Board of Trustees
Our board members hold Create Sheffield to account and guide our decisions.
We are recruiting more trustees and would love to involve people with lived experience of working with young people.
If this is you, get in touch for an informal chat about the role.
Meet Pat Cochrane
Chair of the Board • Creative learning consultant
Pat was CEO of CapeUK for almost 20 years, developing Arts Council England-funded programmes that connected arts organisations, schools and communities. She now supports creative learning in the UK and internationally, including projects with the British Council and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. Pat sits on the board because she believes every child and young person in Sheffield should have the opportunity to learn, play and perform through the arts. Creativity has always been a vital part of her life, although she admits her own singing career got off to a bad start with one very badly timed school solo!
Find out more: LinkedIn
Meet Stephen Betts
Trustee • Chief Executive of Learn Sheffield
Stephen leads Learn Sheffield, whose mission is to enhance the life chances of local children and young people by working closely with education settings and partners—including Create Sheffield. Born and raised in the city, he sits on the board because he wants the opportunities Sheffield offers to be accessible to every child, young person and family. He believes arts and culture are a vital part of that and that they can bring joy, inspiration and wellbeing to everyone. Stephen knows this first hand, as experiences of cinema, music and especially theatre have grown in importance to him throughout his adult life.
Find out more: Learn Sheffield
Meet Sam Dunker
Trustee • Deputy CEO of Learn Sheffield
Sam supports the board by overseeing financial management, and prepares Create Sheffield’s year-end accounts for review by the Independent Examiners. She sits on the board because she believes arts and culture should be accessible to all children and young people, whatever their background—and that this starts with a rich, varied school curriculum that feeds curious minds. Sam’s earliest and fondest arts memory is the Sheffield Theatres pantomime every Christmas with her parents, and it’s still a family tradition today (she goes every year, even now her son is 16).
Find out more: Learn Sheffield
Meet Rehneesa Inez
Trustee • Growth & Development Officer, The Scouts Association
Rehneesa works across arts, culture and community development, drawing on cultural art forms like henna to celebrate heritage, encourage self-expression and create inclusive spaces. She also works at The Scouts Association, supporting the growth of Scouts across England, with a focus on inclusion and access. Rehneesa joined the Create Sheffield board to bring her lived experience and perspective on cultural inclusivity, helping ensure Sheffield’s children and young people can access creative opportunities that reflect the city’s diversity. A memorable early creative moment was making an Islamic art tapestry at primary school and the joy and pride at seeing it exhibited publicly.
Find out more: LinkedIn
Meet Alexandra Woodall
Trustee • Museum and gallery consultant and mentor
Alex has spent 25 years working across cultural and educational organisations, and is currently an Art Foundation student at Chesterfield College. She sits on the Create Sheffield board to help strengthen creative opportunities for children and young people across the city, and to help the organisation make a difference. Alex believes access to arts and culture for children and young people is essential for inspiring imagination, building connection and sparking ideas, and that discovering creativity early is a cornerstone for a healthy, curious life.
Find out more: Alex’s Website
Meet Paul Duffus
Trustee • Architect
After studying architecture at the University of Sheffield, Paul now works independently on the redevelopment of existing domestic and commercial properties, with a focus on listed buildings and conservation areas. He sits on the Create Sheffield board to help expand creative opportunities for young people across the city—across everything from architecture and design to digital making. Paul believes arts and culture show up everywhere, including the buildings we live in and the online worlds we use every day. A childhood highlight was having lessons in the Arts Tower—where he later returned to study architecture on a scholarship.
Find out more:
Meet Matthew Goodlad
Trustee • Vice Principal for Curriculum, Sheffield College
Matt began his career as a graphic designer before moving into Further Education in 2007. Since then, he has taught and led across a range of colleges, and is passionate about the difference creative and technical education can make to young people’s lives. He sits on the board to help open up more chances for children and young people to build skills, confidence and pathways into the future. Matthew helped to set up The Sheffield College’s Creative Academy, connecting with local industry to help young people explore their creativity and the potential of creative careers.
Find out more: LinkedIn
Meet Chekere Williams
Trustee • Youth Development Manager, Sharrow Community Forum
Chekere is a dance teacher, youth worker and director of Dynamic Dance CIC. She delivers youth provision across the city and creates free-access dance classes and workshops for children and young people in Sheffield communities. She sits on the Create Sheffield board because she believes arts education can be life-changing, and she wants to break down barriers so all young people—especially those from marginalised communities—can take part. For Chekere, the arts mean freedom, expression and connection, and a memorable highlight for her was making a documentary film called Remixed - about mixed-race identity - with her youth group.
Meet Gordon Young
Trustee • Principal Lecturer in Design, Sheffield Hallam
Gordon is a product designer/design researcher, with interests in critical/speculative design, the circular economy, and extending product lifespan, plus a background in design consultancy.
Find out more: Sheffield Hallam University