Board members with staff

Festival Team

We are governed by a Board of Directors and managed by a team of permanent staff. We also employ a temporary team just before and during Festival.

Jump to: Board of Directors Permanent Staff 2021 Festival Team 2019 Festival Team

Board of Directors

  • Prof. Jackie McCoy

    Jackie McCoy

    Chairman

    Jackie is the Associate Dean Global Engagement at Ulster University Business School and Founding Chair of Belfast International Arts Festival

  • Jimmy Fay

    Jimmy Fay

    Trustee

    Jimmy is Executive Producer at Lyric Theatre, Belfast and is a founding Director of Belfast International Arts Festival.

  • Sandara Kelso-Robb

    Sandara Kelso-Robb MBE

    Trustee

    Sandara is an advisor to basis.point, Managing Director of Human-Kind Associates and is a founding Director of Belfast International Arts Festival.

  • Louise Millen

    Louise Johnston

    Trustee

    Louise is Finance Manager at Strategic Investment Board Limited and has been a Director of Belfast International Arts Festival since 2016.

  • Kim Mawhinney

    Kim Mawhinney

    Trustee

    Kim is Senior Curator of Art, at the Ulster Museum, National Museums NI and has worked in partnership with Belfast International Arts Festival for many years. She joined the Board in 2021.

  • Sharon Doherty

    Sharon Doherty

    Trustee

    Sharon is Head of Communication and Outreach at NI Consumer Council and holds a First-Class Honours Degree in Communication, Advertising and Marketing. She joined the Board in 2021.

Permanent Staff

2021 Festival Team

  • Alan Simpson

    Literary Manager

    Literary critic and writer Alan Simpson  joins  as Literary Manager.
    Under the name John Self, Alan has written features, interviews and literary criticism for numerous publications including The Guardian, The Times, The Observer, The Irish Times, The Spectator and New Statesman.

  • Georgia Simpson

    Event Management & Operations Service
    Direct Line: 028 9521 9744

  • Phil McCandlish

    Technical Director

  • Andrew Moore

    Marketing Officer

  • Box Office at Visit Belfast

    You can book tickets online 24/7 or you can phone Box Office at Visit Belfast Welcome Centre on 028 9024 6609, or pop in to 9 Donegall Square North, Belfast, BT1 5GB (opposite Belfast City Hall).

    Opening hours:

    Monday – Saturday 9:00am – 5:30pm

    Sunday 11:00am – 4.00pm.

    02890246609

2019 Festival Team