Charlie Shiels Chair of Severn Arts Board of Trustees Expand Charlie is a retired Executive with over 20 years of board experience. A long-time Worcestershire resident, Charlie has 20 years board level experience and brings a significant commercial background to the Severn Arts Team. He also has previous experience working with young people through career related projects and is passionate about the arts, culture and music.
Dan Herbert Expand Dan is Director of Education for Birmingham Business School and has overall responsibility for the development of programmes and the delivery of high quality education for all of the School’s students.
Neil Phillips Expand Neil Phillips is a Worcestershire native who now lives in Lincolnshire. He studied Performing Arts at Kidderminster college before moving to London and becoming a professional rock musician; writing, recording and touring all over the world for over 10 years. He has written several songs that appear in films and computer games. In 2005 he moved back to Worcestershire and retrained as a youth worker, going on to work in various roles supporting disadvantaged young people including those at risk of offending and those in the criminal justice system before managing the Worcestershire County Council young carers support service. Neil is now a Programme Manager for the national music charity Young Sounds UK. He oversees a programme called Furthering Talent which provides holistic support for talented young musicians from low-income families. Severn Arts are one of 10 Music Education Hub partners from across England to make up the Furthering Talent family.
Val Yates Expand Val grew up in Merseyside. She studied Biochemistry at the University of Liverpool and then pursued a career in the voluntary sector, first being Manager of Student Community Action, running a range of volunteering projects across the city. For the last 25 years Val has lived in Malvern. During this time, she has worked at the University of Worcester and is now Director of Access and Inclusion. Val is an experienced trustee, having been a member on several boards and chair of the board of trustees at both Summitt House Support – an HIV and AIDS Support Charity and Worcester Community Trust. On a personal level Val has a love for the arts, is an avid theatre goer and has done a few stints behind the scenes for some local amateur dramatic groups. Val has two sons and a passion for the outdoors, particularly wild swimming and running.
Georgia Wells Expand Georgia is a Learning and Engagement Officer at the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, working to deliver music education programmes across Birmingham and the wider West Midlands. At 10, she started learning the violin, and spent her teenage years in orchestras and choirs in the Black Country. As a result, she is deeply passionate about music education and the arts and ensuring that the arts are accessible and inclusive. Georgia now plays violin with Halesowen Orchestra.
Anusha Chandra-Paisley Expand Anusha Chandra-Paisley is a passionate advocate for the arts, with experience in marketing, community engagement, and content creation. She is deeply involved in Birmingham’s creative scene, working as a Trustee for Severn Arts, a Content Creator for Pirate Studios, and a Promoter for Birmingham’s music scene. Through her music blog, Thru Nush’s Lens, she spotlights emerging talent, writes about music trends, and captures live performances. With a strong background in administration and governance, she brings strategic insight, creativity, and a deep commitment to making the arts more accessible and inclusive.
Rob Macpherson Expand Rob runs a consultancy based in Worcestershire supporting mainly arts and education charities with marketing and communications challenges. Recent work has included research, brand development, campaigning, fundraising and events for theatres, orchestras and opera companies, arts centres and concert halls, universities and festivals. He previously worked for Birmingham Hippodrome, Warwick Arts Centre, the CBSO and the LPO. He is a Fellow of the RSA and of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, and a Trustee of Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
Sophie Hutton Expand Sophie grew up in Wolverhampton but moved to Worcestershire for work with a very young family in 2016. Sophie studied law at the University of Liverpool and qualified as a solicitor in 2004. Having spent many years in practice, Sophie has latterly held senior positions in-house as a General Counsel and Company Secretary. An amateur musician and passionate about the arts, Sophie now sings with Worcester Festival Chorus and Opera Worcester. Her two children have both enjoyed the facilities offered by Severn Arts and Sophie is keen to support this very worthy venture to ensure that all young people have the opportunities to access the arts that both she had growing up and her children now benefit from.
Rachel Tucker Expand Rachel grew up in Worcestershire, leaving to read Geography at the University of Liverpool. She went on to enjoy a career as a head hunter, specialising in finding senior leaders for local authorities within children’s and adults services. More recently, she has worked with a range of charitable boards in the appointment of chairs and trustees. An experienced trustee herself, Rachel has been a member of a number of boards, including a Worcestershire charity supporting children and young people and was Chair of Governors for a local primary school. She is closely involved with a local Arts Festival as a trustee and is an enthusiastic, if extremely amateur, musician. Her spare time is also spent as head of transport and lead groupie for her son's various musical ensembles!