About Us
OUR TRUSTEES
Charlotte Peel
Charlotte Peel lives in Barnsley and currently works as a Commercial Disputes Lawyer at Irwin Mitchell LLP. Charlotte has a Masters in Intellectual Property and has a broad range of experience in advising on and resolving commercial and contractual issues for a range of businesses from start-ups to global FTSE 100 firms.
Charlotte is passionate about the Arts and in particular Drama. She came first in Northern Ireland in her A-level Performing Arts and was a member of the Amateur Dramatics Society at both School and University. She regularly see shows whether they be plays, musicals, dance or poetry.
Carol Cooper Smith
Carol Cooper-Smith is Barnsley born and played a strong team role in the funding and the redevelopment of the Civic. She is currently Interim Chief Executive for Ashfield District Council having worked extensively in Regeneration and Economic Development. She has developed an expertise in the Place Shaping agenda and commercialism. She has an MBA gained with Distinction from Manchester Business School, specialising in Strategy, Marketing and Enterprise. In her spare time, she is a long suffering season ticket holder at Barnsley FC, thus demonstrating a positive attitude in the face of adversity.
Cllr Robert Frost
Councillor Robert Frost represents the Wombwell Ward. He was elected in September 2013.
He is a member of the Labour Group. He is also the cabinet spokesman for Regeneration and Culture at Barnsley Council.
Robert was a maths teacher for over 17 years and previous to that was a coal miner at Manvers and Manton Collieries.
In his free time he enjoys spending time on his allotment and is a season ticket holder at Barnsley FC.
Alister Albert
Alister is a Saint Lucian born actor, Founder of the website The Actors’ Post that interviews and highlights stories of entertainment industry professionals around the world and is also a trained Business Process Analyst, who currently works at the University of Leeds.
While a versatile individual, Alister’s passion about the arts and performance has been a major influence in his life, driving his love for performance and started in the Caribbean where he was introduced to acting during his teens. At 27, he had his first internationally recognised performance as part of the cast for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the London 2012 Olympics and has acted in movies such as James Bond’s Spectre, Marvel Comic’s Dr. Strange and Bollywood blockbuster Pagalpanti. Alister was also a former semi-professional basketball player here in the UK and continues his active participation in the sport as an NBA Analyst on live Jamaican-based, Caribbean television station, Sports Max Zone.
Coming from a hardworking family, Alister believes all is professional, artistic and creative experiences will contribute positively to the Civic and looks forward to providing support, insight and ideas that will help cater to Barnsley residents directly, the region and also the wider, entertainment industry. He is keen to work alongside and learn from the rest of the Civic’s Trustees and continue to add to the rich heritage of the Civic.
Tony Wright
Tony works for South West Yorkshire Partnership Trust and he recently celebrated his 25th year working in the local NHS. Following various previous roles, Tony has spent the past ten years working as a full time trade union officer filling the roles of Staff Side Secretary, UNISON Branch Char and an elected role on the UNISON National Executive Council.
As well as performing as the lead singer and lyricist for local band The Hurriers, Tony has significant experience promoting events and is jointly responsible for organising the May Day Festival of Solidarity, which takes place in Barnsley each year. Tony has been responsible for bringing together 3 CD compilation albums involving over a 100 acts.
Tracy Rodgers
Tracy Rodgers is employed as a solicitor with MKB Solicitors. This is a local business established for several years with proud and strong local connections. Her day to day role is in the litigation department with an emphasis on handling personal injury claims. She lives in Barnsley and is a proud advocate for the town. She has experience of being a member of the Board of Governors for both Primary and Secondary Schools. In the past she was involved in the formation of a parent lead school in Sheffield.
In addition to her role as a litigator, Tracy also works as a wellness coach for a national weight loss company and is shortly to take over running the group that meets at the Civic on Saturday mornings.
Outside of work she is mum to two adult daughters and is an enthusiastic supporter of theatre and the arts.
Steve Wragg
Stephen joined the Board in 2010 and became Chairman in June 2014. He is a self-employed management consultant, prior to which he was Technical Director at W2Networking where he was responsible for customer technical solutions, customer service and satisfaction and the development of commercial data centre strategy.
From 2001 to 2007 he was Head of ICT & e Business at Business Link South Yorkshire and Head of ICT at Barnsley and Doncaster TEC from 1997 to 2001.
Stephen was Chairman of Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust from 1 January 2009 until December 2018. Before joining the hospital, he was a non-executive director of NHS Barnsley a position he held from April 2006.
Carol Cooper Smith
Carol Cooper-Smith is Barnsley born and played a strong team role in the funding and the redevelopment of the Civic. She is currently Interim Chief Executive for Ashfield District Council having worked extensively in Regeneration and Economic Development. She has developed an expertise in the Place Shaping agenda and commercialism. She has an MBA gained with Distinction from Manchester Business School, specialising in Strategy, Marketing and Enterprise. In her spare time, she is a long suffering season ticket holder at Barnsley FC, thus demonstrating a positive attitude in the face of adversity.
Mark Wilcockson
Mark is a professionally qualified and highly successful Corporate Banker with proven public and private sector record in senior stakeholder relationship building, people leadership, and managing complex relationships at a strategic level. Barnsley born and bred he is keen to see the Civic, the town and Region succeed and grow.
After working 32 years in the private sector in the corporate division of a major high street bank, Mark made the transition to the public sector. Initially with a spell in NHS England Mark has now moved to help finance for SME’s by joining the British Business Bank, which is the UK’s economic development bank which used UK and European public sector finance to fill funding gaps in the market.
Dave Grimes
David Grimes lives in Barnsley and currently works as the Head of Sheffield City Region Growth Hub. David has an MBA and a first class honours degree in Creative Digital Technology both from the University of Sheffield.
David has over 10 years’ experience working with a range of businesses from start-ups to global FTSE 100 firms in supporting business growth & Innovation, and has run several small businesses including his own. David is a Chartered Manager and a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts’.
Jade Samuels
Jade Samuels is an Artist based in the West Midlands. She is a founding member of the UKs first Black and Brown Improv group ‘Jumprov’ as well as producer for Triforce Promotions Monologue Slam Midlands (Birmingham REP/Coventry Belgrade).
She is an Actor, working regularly with Birmingham REP & Coventry Belgrade on productions as well as BBC Doctors and has appeared in national & international commercial campaigns with ‘Nestle’ & ‘Disney’.
Jade is a founding member & producer for the UKs first all Black Female Shakespeare Company ‘Mawa’. Jade is interested in getting untold, unknown stories out there, only taking on projects that align with this cause. She is also a proud Mama to her daughter ‘Rae’.
Alister Albert
Alister is a Saint Lucian born actor, Founder of the website The Actors’ Post that interviews and highlights stories of entertainment industry professionals around the world and is also a trained Business Process Analyst, who currently works at the University of Leeds.
While a versatile individual, Alister’s passion about the arts and performance has been a major influence in his life, driving his love for performance and started in the Caribbean where he was introduced to acting during his teens. At 27, he had his first internationally recognised performance as part of the cast for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the London 2012 Olympics and has acted in movies such as James Bond’s Spectre, Marvel Comic’s Dr. Strange and Bollywood blockbuster Pagalpanti. Alister was also a former semi-professional basketball player here in the UK and continues his active participation in the sport as an NBA Analyst on live Jamaican-based, Caribbean television station, Sports Max Zone.
Coming from a hardworking family, Alister believes all is professional, artistic and creative experiences will contribute positively to the Civic and looks forward to providing support, insight and ideas that will help cater to Barnsley residents directly, the region and also the wider, entertainment industry. He is keen to work alongside and learn from the rest of the Civic’s Trustees and continue to add to the rich heritage of the Civic.
Cllr Tim Cheetham
Councillor Tim Cheetham represents the Royston Ward in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. He was elected in May 2006.
He is a member of the Labour Group. He is also the Cabinet Spokesperson for Development, Environment and Culture (Strategy, Programmes and Projects) which is responsible for issues relating to Remaking Barnsley, Spatial Policy Development, Housing Market Renewal, Green Corridor, Dearne Eco Valley and Affordable Housing, Enterprising Barnsley, BDA, Housing Commissioning, Private Sector Housing, Town Centre Services, Museums, Arts and Culture, Sport, Parks, Bereavement Services, Trans Pennine Trail, Creative Industries, Visitor Economy and Working and Skills.
Tim is a PhD researcher and teaches Undergraduate Politics at University. He is also a Local Government Association peer mentor working with councils across the country.
Tim is a passionate believer in the use of digital technologies to improve lives. He is himself an award winning blogger and social networker and strongly promotes the use of the web as a tool of communication and engagement.
Tony Wright
Tony works for South West Yorkshire Partnership Trust and he recently celebrated his 25th year working in the local NHS. Following various previous roles, Tony has spent the past ten years working as a full time trade union officer filling the roles of Staff Side Secretary, UNISON Branch Char and an elected role on the UNISON National Executive Council.
As well as performing as the lead singer and lyricist for local band The Hurriers, Tony has significant experience promoting events and is jointly responsible for organising the May Day Festival of Solidarity, which takes place in Barnsley each year. Tony has been responsible for bringing together 3 CD compilation albums involving over a 100 acts.
Tracy Rodgers
Tracy Rodgers is employed as a solicitor with MKB Solicitors. This is a local business established for several years with proud and strong local connections. Her day to day role is in the litigation department with an emphasis on handling personal injury claims. She lives in Barnsley and is a proud advocate for the town. She has experience of being a member of the Board of Governors for both Primary and Secondary Schools. In the past she was involved in the formation of a parent lead school in Sheffield.
In addition to her role as a litigator, Tracy also works as a wellness coach for a national weight loss company and is shortly to take over running the group that meets at the Civic on Saturday mornings.
Outside of work she is mum to two adult daughters and is an enthusiastic supporter of theatre and the arts.
Charlotte Peel
Charlotte Peel lives in Barnsley and currently works as a Commercial Disputes Lawyer at Irwin Mitchell LLP. Charlotte has a Masters in Intellectual Property and has a broad range of experience in advising on and resolving commercial and contractual issues for a range of businesses from start-ups to global FTSE 100 firms.
Charlotte is passionate about the Arts and in particular Drama. She came first in Northern Ireland in her A-level Performing Arts and was a member of the Amateur Dramatics Society at both School and University. She regularly see shows whether they be plays, musicals, dance or poetry.
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