Our people

Lesley Davidson Co-Director | 01475 460262 lesley@beaconartscentre.co.uk 

Karen Townsend Co-Director | 01475 460266 | karent@beaconartscentre.co.uk 

Tessa Calder Finance & HR Manager | 01475 460271 | tessa@beaconartscentre.co.uk 

Taylor Gallagher Finance Assistant | 01475 460260 | taylor@beaconartscentre.co.uk 

Lisa McRuvie Agnew Marketing Manager | 01475 460269 | lisa@beaconartscentre.co.uk 

Finlay Birch Digital Co-ordinator | 01475 460263 | finlay@beaconartscentre.co.uk 

Kevin Jannetts Creative Engagement Officer | 01475 460270 | kevin@beaconartscentre.co.uk 

Jennifer Hunter Community Outreach Co-ordinator (Foyle Foundation) | 01475 460261 | jennifer@beaconartscentre.co.uk 

Paul Bassett Front of House Supervisor | 01475 460273 | Paul.Bassett@beaconartscentre.co.uk 

Ian Swinscoe Technical Manager | 01475 460261 | ian@beaconartscentre.co.uk 

Tom Reid Technician | 01475 723723 | tom@beaconartscentre.co.uk

Shaun Boyle Facilities Supervisor | 01475 723723 | shaun@beaconartscentre.co.uk 

Angela Bryson Box Office Administrator | 01475 723723 | info@beaconartscentre.co.uk 

Karri Sorley Box Office Administrator | 01475 723723 | info@beaconartscentre.co.uk 

Rosemary MacDonald Box Office Administrator | 01475 723723 | info@beaconartscentre.co.uk 

Alex Ellis Facilities 

Robbie Peden Facilities  

Lorraine Murdoch Facilities

Brian Williams Facilities 

Alex Reedijk | Chair
Alex joined Scottish Opera as General Director in 2006, following four years at the helm of the NBR New Zealand Opera. Prior to this, he worked for the Wexford Festival Opera and the original Garsington Opera and was the Deputy Executive Director of the New Zealand Festival with particular responsibility for bringing the Edinburgh Military Tattoo to Wellington in 2000.

During his tenure with Scottish Opera, the company has flourished and introduced an array of new initiatives for young people and also for people living with dementia, including the world first dementia friendly opera performances in 2016. He works in close partnership with Music Director, Stuart Stratford, to sustain and develop a strong commitment to both 20th century opera and new commissions.

In 2011, Alex was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He is currently Vice Chairman of the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, and became Chair of the Beacon Arts Centre in 2019.

Terry Dillon | Vice Chair 

Councillor Elizabeth Robertson | Board Member
The first female SNP elected member of Inverclyde Council, Elizabeth is an arts and theatre enthusiast,
well known in the region for her commitment and support to a number of local theatre groups. She has
been on the Beacon’s Board since 2016 so is currently serving a second term in office.

James Haworth | Board Member
Starting his career with Apollo Leisure in 1992, James now works for The Ambassador Theatre Group and
has held various management positions with theatres across the UK including the Liverpool Empire, Manchester Apollo, Birmingham Alexanndra, Edinburgh Playhouse and Theatre Royal in Glasgow. He joined the Board in 2019.

Martin McCluskey | Board Member
Labour’s leader for Inverclyde, Martin was born and raised in Inverclyde and lives here today, campaigning about issues affecting people who live and work in the region. He has over a decade of experience in politics and public service, working in both Edinburgh and London. He holds an MA (Hons) from the University of Oxford and is currently working for a PhD at the University of Edinburgh. Joining our Board in 2018, Martin’s lifelong interest in the performing arts was sparked by his very first experience of theatre - the Greenock Arts Guild Theatre’s Christmas panto.

Michael Hughes | Board Member
An experienced corporate and restructuring lawyer, Michael joined our Board in 2019 and has a keen
interest in performing arts and live venues. With over twenty years’ experience in restructuring and turning
around businesses in various sectors, he also has significant experience as a non-executive director of
businesses focusing on rapid change in competitive markets.

Lucy Weir | Board Member

Lucy is Chancellor's Fellow in History of Art at the University of Edinburgh. She was awarded her PhD by the University of Glasgow, and taught at Glasgow School of Art for five years. She specialises in dance and performance studies, with publications including her book, Pina Bausch's Dance Theatre (2018), and an edited collection, Performance in a Pandemic (2021). Lucy maintains a strong interest in the performing arts alongside her academic research, and she is a Visiting Lecturer in Dance at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She joined the Board in 2022

Jim Muotune | Board Member 

Willie Wilson | Board Member 

Willie is the Manager of Branchton Community Centre and has over 30 years’ experience of working at a senior level in the Public Sector and the Third Sector. Willie’s main aim as a Board Member is to make the arts in Inverclyde accessible to all and have the Beacon reach out into local communities. 

Meet the Beacon patrons

Mr & Mrs Aitken, Elizabeth Armour, Gordon Armour, Martin Axford, Neil W Barlow, Ruth E Bennett, Dr & Mrs Ian and Janet Campbell, Elizabeth Dixon, Dr H S Dunsmore OBE, Margaret & Ian Dyer, Kathryn Ellaway, Margaret Harron, Mike Howorth, Raymond Jack, Marie Kean, Jacquie and Duncan MacIntyre, John & Ann MacLeod, Ian F Milne, Mo & Matt Neilson, Geoff & Jackie Orr, Douglas Pilkington, Allan Robertson, Susan Robinson, Murdoch Rodgers, Robert Ross & Victoria Cookson, Mairi Surtees Cameron (Afro Celt Productions), Daniel & Zeinab Temiaka, Richard Wilson, Rosalind & Geoff Woolard, Frances Wrath and three Patrons who wish to remain anonymous.