Our Team
Meet the people working to support, connect and champion theatre and dance across Northern Ireland.
Meet the team
Strategic Leadership and Governance
TDNI is supported by a committed Board of Directors who provide governance, strategic oversight and guidance to help shape the organisation’s future.
Louise Rossington
Chair
Learn More About Louise Rossington
Louise Rossington is Chair of the Board of Theatre and Dance NI and brings a wealth of leadership experience spanning the arts, business and community sectors.
With nearly two decades of experience in the arts sector, Louise later returned to her original field of training and established her own successful agricultural business in Ballycastle, which has now been operating for almost ten years.
Throughout her career, she has developed extensive expertise in business management, including finance, strategic planning, logistics, policy development and governance. This broad experience supports her leadership role at Theatre and Dance NI and her commitment to strong organisational stewardship.
Louise is also Chair of Governors at Mill Strand Integrated Primary School in Portrush, reflecting her ongoing dedication to community engagement and education.
Outside of work, she enjoys gardening, travelling, reading and caring for a collection of rescued dogs and cats.
Evin Conway
Board Director
Learn More About Evin Conway
Evin Conway is an experienced executive and board director with over 20 years of leadership experience across the corporate and non-profit sectors. Currently Customer Experience Leader at CSG, Evin specialises in strategy, governance, and innovation, helping global organisations deliver meaningful, people-centred transformation.
Evin also serves on the boards of Progressive Credit Union and Early Onset Parkinson’s Disease (EOPD), contributing to strategic planning, advocacy, and governance. The work supports community impact through initiatives in board excellence, membership growth, and partnership development with leading research institutions.
Evin is passionate about inclusion, collaboration, and creative leadership, values that strongly align with TDNI’s mission to nurture, connect, and champion the theatre and dance community across Northern Ireland.
Lauren Lamberton
Board Director
Learn More About Lauren Lamberton
Lauren Lamberton is a qualified child therapist and social worker with extensive experience across mental health services for children, young people, families, and care leavers. Lauren is currently a Senior Manager in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services at the Belfast Trust and lectures in Psychology, Social Work, and Play Therapy with the Open University and Chichester University.
In addition, Lauren is a Board Member of Waymaker CIC, a former Governor of a Belfast Special School, and delivers specialist training for Play Therapy UK. Lauren has also led community and youth initiatives, including the Youth Philanthropy Project, and founded a charity supporting children’s education in South America.
Holding a Master’s in Public Administration from Ulster University and completing a PhD at the University of Edinburgh, Lauren brings deep expertise in governance, strategy, and advocacy. A passionate supporter of the arts and mental wellbeing, Lauren believes strongly in the role of theatre and dance in building confidence, connection, and creativity for young people and communities alike.
Tyler Gilmore
Board Director
Learn More About Tyler Gilmore
Tyler Gilmore is an emerging arts leader with experience in amateur theatre, music education, governance, and strategic development across the cultural and education sectors in Northern Ireland. He currently serves on the Board of Mallusk Integrated Primary School, contributing to strategic decision‑making, policy development, and financial oversight.
With a professional background as a peripatetic music teacher and as a member of the Advisory Board of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), Tyler has developed a strong commitment to the long‑term sustainability and accessibility of the arts. At ABRSM, he advocates for emerging and independent artists and provides insight on accessibility and inclusivity across its learning programmes. His wider arts experience has strengthened his understanding of the creative, operational, and accessibility challenges faced by artists, performers, and organisations.
Tyler brings growing expertise in organisational policy development, governance, regulation, and compliance, supported by his ongoing final year as a law degree at Queen’s University Belfast. He has drafted a range of organisational policies and led the development of a Code of Conduct and corporate values that helped transform a previously challenging workplace culture into a more inclusive and effective environment.
His strategic skill set includes project management, market analysis, and fundraising development. Passionate about inclusive practice, Tyler is committed to disability‑ and neurodivergent‑friendly approaches in both learning and workplace settings. His experience adapting teaching methods for neurodivergent learners is supported by relevant training and a strong belief in accessible, person‑centred programme design.
Tyler offers a fresh generational perspective, a strong grounding in governance, and a commitment to supporting sustainable growth across the arts. He is particularly motivated by opportunities to strengthen organisational policies, accessibility, expand partnerships, and contribute to long‑term strategic planning with TDNI.
Dr Alan Kennedy
Board Director
Learn More About Dr Alan Kennedy
Dr Alan Kennedy‑Asser is a climate scientist and Senior Research Associate at the University of Bristol, specialising in climate change, climate impacts, and risk assessment. His work combines advanced quantitative analysis with interdisciplinary, community‑focused approaches to understanding climate risk, bridging scientific evidence, policy needs, and public engagement.
Alan has a strong portfolio of skills in data‑driven decision‑making, risk analysis, and strategic thinking, developed through leading research on climate and environmental change across the UK and internationally and a strong record and experience of working with government bodies, third‑sector organisations, and regional stakeholders and supporting evidence‑based governance. He brings project leadership, partnership development, and resource management skills to TDNI. His work with the National Trust, Climate Northern Ireland, and the UK Climate Resilience Programme reflects his capacity to collaborate across sectors and translate research into practical, actionable insights. Alan is widely published in leading journals and is a contributing author to the 2024 volume Quantifying Climate Risk and Building Resilience in the UK. He has presented at major international conferences and currently serves on the steering group for the Climate Change Committee’s UK Urban Heat report, bringing expertise in policy engagement, strategic foresight, and national‑level climate risk governance.
Alan also brings strong advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and community participation skills to TDNI having led arts‑based climate storytelling projects, curated exhibitions, and delivered climate‑themed walking tours and workshops.
He holds a PhD and MSci in Geographical Sciences from the University of Bristol and guest lectures at Queen’s University Belfast.
Lucy Walton
Board Director
Learn More About Lucy Walton
Lucy is an experienced creative learning and theatre practitioner currently working at the Grand Opera House Belfast, planning, and delivering large scale creative learning programmes, festivals, and youth productions in collaboration with artists, young people, schools, and community partners. Her work is grounded in inclusive working, with experience developing accessible and d/Deaf led programmes.
Alongside her professional role, Lucy is Co-Creative Director of a volunteer led production company (Patchwork Productions) dedicated to nurturing emerging artists and new writing in Belfast. Through this work, she has programmed and delivered scratch nights, supported early career artists, and taken on roles including director and production manager.
Lucy brings a deep commitment to arts education, youth engagement, access, and lifelong learning through the arts with hands on experience across both educational and cultural settings in both urban and regional locations, alongside a robust understanding of youth arts, community engagement, and audience development.
Lucy holds a First-Class Honours BA in Drama from Queen’s University Belfast.
Work With Us
Interested in joining our board or supporting Theatre and Dance NI through partnership or volunteering opportunities?