Board

Stephanie Allen

Stephanie Allen is an arts management professional, currently in the role of Executive Director for Arts&Heritage, an ACE NPO, and a Board member for Courtyard Theatre, Hereford. She has worked at a large number of cultural organisations including the Southbank Centre, Artsadmin, Sidney Nolan Trust and Creative United and is a former Arts Council England Relationship Manager. Steph worked with Peak as a Nesta-appointed business adviser and then as Interim Creative Director during Rebecca Spooner’s Clore secondment in 2018.

Roles: Chair, Member of Resources sub-group

Expertise: Arts and Business Management, Arts Culture Policy, Fundraising and Development

Liz Buckler

Liz Buckler is our charity’s founder. A qualified teacher, trainer and writer, she continues to support Peak and promote an ethos that prioritises process and reflective thinking. 

Role: Co-opted Founder member 

Expertise: Training and professional development for practitioners, evaluation, interdisciplinary arts for children and young people. 

Catrin Ellis-Jones

Catrin Ellis-Jones works in sustainable energy and management, as Stakeholder Engagement Manager, Communicator, Facilitator for Vattenfall (European Energy Company). She grew up in rural Snowdonia in a multi-lingual household (Welsh father, German mother) and began her career as a professional geologist in South America, moving into stakeholder and community engagement. She has worked with NRW, Welsh Government, Natural England, DEFRA, DECC, several National Parks, as well as for third sector organisations. enabling communities to appropriately influence projects and programmes that affect them. Catrin lives in the Black Mountains and as a parent has direct experience of Peak’s work with young people.

Role: Member of Pegwn 

Expertise: Participatory processes, governance, strategy, communications, Cymraeg 

Melissa Hinkin

Melissa Hinkin is Exhibitions Officer for Artes Mundi, in Cardiff and a freelance producer and curator. She grew up in Powys and has a personal connection to rural mid-Wales. 
Roles: Equalities Champion and Member of the Resources sub-group

Expertise: Art, Curating, Arts Management 

Oliver Fairclough

Oliver Fairclough is a professional curator, Art Historian and retired Keeper of Art for National Museum of Wales. Specialising in ceramics, Oliver’s career has enabled him to work internationally, based in Wales since the 1980s. He continues to be a highly respected figure within the sector and is actively and energetically involved in governance and research, as well as offering support to former colleagues. He is well-networked within the museum, contemporary arts, Welsh government and generous with his time. Oliver moved to Brecon Beacons National Park 17 years ago, where he has been restoring a historic Grade 2* listed farmhouse in a remote Black Mountains valley. He is another keen outdoor enthusiast.

Role: Member of Resources sub-group. 

Expertise: Art, History of Art, History, Arts Management 

Abby Poulson

Abby Poulson is a photographic artist and young curator born and raised in Carmarthenshire, Wales. Employing cameraless techniques, alternative processes, sculpture and installation, her practice often explores the local landscape of her homeland, whilst also responding to environmental concerns, ruralism, heritage, memory and place. Abby is also a recent graduate from Swansea College of Art, where she studied Photography in the Arts. Whilst studying Abby also delivered various curatorial projects which focused on developing networks for emerging artists, both local to Wales and internationally. Since graduating, Abby had a studio in Elysium Gallery, and has just moved to Corris to work for Stiwdio Maelor, whilst growing and navigating her own career. 

Roles: Member of Speak & Pegwn 

Expertise: Young Artists, Cymraeg, Photography

John Wilson Clark

John Wilson Clark is an experienced environmental professional and ecologist, currently working as Lead Specialist Advisor on Terrestrial Ecosystems and Species Team for Natural Resources Wales. His work roles have included Development Director of Hereford Wildlife Trust, and he brings skills in fundraising, public speaking and project management to Peak’s board as well as commitment and expert knowledge of environment, sustainability, nature conservation and Welsh government policy. He is strongly committed to supporting connections between arts and culture with ecology and environment and has experience of effective change management in the statutory and voluntary sector

Role: Member of Resources sub-group 

Expertise: Environmental policy, development, fundraising, marketing