Joanna Baker

Managing Director
Edinburgh International Festival
UK

Joanna Baker has been the Managing Director of the Edinburgh International Festival since 2006. Originally from Cornwall, Joanna started her career at the National Theatre in London and went on to work for Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet and for Welsh National Opera. She is currently Chair of NYCoS (National Youth Choir of Scotland) and a Trustee of the Edinburgh International Culture Summit Foundation and Festivals Edinburgh. Previous board appointments include Queen Margaret University, Scottish Ballet and the Scottish Arts Council (now Creative Scotland).

Joanna has a particular interest in facilitating collaborative and partnership working and over her career has worked to establish partnership organisations in Edinburgh and further afield, including Festivals Edinburgh and The Audience Business (now Culture Republic). She also helped to establish the Edinburgh International Culture Summit and is pleased to be participating again in 2018.

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Joining as a Trustee is Mona Siddiqui, Professor of Islamic and Interreligious Studies and Assistant Principal for Religion and Society at the University of Edinburgh. She is known internationally as a public intellectual and is a regular commentator in the media.

Dan Mulhall will be joining the board as a Trustee. Dan is a retired Irish diplomat, academic and published author. He is the current Parnell Fellow at Magdalene College, University of Cambridge and is a consultant with the global law firm DLA Piper.

Also joining as a Trustee is Professor Gayle McPherson, Professor of Events and Cultural Policy and Director of the Centre for Culture, Sport and Events at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS). She is also a member of the European Cultural Parliament.

Joining us as a Trustee is Stephen Gethins, Professor of International Affairs at the University of St Andrews. Prior to that, Stephen was MP for North East Fife, the SNP International affairs spokesperson and was twice selected to sit on the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.

Joining in the role of Chair is Shonaig Macpherson CBE, an experienced Chair and non-executive director used to working at the most senior levels of government, private, public and third sectors.

If you're interested in attending Edinburgh International Culture Summit 2022 as media, interviews with contributors and ministers, or photo opportunities, please contact Susie Gray at susie@thecornershoppr.com or 07834 073795.

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