Stephen Barker, CEO

Originally from Coventry, Stephen has held several senior marketing roles at Nottingham City Council. More recently, he was Director of Communications & Government Relations for the Midlands Engine, which was established to bring together LEPs, local authorities, businesses, academic institutions and others into a voluntary, partnership to drive growth across the Midlands.

Stephen is now responsible for building on the high profile that the Creative Quarter has achieved over the last four years and developing it in line with a vision for it to become a destination of first choice for students, businesses, investors and the local and visiting public.

Lucy Alderson, Property Manager - Sneinton Market

Lucy takes care of everything around the Sneinton Market units and the tenants. She keeps this place in tip top shape, to ensure a happy and safe work environment for all the digital and creative businesses that have made this place their home. She helps businesses who come in and are looking for somewhere to house their business. Lucy has 2 little boys who she takes to football clubs and piano lessons, so she's a busy lady inside and outside the office! Lucy also makes cozy woolly hats, so she's got a crafty streak too! Email: cqproperty@creativequarter.com

Catherine Mayhew - Director of Programmes & Operation

Catherine joined the CQ in February 2018 as Director of Programmes & Operations with responsibility for the delivery of The Big House, ChalleNGe and other projects.  She was previously employed as City Centre Coordinator at Nottingham City Council, and has a background in the public, private and voluntary sectors, having worked as a planner, a regeneration consultant and for an environmental charity.  She also worked in Uganda for 2 ½ years as Head of Town Planning for Iganga Town Council. Catherine loves watching arty films at Broadway, trying out all the new food and drink venues in the CQ and cycling adventures across Europe and beyond.

Insan Farooqi - Business Engagement Manager 

Insan joined us from Yorkshire, where he worked in business development and support for many years in the creative and digital sectors.  He also ran his own digital marketing business.  He’s highly experienced in delivering business support contracts and working with start-ups and SMEs. This includes offering support, guidance and coaching, scoping business plans and assisting with developing new strategies for business growth.

 After studying computer science, Insan began his career as a software programmer and then worked for many years in software R & D, product development, operations and project management.

 Insan is a whizz at Excel spreadsheets and reports and is masterminding the company’s new project CRM system.  In his spare time, he shows his creative side through taking arty photographs and painting.  He also takes personal responsibility for keeping the office fruit bowl fully stocked!

Di Tunney Communications, Media and PR Manager

Di graduated from U.W.I.S.T. and started her career with Unilever at Port Sunlight as a Management Trainee. From here she went on to work for Thomas Cook HQ in Peterborough as a Market Analyst and Allied Domecq as Marketing Manager for some of their major beers brands before starting her own Marketing and Market Research Agency based in the Centre of Nottingham. In 2000, Di set up The Best Organisation a consultancy specialising in customer and employee Language & Behaviour and offering training and coaching to a wide range of organisations for SMEs to Blue Chip companies.  Di joined the Creative Quarter in May 2017 and is responsible for ensuring that the CQ as a whole maintains a high profile and that its many independent creative and digital businesses are supported to grow and flourish! Di is a lover of live music, a keen theatre and film goer and enjoys eating out at the city’s wide range of great restaurants! Email: di@creativequarter.com

Alexandra Simion - Creative Industries Project Assistant

Alexandra came to Nottingham in 2011 to pursue an education at the University in Nottingham and she has lived here ever since she returned from her year abroad on an Erasmus scholarship to Sciences Po Paris. Having obtained her Master's in International Relations from University of Nottingham in 2015, Alexandra moved on to get some professional experience by working in the student recruitment business while pursuing her language aspirations through learning the Arabic language. 

At the same time, Alexandra tried to expand her professional horizons through working with the Youth Cabinet at the Nottingham City Council and developing a research paper in support of a participation and engagement model trialed in Nottingham. 

She's always been drawn to the creative side of business, which ultimately drove her towards the Creative Quarter. Alexandra sees the atmosphere created by CQ as a real opportunity to increase business for the city as well as making it a creative destination across the country and Alexandra is glad she can be part of the process. Having joined in November 2017, she quickly became one with the team. 

In her free time Alexandra likes to stay busy with learning Arabic, getting involved in the community through JCI Nottingham, a non-profit organisation, and stay up to date with cultural trends. She is passionate about theatre, art and literature and is constantly working towards developing her skills. 

Lauren Lynch, Marketing & Events Assistant

Lauren studied towards gaining her qualifications in Art and Design, Drama and Fashion and Design as she has a great interest in the creative subjects. After leaving school she went on to further her knowledge in Performing Arts, studying Acting at NCN Clarendon college for 3 years. Also while studying at college she attended The Nottingham Youth Theatre. After leaving college she went on to work with Nottingham City Council in the Short Breaks Team as a Link Worker, working alongside children with learning disabilities. Lauren did this while also working in retail to gain experience in different work environments. She then went back to her Fashion roots by working as a Cutting Room Assistant making luxurious dressing gowns for The Daniel Hanson Partnership. After that Lauren then went on to a different career path, expanding her horizons within the Marketing industry working on social media projects, She then joined the CQ in August 2016 as the Marketing and Events Assistant. She has gained her level 3 Digital Marketing qualification with 3aaa and is working on getting her level4! In 2017, Lauren made it as a finalist for Apprentice of The Year and got the Highly Commended Award at the Young Creative Awards for the photography category. 
Email: lauren@creativequarter.com

Tamily Cookson - Events Manager

Tamily is a recent addition to CQ & The Big House as one of two new Event Managers. She has been organising events since she graduated from the University of Gloucestershire in 1999. The majority of her work has been in the not-for-profit, education sector; Primary Language shows to Alumni Relations Institutes. Tamily has also had loads of experience working in the hospitality and tourism sectors over the years, organising & producing events across most of the UK as well as being lucky enough to travel all over the world for work including Australia, Malaysia, France, Italy & Germany. As a single mum to one, Tamily has planted her feet firmly back in Nottingham for the last eight years working for Nottingham Contemporary as well as starting up her own freelance events company. 

Christina Bentley - Events Manager

Christina is a creative Event Manager and Graduate in Graphic Design from Nottingham Trent University, with 5 years experience in event promotion, production and venue management. Currently freelancing as a graphic designer, creative director, and events manager, she hosts her own events up and down the country, as well as joining leading Festival production teams over the Summer each year. She joined us at CQ and The Big House in March 2018, and is part of the Events Management team ensuring the delivery of our programme of networking and pop-up events, with a mission to engage and inspire other creative business owners and freelancers! 

Cathy Mahmood Creative Nottingham North Coordinator

Cathy’s first job in the arts was working for Birmingham City Council as the Administrator for a £1.7m new work festival to celebrate the turn of the millennium.

She then took up the post of General Manager for New Perspectives Theatre Company; at that time delivering participatory arts projects in Nottinghamshire and Northamptonshire as well as producing and touring three new productions a year.  Managing the Old Library in Mansfield as a venue for exhibitions, workshops and performances she was surrounded by wonderful artists, actors, designers and directors who all believed in the power of art to transform lives and engage communities.

Cathy’s six years with New Perspectives were followed by a unique post within NHS Nottinghamshire – advocating for the role of the arts to improve health environments; to engage public, staff and patients through creative consultation and to work alongside the architectural design teams for new NHS buildings. She led the recruitment for a Lead Artist for Bulwell’s new £22m Joint Service Centre and gained funding for two artists residencies for local health centres in the county.

Cathy has worked as a freelance arts coordinator for the last 5 years – in arts and health as well as youth and community settings.  Most recently she has been working at The Greenway Centre in Sneinton as their Youth Arts Coordinator and developing her Graphic Design portfolio.

Email: cathy.mahmood@rebalancingouterestates.com