A Wealth of Arts and Cultural Speakers 

Guest Speakers


Tim Baker, Director, Baker Richards Consulting Ltd

Tim Baker is a leading arts management consultant and the foremost authority on pricing and revenue management in the arts worldwide. Tim has been developing his work in pricing research and strategy for more than two decades and his work spans the US, UK, Australasia and Continental Europe, as well as all areas of the sector - theatre, opera, music, dance, visual arts and visitor attractions.

Prior to his consultancy career, Tim spent seven years as Marketing Director of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, before which he was Head of Marketing at the London Symphony Orchestra. At the start of his career he worked for Festivals and an Arts Centre following a degree in Social Policy and Administration, from the University of Kent.


Susan McCleary, Sales and Marketing Manager, Newtownabbey Borough Council – Theatre at the Mill

Susan McCleary has worked in marketing for over 10 years, starting in PR and then in the charity sector. In 2004, she moved to the local authority-run theatre, the Burnavon Arts & Cultural  Centre in Cookstown, NI. The Patron Edge was installed there in 2005 and since then, Susan has experimented with the system to see how it could best work for her organisation and give her the information she needed.  Through projects such as Retain and Gain, with Kathy Raines, and The Black Book Project with Audiences NI, Susan now feels she has a better understanding of how to use the reports and analyse audience patterns; although she says there is always something new to learn about The Patron Edge.  In November 2009 she joined The Theatre at The Mill in Newtownabbey as the Sales & Marketing Manager. 


Sarah Ogle, AMA Board Member

With a 15 year career in sharing her passion for theatre with others, Sarah has previously worked at the Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre, Blackpool’s Grand Theatre and the Birmingham Rep. Seven years ago she returned to her home city of Liverpool where, as Marketing Director of the Everyman and Playhouse theatres, she has helped re-build the two theatres’ audiences and reputation. Sarah is a member of the AMA board. Sarah plays an active role in the Liverpool Arts Regeneration Consortium and has spoken at a variety of AMA, TMA and Arts Council events on subjects ranging from Ambassador Projects to Design & Print, and Collaboration to Cultural Leadership. Sarah supported the development of the ADUK training programme, as she believes robust insight into audiences is key to a healthy and thriving cultural sector for all.


Lindsey Pope – Head of Communications at Mac


David Brownlee, Chief Executive, Audiences UK


Rebecca Williams, Senior Business Systems Developer at Edge Hill University

Rebecca Williams works in Edge Hill University, within the Business Systems division of IT Services.  Her main responsibilities are to look after the pre-applicant/pre-student systems, as well as the on-site theatre ticket booking system which is Patron Edge.  She is also one of the first ports of call for business intelligence queries.  She describes herself as a ‘Non-Techie’ Techie as she began her career within Academic Registry in the Data Support team and she has been trained very much on-the-job within IT Services.  She tends to translate what is going on with systems into English, hopefully in a way colleagues can relate to!


Judith Kerridge, Administration Officer from Ely Cathedral

Following a full career in I.T. which included project management & support services, Judith joined Ely Cathedral in 2004 and has been fully involved in the introduction of PE, PEO and RE in the past 12 months.  Judith is responsible for on-going development of the use of these products and the roll-out to the staff.  Ely Cathedral’s vision for the products’ use here includes data on all admissions as well as comprehensive data on events to inform income predictions.  Judith plans to use the CRM to extend marketing as well as various memberships.


Angus Blest - Business Development Manager – The Logic Group

Angus Blest is working with some of The Logic Group’s key partners within ticketing and retail, and has been the driving force behind many of The Logic Group’s largest Smart-TPS projects. His role is to support our partners in providing their clients with effective payment and loyalty solutions, and through his background in marketing he has a strong focus on how we can help to bring value to partners, clients and end-users.


Neil O’Neil - Qualified Security Assessor - The Logic Group

Neil O’Neil is a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) with more than 15 years experience of IT security. Neil’s primary responsibility is to promote the awareness of security and the need for clients to protect themselves from external and internal threats. He is also heading up The Logic Group’s forensic practice, assisting clients who have experienced a security breach. Neil’s in-depth knowledge of the evolving PCI standard allows him to advise The Logic Group’s partners and clients on best practise for business critical services that contain sensitive data.


Blackbaud Speakers

Kieran Healey, Solutions Engineer

Kieran Healey is the Solutions Engineer for the Arts and Cultural team at Blackbaud Europe, working with the Raiser’s Edge, Artifax Event but primarily The Patron Edge and Patron Edge Online. Kieran works with prospective and existing clients to identify opportunities where software can support and develop their business – be it ticketing, marketing or communications. Kieran has spent 8 years working in the ticketing arena, both as a Marketing and Ticketing Manager. Kieran has worked across a variety of arts, cultural and charitable organisations in Edinburgh, New York, Dublin and Berlin including lastminute.com, London’s West End and Edinburgh festivals. Kieran publishes both The Spotlight, a monthly newsletter for Arts and Cultural clients, and Ticket Talk, a blog available at www.blackbaud.co.uk/tickettalk

Eddie Lee, Consultant

Eddie Lee joined Blackbaud Europe in January 2008 as a Consultant within the Arts and Cultural vertical. He is responsible for training and providing business process solutions to customers who are implementing The Patron Edge and The Patron Edge Online. He brings over 20 years’ experience and skill in ticketing, venue, and operational management when he advises on business best practice. Since 1988, Eddie has worked at a number of high-profile venues, where he has managed ticketing system replacement implementations. Eddie was awarded the Blackbaud Responsiveness Award in 2009 for his commitment to customer service; this honour was voted for by customers and colleagues within Blackbaud. Recent projects that Eddie has worked on include implementation of The Patron Edge and The Patron Edge Online at Anglia Ruskin University, Harrogate International Centre, Leicester’s De Montfort Hall, Dundee Repertory Theatre and Hampshire Council.


Robert Fleming, Consultant

Robert Fleming has been an Arts & Cultural Technical Consultant with Blackbaud for 2 ½ years. He previously worked as Systems Manager at a venue in Welwyn Garden City.  These gave given him almost 8 years’ of experience with The Patron Edge and The Patron Edge Online.  His main responsibilities now include data conversion, analysis and integrations, product implementation and consultation and minor customisations with The Patron Edge and also the implementation, consultation, design and training of The Patron Edge Online.  He often finds himself facing new and interesting challenges and he enjoys utilising PE and PEO to their full potential to provide the solution.  He is also involved in the development of the product suite, pushing the frontiers and integrating new technologies into the mix.  Previously Robert has worked in Technical Theatre, Catering and Licensed Retail, having run a number of pubs and bars around the London area.  The Arts and, more importantly, customer focus is and has always been at the heart of his professional career. 

Contact conference@blackbaud.co.uk for more information.