People
Director
Andrew Guest
With a background in Fine Art from both the University of St Andrews and the University of Edinburgh, Andrew has worked in the field of the arts and the environment for over 25 years. Working within museums and galleries, for environmental charities and development agencies, Andrew became Director of the Scottish Sculpture Trust in 1990. He joined Northern Architecture in 2003.
Education Officer
Sarah Allen
Sarah's background is in both formal and informal education. Sarah trained as a teacher before moving into informal education in the cultural sector. Sarah previous job was at the Bowes Museum in County Durham, working in the education department.
Projects Officer
Lowri Bond
Lowri graduated in Fine Art from Newcastle University and has worked for various cultural organisations throughout the North East. She was Arts Development Officer for the Mid Northumberland Arts Group and, before being appointed as Projects Officer in May 2004 was Community Arts Officer for the City of Sunderland Council. She has recently had a baby called Arthur.
Education Officer
Sara Cooper
Sara has a background in Fine Art and Design and is trained as a teacher. With extensive experience in formal education she has most recently taught Art and Design at FE and HE level. She has in the past worked in both the creative industries and voluntary sector.
Marketing Officer
Kate Walter
A graduate of History of Art at the University of Leeds, Kate joined Northern Architecture in November 2005 from a self-employed background in the cultural sector. Kate works to promote awareness of Northern Architecture's activities and to support the organisation's development.
Projects Officer
Carine Aguet
Carine focuses primarily on developing events for our winter series and coordinates the annual architecture weeks in the North East. Moving to Newcastle from Leeds, Carine previously worked for the University of Leeds as a Community Liasion Officer. Her educational background is in geography and planning.
Chair
Tom Macartney
Tom Macartney is a chartered surveyor and Managing Director of North Staffordshire Regeneration Partnership. He has recently started this job following his role as Chief Executive of Sunderland arc. He has a national reputation within regeneration and previously was the Director of the Crown Street Regeneration Project in the Gorbals of Glasgow. He is a Board Member of the City of Sunderland Local Strategic Partnership and a director of the Sunniside Partnership. He was a commentator on the Urban Task Force Final Report – ‘Towards an Urban Renaissance’. He also lectures extensively and writes on regeneration matters and is a member of the ODPM’s Leaders Network on Sustainable Communities Delivery Round Table.
Vice Chair
Roy Ashton
Roy has worked throughout the UK in development, regeneration and planning, with 36 years experience in local government, including Director of Development for Newcastle City Council. Following 6 years of freelance consultancy, he is currently the Chairman of NomadE5 Housing Association.
Board Member
Neil Taylor
Neil Taylor is an architect and has been a partner at FaulknerBrowns since 1986. He is an active member of the RIBA Visiting Board and RIBA Validation Board, has been a Visiting Professor at the School of Architecture, Newcastle since 1992 and is an advisor to the School at the University of Northumbria for RIBA Accreditations. He is a member of the Urban Design Group and British Urban Regeneration Association (BURA).
Board Member
Les Southerton
Les is an Economist and Chartered Town Planner and has worked on Teesside since 1970. Working for Middlesbrough Council in various capacities since 1984 he became Chief Executive of Middlesbrough Town Centre Company. In June 2007 he retired from this role to take up a part-time role as Director of the Stockton Middlesbrough Initiative.
Board Member
Nigel Jenkins
Nigel has practised as an architect in the North East for 30 years. He set up Jenkins Partnership with his wife Catherine in 1979. They recently moved their practice from Gateshead to Rothbury, Northumberland.
Board Member
Adrian Stanley
Adrian is a Senior Office Partner at the Newcastle office of Eversheds law firm. He specialises in urban regeneration schemes for both the public and private sectors.
His recent experience includes acting for Tees Valley Regeneration and English Partnerships with regard to the proposed mixed use development at Middlehaven on Teesside which is to be lead by BioRegional Quintain Limited. He has also been advising Sunderland arc, English Partnerships and One NorthEast with regard to the various regeneration schemes being undertaken by Sunderland arc and in particular the schemes at the former Vaux site and Holmeside.
Board Member
Diana Leitch
Diana is an architect and an academic, teaching and researching at Newcastle University, where she was Head of Architecture from 1997 until 2002. She examines and validates courses in architecture, in the UK and internationally, and serves on RIBA Validation Committee. She is Vice Chair of the North East Civic Trust.
Board Member
Chris Rushton
Chris is a former award-winning newspaper editor who has also been managing director of a national PR agency. He is now Head of Journalism and Public Relations at the University of Sunderland.
