We have Trustee news!

Announcing our new Co-chairs, Nazma Noor, and Lizi Ransome. 

Who are our new Co-Chairs?

Nazma Noor is a Digital Marketing expert who has been working and volunteering in the arts sector since 2017. Formerly the Digital Communications Manager at HOME, she now works at Cog, a digital agency that works with arts organisations nationwide. She co-curated the new South Asia Gallery at Manchester Museum, is a member of the People’s Forum at Factory International and is passionate about championing diverse voices and stories.

Nazma grew up on Old Trafford and still lives in South Manchester. She plays an active role as aunty to her nephews and nieces.

As an existing Trustee, she has seen the importance of Z arts to the local communities in Hulme as a safe space for young people and their families, and really values the unique offering of what we do.

Nazma said, “During my time as a Trustee I’ve seen the amazing work Z-arts does and the impact on the community and wider arts world, I’m so proud to be stepping up as Co-chair of the Board with Lizi and helping the Z-arts team do their best.”

Lizi Ransome is a teacher, Mum, and Co-chair of a youth voice group for MADE (The Creative Influencers.) Lizi’s background is in theatre, where she went to Guildhall School of Music & Drama, a member of the National Youth Theatre for 5 years, taking plays all around the world. She has worked professionally in film, TV, radio, and theatre and LOVES the ARTS!

Lizi said, “The job of Co-chair is to support every single person within the organisation from the CEO to our volunteers. We motivate, inspire, and advise where necessary. We listen to the CEO and board, we are like a sounding board for everything that could arise and are there to give advice and guidance. I pledge that over the next three years, I will give this to you with Nazma. I will support and watch Z-arts flourish in these challenging but exciting times ahead.”

Recently, we were also thrilled to welcome two new members, Emma Kane and Miselo Kunda to our Board.  Emma brings experience in commercial development and fundraising, whilst Miselo was previously Chair of STUN (Sustained Theatre Up North) and will help us strengthen our relationships with the Black community.

We are delighted to have the support of Nazma, Lizi,  Emma, and Miselo and the whole of our Trustee Board.

As part of our announcement, we’re also sharing the success of a pilot programme we led aiming to help trustees from under-represented backgrounds to develop the necessary skills, confidence, and experience to take on leadership roles. 

It was a nine-month chair development programme that supported five trustees from backgrounds currently under-represented at board level to build their readiness to take on the role of chair. Participating trustees identified as members of one or more of the following communities: working class, global majority, young people, care-experienced and LGBTQ+.

You can read more about how our CEO Liz O’Neill brought the pilot scheme to life in the article here on the Arts Professional website.