Our Governance

Our Governance

OUR GOVERNANCE

Guiding our progress, safeguarding our future

Our executive and management team at the School work closely with the Directors of the St Mary's Music School Trust Ltd to develop the high quality education we provide.

Meetings of the Board of Directors are held regularly and Directors also serve on various committees.
The School's President and Vice-Presidents provide support and guidance to pupils.

Our Board of Directors

FIONA AKERS | CHAIR
After studying law at the University of Edinburgh, Fiona began her legal career at McGrigor Donald before joining Dickson Minto in 1999 as a partner and head of the firm’s Intellectual Property team. She retired from Dickson Minto in April 2020. Throughout her life, Fiona has been, and still is, a keen amateur singer. She has sung with the Edinburgh Festival Chorus, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) Chorus and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra (SCO) Chorus and she also sings with numerous smaller choirs and groups.
THE VERY REVEREND JOHN CONWAY | DIRECTOR

John has been the Provost of St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral since 2017. Previously he was the Rector of St Martin of Tours Episcopal Church in Tynecastle, Edinburgh.

During his 16 years there, he helped to establish the St Martin’s Community Resource Centre in a re-developed building. Alongside that he had two spells as the Coordinator of Initial Ministerial Education in the Diocese of Edinburgh, with responsibility for clergy training, was co-Convenor of the Edinburgh Interfaith Association, and Convenor of the Diocesan Mission and Ministry Committee.

Ken Fairbrother | DIRECTOR

 

ALISTAIR MACKIE | DIRECTOR

Alistair was educated here at St Mary’s Music School as well as at Douglas Academy Music School in Milngavie and the University of Surrey.

After working as a London-based trumpet player, he returned to Scotland in 2019 to take up the position of CEO with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO). As a player, Alistair held principal positions with both the Philharmonia Orchestra and London Sinfonietta, recorded several hundred film and television soundtracks and performed extensively as a chamber musician and soloist.

As a teacher, he served on the staff of the University of Surrey, The Royal College of Music (RCM) and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. He has given masterclasses in the UK, Europe and the USA and, in 2017, was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Music. Alistair has served on the Boards of both London Sinfonietta and the Philharmonia Orchestra, as well as multiple terms as Chair of the Philharmonia Orchestra and an extended period as its interim Managing Director.

JAMIE MUNN | DIRECTOR

Jamie is the Founder Chief Executive of Nevis Ensemble, having previously been General Manager for Live Music Now Scotland (LMNS).

Before returning to Scotland to work for LMNS he spent 10 years working for music organisations in Berlin, Nairobi, Mumbai, Dubai and Hong Kong. As well as sitting on our Board, Jamie sits on the Boards of Drake Music Scotland and SoundWaves - Mendelssohn on Mull.

 JANINE WATSON | DIRECTOR

With over twenty years’ experience in private equity and law, Janine is a dual qualified lawyer and has worked in Singapore, London, New York, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Her interest in music stems from playing the piano and violin and studying at Chetham’s School of Music. In her free time, Janine DJs and is a two-time Scottish Masters Olympic weightlifting champion! Janine also sits on the Boards of the Benedetti Foundation and Smart Works Scotland.

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