eclectic background has shaped Black Goblin’s ideas. Ana has collaborated with artists from different disciplines in dozens of international projects with her contributions delving into the realms of science, technology, and art. As a managing director, she oversees business strategy, marketing and funding departments. Talk to Ana about entrepreneurship, product development, funding and sound.

Brian is a game/narrative designer, writer, business leader, serial entrepreneur and university lecturer, who focuses on the transformative power of interactive media within the creative industries.

Michaela Turner has worked at supporting SME and start-ups in Edinburgh and the region for over the past 9 years. She currently leads on the industry engagement for the Creative Informatics program where she has been working to grow, develop and support the creative start up ecosystem. Prior to working in Creative Informatics, she has worked in knowledge exchange at the University of Edinburgh advising and supporting SME engagement.

Jessica Armstrong is a business development and project manager with a disposition for organisation, teamwork, efficiency and a drive to achieve goals. Her background is in marketing communications and operational management; but really, she is a project manager with a love for understanding process and a passion for all things inspired. Talk to her about: building and developing your networks, reaching new audiences and finding sponsorship.

Nicki Lundy is a communications professional who has worked as a journalist, travel writer and magazine editor too. Currently Head of Media Relations at Phoenix Group, welcomed Nicki to our Board in 2018. Talk to Nicki about all things relating to communications and adapting to change.at Phoenix Group, we welcomed Nicki to our Board in 2018.Talk to Nicki about all thing relating to communications and adapting to change.

Charlie has worked at Whitespace, an Edinburgh based creative agency working across digital, content, brand, experiential and campaigns since 2005, working his way up from Junior Designer to Creative Director as the company has grown over the years. A D&AD judge in 2016, Charlie is a creative thinker and designer delivering world-class courses throughout Scotland to help mentor young creatives.

Bruce is a corporate partner and chair of Anderson Strathern. His clients range for start up’s to global businesses - many in the creative sector.

Ashleigh Thow is an experienced membership engagement professional based in Edinburgh. With a background in marketing, communications and events, Ashleigh found her niche working in membership engagement. She is currently Alumni Relations Manager at Edinburgh Napier University. She delivers a programme of activities, volunteering opportunities and events designed to foster meaningful lifelong relationships between the University, its alumni, students, staff and key stakeholders. Ashleigh also manages all alumni communications.

Lynda-Marie Taurasi is an essayist, radio maker, marketer, science communicator, former language instructor, journalist, and a breakdown-induced illustrator. Her bylines include MTV, The Guardian, Forbes, Marie Claire, and British Vogue. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, she has spent the past decade producing global marketing and communication strategies and consulting under LMTaurasi Creative. She is the founder and salonniere of The Speak Easy Literary Salon in Leith and is currently freelancing with BBC Radio Scotland's Arts and Religion & Ethics teams.

Nathan is one of the founders of CreateFuture, a marketing consultancy with offices in Edinburgh and London. He has been working mainly in digital since the internet came on a CD, with stints at the Press Association, Orange, Realise and Tayburn. Possibly the tallest member of Creative Edinburgh.

Calum is an engagement professional who has worked across education, the arts and accessibility. He enjoys producing events and coordinating programmes which centre inclusivity, collaborative relationships and interdisciplinary learning. Having previously worked with disadvantaged and marginalised young people in Glasgow, since moving to Edinburgh he has worked with innovative literacy charity Super Power Agency to close the attainment gap and with the Edinburgh International Festival on community engagement and accessibility. Alongside freelance projects he currently works to engage people in Scotland's Artificial Intelligence strategy.

Michelle Mangan is an experienced PR, Marketing and Communications professional with over 15 years’ experience of working in the arts in the UK. Prior to her role as Senior PR and Marketing Manager for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society Michelle racked up over 8 years’ experience promoting award winning festival shows gaining Fringe Firsts, Herald Angels, Carol Tambor and Holden Street Theatre Awards.

Leah is an experienced book designer and art director, former Co-Chair of the Society of Young Publishers Scotland and winner of the inaugural Satire Society Emerging Publisher of the Year award. Talk to her about: graphic design, illustration, publishing and creative direction.

Helen is a freelance fiction editor who has worked within the publishing industry in one way or another since the early 1990s (starting out as an editorial assistant, working up through typesetting, production and project management to managing editor at a trade publisher). Her passion is fantasy literature (she was among the first intake of Glasgow Uni’s MLitt in the subject), but really, she loves all writing. She mentors beginning writers and could talk endlessly about publishing and editing … and pretty much anything else!