Our People

Governance

We have up to 16 Board members including four elected members from Aberdeen City Council and an employee Director.  Board members work together to set overall direction,  ensure good governance and they are ambassadors for Aberdeen Performing Arts

Craig Pike – Chair

Aberdeen Performing Arts Chairman. Lawyer specialising in Private Client work and is a Partner with Ledingham Chalmers LLP. A Director and performer with local theatre groups, producing shows at His Majesty’s Theatre, ACT Aberdeen, and the Tivoli, as well as a performer and member of comedy group ‘The Flying Pigs’ having produced work for stage, radio and TV. Formerly Vice Chair of Castlegate Arts Limited, which operates ACT Aberdeen. Holds an LL.B. (With Options in Management Studies), a Diploma in Personnel Management and Diploma in Legal Practice. Craig is Clerk & Assessor to the Seven Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen, continuing an unbroken line of lawyers from his firm, going back to 1888. With a keen interest in the well-being of older people in our community, Craig is a Trustee of Northcote Lodge Care Home, in Aberdeen and is also on the local Steering Group for Alzheimer Scotland.

Dr Duncan Cockburn

Azzrai Effendi

Azraai is currently the Head of Financial Governance at the Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED). As a trained petroleum economist, he has skills in data analytics, data gathering and data management. His qualifications have been achieved in the US, Malaysia and in the UK.   He has a passion for the performing arts, enjoys going to the theatre and the orchestra in particular, and has lived in Aberdeen now for over 10 years.

Councillor Lee Fairfull

Lee is an Aberdeen City Councillor for the Torry/Ferryhill ward having been elected in May 2022.  Lee grew up in Aberdeenshire where she was passionate about acting and performance at school, studying drama and media at higher level and regularly attending shows at The Lemon Tree, His Majesty’s Theatre and The Music Hall.  She went on to attend Edinburgh Napier University, where she graduated with a Law Degree in 2016, before getting into the world of politics and joining the office of Stephen Flynn MP as a Parliamentary Assistant in 2020 and standing for election herself in 2022.  Outside of politics, Lee enjoys spending time with her young nieces and nephews and family dog, Piper.  Lee also has a keen interest in Scottish history, having worked as a Tour Guide for the National Trust for Scotland for a number of years.  Lee’s passion for both theatre and music very much remains, as she continues to regularly attend shows across our Aberdeen venues.

Margaret Gibson

Margaret was until July 2020 a partner at Burness Paull. Specialising in Employment Law she acted for many of Aberdeen’s leading oil and gas companies but also for a number of Aberdeen’s third sector organisations.  Margaret acted for Voluntary Service Aberdeen for many years and has since retirement joined their Board.  Margaret also sits on the Board of Archway, a local charity providing permanent and respite care for adults and young people with varying needs.

Margaret’s connections with Aberdeen Performing Arts began during her time as a Burness Paull partner as she provided advice and guidance to the Company, working closely with Jane Spiers in recent years.  Margaret was brought up in Aberdeen and returned to the city from Edinburgh in 1990.  Passionate about the city and its culture, Margaret enjoys going to a range of theatrical, musical and artistic events as well as making her own music playing her clarinet.  When not involved in cultural activities Margaret is likely to be found either in the mountains or on the sea.

Councillor Dell Henrickson

Dell is an Aberdeen City Councillor for George Street/Harbour and was elected for a second term in June 2022.  Dell attended Aberdeen University and graduated with a degree in Geology in 1982. He then spent nine years serving in the RAF as an imagery analyst, during which time he was involved with RAF theatre groups and was a member of RAFTA (Royal Air Force Theatre Association).  While spending 20 years working in the middle east, he was an active member of the local drama scene in many different roles. Dell has a long standing interest in the performing arts with a wide range in tastes, and attends as many performances as possible.

Councillor Martin Greig

Martin has been an elected member of Aberdeen City Council since 2003.  He has occupied many roles and functions and is currently Chair of the Education Committee and Council spokesperson on culture.

Nikki Morris-Laing

A Bachelor of Arts and a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Nikki has 17+ years of project and people management experience, 10+ years of experience in a senior marketing role (including both client and agency side) and 10+ years’ experience in tourism/hospitality marketing.

With a background in Media, Nikki managed community radio stations across Scotland and moved to Aberdeen in 2008 to manage local community radio station, shmuFM. For the following 7 years, Nikki led on consumer marketing for Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire’s tourism industry as the Head of Marketing for the regions Destination Marketing Organisation, VisitAberdeenshire. Nikki is currently Head of Digital Marketing & Growth UK for Dish Cult, the diner facing brand of ResDiary.

Nikki is a passionate ambassador for the arts and enjoys attending a variety of events at the city’s cultural venues. She also enjoys being a local food blogger and is a keen supporter of ‘eat local’ so can often be found dining out in one of Aberdeen’s many independent foodie spots.

Watson Mutch

Watson is a Chartered Accountant. He currently works part time as Partnership Accountant with a long established firm of solicitors in Aberdeen. Prior to this he was Finance Director and Company Secretary for a local newspaper publisher for a number of years.  He takes an active interest in his former employer’s pension fund where he is Trustee Director.

Councillor Jennifer Stewart