Dunard Centre

dunard centre

Chief Executive Officer

Jo Buckley joined IMPACT Scotland as the organisation’s first permanent Chief Executive in September 2023. Prior to this she was Chief Executive of the Dunedin Consort, one of the world’s foremost baroque ensembles, and led them through an exceptional period of growth which culminated in them winning the Royal Philharmonic Society Ensemble Award. She previously held roles at Britten Sinfonia, Northern Sinfonia, Live Music Now and Delphian Records, and is a freelance writer for organisations including the BBC Proms, London SymphonyOrchestra and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Jo graduated from Cambridge University with a First Class degree in 2004, and went on to gain a PhD in Musicology fromDurham University. She is a Governor of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, a Trustee of the Royal Philharmonic Society, and a member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s Young Academy of Scotland. 

Finance Director

Kim started her career in front of house and box office roles in some of London’s leading arts venues and has worked in the sector ever since. For the last decade, she has focused on finance and operations, during which time she spent five years as a Management Accountant at the Barbican Centre in London. In 2019, she joined award-winning charity Spitalfields Music as Director of Finance & Operations, later becoming Chief Operating Officer and Deputy CEO, overseeing a period of extraordinary change in the organisation. Since moving to Scotland, she has also held the role of Director of Finance at Scottish Ensemble on an interim basis.  

Kim holds a music degree from Royal Holloway University of London and membership of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. As a volunteer, Kim has held Treasurer positions on the boards of Lambeth Orchestra and The Irene Taylor Trust (Music in Prisons). 

 

Project Director (Consultant)

Anna Collins spent her early career in Glasgow managing front of house operations for ATG and across Glasgow Life’s portfolio of cultural venues. She became freelance in 2012 when she managed a London 2012 Olympic training venue followed by leading the development and operation of a new build competition venue for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. 
 
For the last ten years, Anna has been providing strategic leadership for clients undertaking significant new build and refurbishment projects within the Arts, often bridging the gap between construction professionals and venue teams. Previous clients and projects include, Guardian News and Media Group, The National Theatre, Cambridge Arts Theatre, North Northamptonshire Council and The Factory International. More recently, Anna acted as Project Director for the RIBA award-winning Mountview Academy of Performing Arts new home in Peckham including the MAC Theatre. Anna sits on the committee of Edinburgh’s Royal High School project to develop Thomas Hamilton’s grade A listed building into a new performance space, and she recently received a public appointment to the Theatres Trust Board as their Scottish representative. She has a keen interest in architecture and is the co-founder of an award-winning, sustainable accredited architecture practice alongside her husband. 

Venue Project Manager

Jessica Monsen joined the IMPACT Scotland team in November 2023 having previously worked at Edinburgh Science and National Museums Scotland Enterprises. She specialises in venues, festivals, events and project management, and has almost 20 years of experience working in the culture, heritage and education sectors in the UK and overseas. 

At IMPACT Scotland, Jessica supports the day-to-day delivery of the Dunard Centre capital project, with particular focus on developing venue operational plans to ensure the finished building supports multiple activities, diverse audiences, and artistic ambitions of the organisation. 

Jessica has a degree in Environmental Archaeology from the University of Edinburgh. 

Operations Manager

Jessica landed in Scotland to read English Language and Literature at the University of Edinburgh and has no plans to leave the festival city anytime soon.  

A keen amateur musician, Jessica began a career in the industry with Dunedin Consort: Scotland’s Baroque ensemble. There, she gained a wealth of experience in concerts, tours and project management and artistic planning. More recently, Jessica worked as Artistic Programme Manager at Nevis Ensemble where she led an orchestra of early-career musicians in a programme of community-focused projects and intensive touring across the length and breadth of Scotland.  

Jessica is a member of St Giles’ Cathedral Choir and has sung at many civic and international services – most notably for the Funeral service for Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.  

Director of Development

Jenny McNeely joined IMPACT Scotland in January 2024. Jenny has worked in the arts and culture sector for over 12 years and her career has taken her from grassroots chamber music to national performing arts companies. After working as a journalist and editor in Edinburgh and London for 10 years, an invitation to a chamber music festival in Wales inspired a change of career. Jenny managed the Wye Valley Chamber Music Festival and helped establish the Kinnordy Chamber Music Festival in 2016. Jenny joined the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in 2019 as Head of Major Gifts before becoming Head of Individual Giving & Partnerships in 2020.  

External Relations Officer

After graduating from the University of York with a degree in History in 2014, Libby started her early career in London where she worked in roles across e-commerce and media production. 

Drawn back to Edinburgh in 2018, Libby has enjoyed working across in roles within the city’s arts and cultural sphere, including working for a Literary Agency and the Edinburgh festivals. Most recently, Libby worked as Marketing Executive with an Edinburgh-based property development and investment company before joining IMPACT in July 2024. 

Development Officer

Claire completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Malta before relocating to Scotland to pursue a master’s degree in Arts, Festivals, and Cultural Management at Queen Margaret University, where she was awarded the Dr Chris Wang Award in Cultural Management.  

With a career that began in luxury corporate events, she transitioned to the arts sector, holding several key roles in development and fundraising. Most recently, she served as Development Manager at Scottish Ensemble, where she led strategic initiatives across all income streams to support the ensemble’s innovative projects. She joined IMPACT Scotland in July 2024 as Development Officer.  

Administrative Assistant

Charlotte joined IMPACT Scotland in June 2024, having previously worked as an Audio and Digital Sales intern at Canongate Books.  

Charlotte is a playwright and theatre director, having had work performed at Òran Mór, the Scottish Youth Theatre, and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. She was longlisted for the David MacLennan award in 2022 and 2024, and shortlisted for Wonder Fools’ Positive Stories for Negative Times festival in 2024.  

Charlotte has a first-class degree in English Literature and Theatre Studies from the University of Glasgow, and a master’s degree in Drama Writing from the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. 

Head of Marketing and Communications

Driven by a passion for music, words, and visuals, Rosie has worked in cultural marketing and communications for over 15 years. She has previously held roles at two of Scotland’s leading multi-arts venues, The Arches and SWG3, with performing arts company Scottish Ensemble, and marketing agency Bright Signals. 

With a postgraduate degree in Journalism, Rosie has contributed to various publications, covering contemporary music for The Skinny and The List, classical music for The Herald, and served as Clubs Editor at The List. She has also enjoyed freelance work in copywriting, marketing and design for a range of cultural and commercial clients.  

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