Board Members
The Liverpool City Region Music Board is made up of 21 members and 12 observers from across the music industry. Details of each board member are listed below.
Thos in Observer roles include: Kevin McManus, Sarah Lovell, Mel Burton (Sound! Music Hub), Cathy Skelly, Douglas Brown (UK Music), Kelly Wood/Philip Morris/Paul Reed (Musician’s Union), Pete Hooton (Chair of Beatles Legacy Group), Hayley Downey, Cllr Mike Wharton and Cllr Kate Groucutt.
Chair of the Board: Jon Collins
As CEO, LIVE, Jon leads an organisation representing the UK’s £6.1bn live music sector with his board comprising representatives from festivals and venues, artists and managers, agents, promoters, orchestras, production and beyond.
LIVE presents a single voice to Government and the media for this creative and economically significant sector. The team works across Whitehall on issues such as sustainability, touring, safety and promoting Britain as a great place to visit, study and invest.
In April 2025, Jon was appointed Chair, Liverpool City Region Music Board and also sits on the executive board for Music Futures, the £6.75 million AHRC Creative Industries Cluster to deliver a range of research, development and intellectual property initiatives and skills and training programmes that will drive music sector growth and employment.
Prior to LIVE, Jon worked around the UK hospitality industry in policy, licensing and research roles. As Chief Executive of CGA, Jon oversaw the company’s development as an international insight and consultancy business that covers the full spectrum of the out of home industry. A keen student of licensing since his days as Chief Executive of BEDA, the then trade association for UK clubs and bars, Jon has served as Chairman of the Institute of Licensing and the National Licensing Forum. As Patron of the Institute of Licensing he remains committed to fostering mutual understanding and achieving recognised standards of professional development and competency in the field of licensing and related practice.
Jon is a lover of live music in all its forms, from intimate gigs to classical concerts, musical theatre to festivals.
Vice Chair: Rebecca Ayres
Rebecca Ayres is Managing Director of Sound City, which is the UK's leading independent festival for new music. Hosting hundreds of artists performing to an audience of over 20,000 music fans and 2,000 industry professionals from 37 different countries, it offers controversial debate, unparalleled networking, amazing music, outstanding art, throughout three inspirational days and hedonistic nights, in the world’s most legendary music city.
Other Sound City events include New York Sound City, Sound City Korea, Off the Record - Manchester, Sounds of the Xity: China (in partnership with Modern Sky Entertainment).
In 2016 Sound City received investment from Modern Sky, China's largest entertainment company which led to the set-up of a sister company, Modern Sky UK. Modern Sky UK works with artists including Slow Readers Club, The Blinders, Calva Louise, No Hot Ashes, SPINN, Beyond Average, Red Rum Club, and Catholic Action.
Rebecca is passionate about emerging talent succeeding and one of the favourite parts of her role is overseeing the international and emerging artist programme. She also runs the Sound City Entrepreneur Training Programmes which are aimed at anyone who has a burning desire to work in the music industry and board member of the UK Association of Independent Festivals.
Adrian Bell
Adrian Bell is an award-winning industry leader with extensive background and experience in theatre, live corporate presentation and music sectors. Renowned for delivering design-led, complex, and high-profile projects, Adrian’s career spans over three decades.
Adrian has produced and worked with globally recognised brands and artists, including Disney, Formula 1, FIFA, and the World EXPO. Over the last few years, he has Exec’ Produced the award-winning production “House of Oz” at the Edinburgh Festival – a large philanthropic initiative established to showcase the best of Australian performing arts and culture.
With an early background in theatre lighting, his expertise bridges the creative and technical aspects of performance and production, enabling him to lead multi-disciplinary teams, manage commercial operations, and foster innovation.
A passionate advocate for grassroots music, Adrian manages young artists from the northwest and provides strategy and tactical management for sustainable career pathways for emerging talent. His dedication to innovation, inclusivity and cultural excellence aligns with Liverpool’s rich musical heritage and its future as a global hub for creativity.
Andy Dockerty
Having worked with bands since the age of 16, Andy formed Adlib 7 years later, with the assistance of the government backed Enterprise Allowance Scheme in 1984. By the end of the '80s Andy was regularly touring the UK, mixing front of house sound for many Liverpool bands of the time including; The Real People, 35 Summers, 16 Tambourines and a plethora of other local artists.
In the '90s and early '00s Andy’s reputation as a FOH sound engineer grew, as did the reputation of Adlib as an audio rental company. Throughout this period Andy toured the world mixing sound for bands such as; Texas, Del Amitri, Scissor Sisters and Kaiser Chiefs. Simultaneously, Adlib secured contracts for worldwide artists, with the ultimate recognition coming in 2003 when Adlib supplied the audio systems and technicians across the UK and Europe for David Bowie’s Reality Tour.
Since 2010, Andy has spent more time in Liverpool working with the teams at Adlib to develop the sales, installations, video, lighting and rigging departments, with Adlib now being the largest independent audio rental house in the UK, as well as a leading full production supplier. In recent years Andy has overseen the development of the internal Adlib Training programme that has become world renowned.
Andy is also a founding member of the #wemakeevents campaign which aims to gain recognition and support for the live events sector.
Ben Williams
Ben Williams is Commercial Director at The ACC Liverpool Group, operators of Destination Venue ACC Liverpool, home to BT Convention Centre, M&S Bank Arena and Exhibition Centre Liverpool and ticketing agency Ticket Quarter.
As commercial director, Ben's role includes developing the overall commercial strategy for The ACC Liverpool Group. He oversees the commercial and sponsorship, marketing, sales and ticketing teams across all markets in which the company operates.
Ben joined from SMG Europe where, as general manager, he led the team that launched the first direct Arena in Leeds five years ago. Prior to this, he was commercial and marketing director at Manchester Arena and previously a head of sponsorship and promotions for Capital Radio Group.
Ben has worked within the music industry and across both small and large scale venues for many years and has knowledge and experience of working with many local and national promoters, agents and managers.
Chris Taylor
Chris Taylor is an award winning record-engineer and producer based in Liverpool.
Chris owned and operated the world-famous Parr Street recording studios complex for over a decade. In 2023 he moved the studios to a brand new, state-of-the-art facility - Kempston Street Studios.
He is known for his work with The Coral, Blossoms, Lathums, Red Rum Club, Jamie Webster, Brooke Combe and Miles Kane.
Cath Hurley
Cath Hurley is Head of Skills and Development at new Birkenhead music venue, FUTURE YARD. This includes overseeing Future Yard’s programme for children and young people, alongside PROPELLER which is an in-depth artist membership scheme helping talented musicians professionalise. Cath is committed to ensuring that FUTURE YARD is a true community venue and fulfils the needs of those that need it the most.
Cath also manages three local emerging acts and tries to be a positive and supportive voice in the music community. She is also a regular assessor of PRS Foundation’s Momentum Fund amongst others.
Previous to this, Cath taught music business at LIPA for five years following a stint as product manager at Rough Trade Records. For a number of years before this, Cath specialised in online PR, digital marketing and social media management working with brand new acts through to well-known pop stars.
Craig Pennington
Craig is a Founder and Director at Future Yard CIC; a Community Music Venue and Music Sector Skills Hub located in Birkenhead, Wirral.
Future Yard thinks about music differently; as a transformative opportunity.
Future Yard’s model reimagines a Community Music Venue as a space for dynamic social change, providing skills and training opportunities for young people, creative and community development alongside a live programme blending international touring artists with emerging local talent.
Craig has been active in shaping policy approaches to music in the region for many years. He authored ‘Liverpool, Music City?’ with LJMU in 2017 and is a member of the Liverpool City Region Music Board.
Before Future Yard, Craig established Bido Lito! - The Liverpool Music Magazine - a publication and creative agency at the forefront of new music on Merseyside for 11 years, providing a vital platform for the region’s emerging new artists.
Craig is also one of the founders of Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia, the leading event of its kind in Europe which was named ‘Best Small Festival’ at the 2015 NME Awards.
Ian Thomas
With over 20 years' experience within music education, Ian is currently the global Head of Evaluation for Arts for the British Council working with international partners overseeing the evaluation of the British Council's global arts programmes and the current chair of the Merseyside Music Education Hub Alliance working across 6 local authorities to develop their music education opportunities for young people from across Merseyside.
Previous to his work with the British Council, Ian worked for Telford & Wrekin Council as their lead for Music Education, leading the award winning Telford & Wrekin Music Education Hub, the development of their In Harmony programme with the CBSO and Manchester Camerata, Creative Employment Programme, their Musical Communities programme working across 4 local authorities in the West Midlands and building an international partnership with other music education programmes in Europe and Canada. Ian has served on previous boards such as Make Some Noise, Arts Connect and Disability Arts Shropshire and has published articles on music education and arts and soft power. Ian is a graduate of both Liverpool and Durham Universities.
Jade Burns
Jade has been immersed in the Liverpool music scene for as long as she can remember—from attending local gigs as a teenager at The Picket to hosting the stage at Eurovision in 2023. Her journey in broadcasting began at just 19, volunteering at BBC Radio Merseyside and BBC Introducing, where she worked her way up to become a presenter with her own show.
Over the years, Jade has championed emerging talent and spotlighted the work of grassroots community organisations, building trust across the creative scene and creating platforms for local voices to be heard. Her work has always focused on connecting artists with audiences, whether on air, online, or through social media.
With more than a decade of experience, Jade has contributed to major events like Radio 1’s Big Weekend, led BBC Introducing digital campaigns, and hosted regional shows across the North of England. Most recently, she has presented on BBC Radio 1, continuing her mission to amplify music and people from the heart of the community.
Jennifer Johnston
Jennifer Johnston is a distinguished performer in opera, concert and recital. Winner of multiple awards including the Royal Philharmonic Society Singer of the Year and Gramophone’s Recording of the Year, she is a former BBC New Generation Artist. Her debut solo album ‘A Love Letter To Liverpool’ (Rubicon Classics) features the iTunes No.1 hit single ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra & Choir, for whom she was their Artist In Residence.
She has sung leading roles at the Bayerische Staatsoper, La Scala, English National Opera, the Salzburg Festival, Glyndebourne Festival and the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, and appears in concert with many of the world’s most distinguished orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, Royal Concertgebouw, Czech Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, BBC Symphony and Cleveland, under the batons of Mäkelä, Bychkov, Gardner, Welser-Möst, K.Petrenko, V.Petrenko, Rattle, Harding, Bolton, Slatkin et al.
She has a creative consultancy, working with clients across the cultural sector including the London Transport Museum and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Her expertise rests in bringing culture, especially sound and music, into spaces where it has hitherto had no or limited exposure, developing innovative creative projects from inception to completion with artistic organisations, and creating partnerships to unite communities via culture and the arts.
She is Performing Arts Network Lead at the Royal Society of Arts, a contributing writer for publications including the Guardian, Opera Now, London Book Review and The Stage, and a commentator on the arts for BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4, Classic FM and Times Radio. A former Barrister, she holds an MBA from the Global Leaders Institute, and received the Royal Philharmonic Society's Enterprise Award, supporting her participation in Harvard University's Women in Leadership Programme.
Joey Ankrah
Joey Ankrah is a musician, producer, and researcher with over 30 years of involvement in the music industry. As a longstanding member of The Christians, Joey has toured extensively across the UK and internationally, contributing as a performer, composer, and producer on multiple albums. His experience spans live performance, recording, artist development, and music business management.
Through teaching and mentoring, Joey has worked with emerging talent from across the UK. He holds a Master’s degree from the University of Liverpool and is currently undertaking a Ph.D. at the Department of Music. Building on the ReMap Report commissioned by the LCRMB, his research explores the experiences of Black music professionals in the region. Joey’s work encompasses both the commercial and academic spheres, bringing a unique perspective to the challenges and opportunities the music industry presents.
Dr Jonathan Savage
Jonathan is the Managing Director of UCan Play a not-for-profit musical instrument sales and consultancy company. He has enjoyed a long career in music education, working for two high schools in Suffolk and co-leading the largest music PGCE course in the UK at Manchester Metropolitan University, in collaboration with the Royal Northern College of Music. Jonathan is responsible for developing the range of consultancy, partnerships, and educational projects that UCan Play undertakes.
In addition to his work managing UCan Play, Jonathan is a published author and editor having written for Routledge, the Open University Press and Sage. He is a Trustee for the Love Music Trust, the lead music hub for Cheshire and the Wirral. Jonathan is the Regional Programme Manager for Restore the Music UK, a charity which has raised and donated around £3m of funding to schools to improve their music education programmes in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Mathew Flynn
Dr Mathew Flynn is a Senior Lecturer in Music Industries at the University of Liverpool (UoL) and Director of the Institute of Popular Music (IPM).
Before joining UoL, he taught music business and professional development on the BA Music degree at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA).
Prior to teaching in higher education, Mat worked as a mentor on the New Deal for Musicians programme, and before and during that time was also a self-employed practitioner in the music industries, owning rehearsal rooms and an independent record label. In 2020 he was awarded a PhD for research that explored how UK based musicians make creative and career based decisions. He has (co)authored numerous research articles, book chapters and reports on the music industries, covering topics such as the impact of the pandemic on the LCR’s music sector, the education of copyright, audiences engagement with streaming, and musicians decision-making.
His work with the Board has seen Mat deliver and maintain the LCRs Live Music Map and the Venues Sub Group Blog, develop the business case, research, and coordinate the working group that delivered the return of N1 Night Bus in 2023, in conjunction with the Black Music Action Group produce the ReMap report in 2024, and he is currently developing a map of the LCR’s entire music sector.
Melissa Kains
Melissa is passionate about dance music culture and history, aiming to make it accessible to all. Founder of Sisu and ever-evolving digger, Melissa has always been enamoured with dance music culture and history, and has always sought to make it more accessible to anyone who shares that love in any way she can.
Melissa has cultivated both a community and a platform to educate, inspire, and forge pathways into the national and international music community for aspiring women and non-binary DJs and producers. This roster prides itself on diversity and inclusivity in electronic music, and aims to nurture and showcase those on its roster through events, talks, workshops, and radio shows. She is a long standing resident for EPiKA in Scotland who also champion diversity and inclusion.
Her endeavours do not stop at Sisu; she has also headed a number of projects revolving around the social impact of dance music culture, such as her exhibition ‘The Afters’, which explores after-party culture, and more recently, an intergenerational archival project in collaboration with Rule of Threes and Sefton Library called Queue up and Dance. This explores the historic Quadrant Park, which was the UK’s first all-night rave.
Louise Nulty
Louise has been the Project Manager at The Studio for LOOSE since 2012.
The aim of the charity is to remove barriers to the arts in Halton, and The Studio itself is a community venue with 300 capacity performance space, 3 rehearsal rooms and a recording studio.
Louise believes that emerging artists should be able to have a career in the place they grew up in, whilst knowing they are good enough to be successful anywhere. She has managed numerous arts projects and attracted funding from The Big Lottery, Reaching Communities, European Social Fund and Peoples Health Lottery.
A professional actor and director, Louise has been involved with community arts in the North West for over 25 years and is also chair of Halton Housing Customer Forum, Secretary of Victoria Park Environment Team, Mentor for Arts Emergency and is working with March For The Arts on the Freelance Working Agreement committee.
Nina Kehagia
Nina Kehagia is a creative strategist, music and culture curator, and PhD researcher at the University of Liverpool, where her work explores cultural heritage, music cities, and the history of electronic and dance music. She currently leads Content and Marketing at the global community of music artists, creatives and executives shesaid.so, and runs the music community Groove Inspired.
Her research and professional practice sit at the intersection of the music business, new technologies, and cultural ecosystems, with a particular focus on electronic music. Nina has led projects and partnerships with renowned record labels such as Mute, !K7, and Warp; festivals including Sónar, Sound City, and Primavera Sound; and artists like Laurent Garnier and DJ Paulette. She is also active as a DJ and radio broadcaster on the award-winning Resonance 104.4 FM.
Paul Gallagher
With a 35-year+ career across the cultural heritage sector, specialising in music and popular culture, Paul’s recent collaborations include the Hidden Music Histories project for Sound City/Institute of Popular Music and LIMF Academy impact report for Culture Liverpool.
Paul became National Museum Liverpool’s (NML) first Curator of Contemporary Collecting in 2005 and was a key member of the team that delivered The Beat Goes On in 2008; the first major exhibition and exploration of the city's deep-rooted musical heritage and reputation. He continued to lead on all music related exhibitions and projects within NML, collaborating with national and international music industry creatives to bring live music events into the sector, including concerts by OMD and Michael Head, and Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Immersive Experience.
As Deputy Director of Museum of Liverpool, Paul played a key role in the ground-breaking exhibition, Double Fantasy - John & Yoko, and NML’s contribution to On Record music festival - a Music Board initiative that was part of the city’s creative response to Black Lives Matter.
Paul is currently an honorary fellow of the Institute of Popular Music and member of the Beatles Legacy Group.
Rheana Forrester
Rheana Forrester is the founder of The Narrative, Liverpool’s rapidly growing Songwriter Showcase & Music Industry Networking Event, which champions local talent and fosters community.
The Narrative also offers a Songwriting Room in Liverpool City Centre with the motto ‘create & collaborate’, providing an affordable, comfortable & professionally equipped space for co-writing, rehearsing, recording and content creation.
As manager at Sort Rehearsal Rooms, Rheana is face-to-face with members of our local music scene on a regular basis.
Rheana has worked around Europe as a songwriter, producer and an artist & label consultant. Her expertise extends to music distribution, and she is part of the team at BLA.C Music - a music distribution platform championing art and culture, delivering industry leading label services.
Saad Shaffi
Managing Director and owner of 24 Kitchen Street, founded in 2013. Saad, along with partners including a childhood and University friend, founded 24 Kitchen Street by delivering a programme of music generally unrepresented in Liverpool including; UK Bass, Garage, Drum and Bass, Rap and Grime. Accessibility for all is a key component of 24 Kitchen St’s door policy, which does not discriminate entry based on attire or race.
24 Kitchen Street has worked with Redbull Music, Sound City, LIMF, Resident Advisor and Africa Oye; international collectives such as Critical Music, Discwoman and Ilian Tape; as well as local record labels and promoters including Meine Nacht, M62 and many more.
Saad has played a significant role in the development of ‘The Baltic Weekender’, which is now in its 5th year, with partners Abandon Silence. The Festival has hosted internationally acclaimed artists, such as Stefflon Don, Ghetts, Aitch, Goldie, Egyptian Lover.
Saad is also an advisor on the PRS Foundation's Power Up initiative, and has started a new event with local media platform Culture Deck, reviving the Merseyside Caribbean Carnival for the first time in decades.
Zi Lan Liao
Zi Lan Liao is an internationally acclaimed musician, artistic director, and cultural ambassador with a career spanning over three decades.
A master of the Guzheng (Chinese harp) and a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, Zi Lan seamlessly bridges the worlds of Western classical music and traditional Chinese music.
Her journey began in Guangzhou, China, where she won national music prizes before moving to the UK to study at Chetham’s School of Music.
As a freelance artist, Zi Lan has travelled the world, collaborating with renowned musicians and ensembles across a wide range of genres, including orchestral, choral, and experimental music. She has performed as a soloist with prestigious orchestras, including the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, and featured in high-profile events such as the Shanghai World Expo.
Zi Lan is the Artistic Director of Pagoda Arts, where she leads the Pagoda Chinese Youth Orchestra, Europe’s only Chinese youth orchestra. She is passionate about nurturing young talent, particularly from East and Southeast Asian communities, and has pioneered award-winning cross-cultural collaborations such as “Jah Wobble Chinese Dub.”
Her work continues to celebrate diversity and creativity, leaving a lasting legacy in the fields of music, education, and community.
Sign up for latest news
Receive updates and invitations from the Liverpool City Region Music Board
