Our Trustees

As Chief Executive of Liverpool Vision in 2010, Max oversaw Liverpool’s award-winning six-month participation in the World EXPO Shanghai 2010, a six-month global event based around the theme of ‘better city, better life’. Max was awarded the OBE in 1997.  In June 2013 Max was awarded the CBE for services to Business and the Community in the Birthday Honours List.  He was also awarded a Senior Fellowship at Liverpool Hope University in 2011 and a Doctorate at Liverpool University in 2019.  Max was appointed Chair of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation in August 2015, the Chair of the Liverpool Arena and Convention Centre in December 2019 and the Chair of Southport Flower Show in January 2020.  Max was previously on the Board of the Royal Court Theatre and is currently a Trustee of National Museums Liverpool. In March 2020, Max was appointed as Deputy Lieutenant of Merseyside.  Having witnessed at first hand the transformation brought about in Liverpool, particularly utilising culture as a force for positive change, Max was particularly attracted by the hugely transformative potential which the Shakespeare North Project could offer.  Max Steinberg was appointed Chair of Shakespeare North Trust in January 2020 and has been a Trustee since 2016.  He was also Chair of the Development Committee from 2018 -2020.

Saphena is the Director of Inclusion for Curious Minds. Her role is to support colleagues to ensure projects and programmes are proactively inclusive and she works particularly in engaging people of colour as well as contributing to broader inclusion aims. She also works with several organisations including: 

• the Diversity Action Group at the Liverpool Everyman Playhouse Theatres to help take forward the theatres’ commitment to diversity, equality, inclusion, and social justice. 

• Working Class Women in the Arts, where a group of creative working-class women investigate how art/space/class interact to reinforce or subvert dominant values. This group are developing ways to navigate art spaces, and operational ways to make art spaces more accessible to lower class people.  
• Smithdown Social Club, where Saphena is a Cultural Programmer, and her main duty is to create a culturally inclusive arts programme. 

Saphena is also an independent theatre producer mainly working on producing the work of 2 women for HOME and Everyman Theatre and championing the work of Northern Black, Asian and Ethnically diverse creatives. She became trustee of the Shakespeare North Trust in April 2022. 

Chris is a graduate of the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow and having worked in several hotels as a General Manager he changed course to work in destination management in 1999. Initially he worked for five years at The Mersey Partnership as Director of Tourism, Director of Operations and interim Chief Executive before taking the role of Chief Executive at Marketing Cheshire, formerly Visit Chester and Cheshire, in 2004.  He returned to Liverpool in 2013 to establish Marketing Liverpool and to promote the city as a first-class destination for visitors, investors and students. Chris is also responsible with its key partners in promoting the Liverpool brand nationally and internationally.  He is a keen follower of all things Scotland and continues a long-held ambition to finally see the country win something.  He became trustee of the Shakespeare North Trust in May 2020 and serves on our Development Committee as well as supporting the creation of our Marketing & Audience Development Strategy.

Coral is a qualified accountant working in practice specialising in the Not-for-Profit sector, she has 10 years’ experience in the accountancy world from training in AAT at 18 years old, to transitioning to audit to complete her ACCA (chartered certified qualification). At the point of starting a family Coral moved from audit into accounts in practice and has never looked back! Coral enjoys preparing complex charity accounts and advisory pieces for the sector.  Outside of work Coral like to perform in shows, watch shows, or help shows happen, which is why the Shakespeare North Trust won her heart.  She became trustee of the Shakespeare North Trust in May 2021 and serves on our Finance Committee.

Jon has extensive experience at senior levels in cutting-edge digital technologies.  He recently secured £1.2m funding from GCHQ to deliver unique programmes with diverse audiences including cyber apprenticeships for young neuro-diverse individuals, social impact projects centred on sexual health awareness; resilience for young people; tech innovation labs, and a GCHQ Fellowship programme. Jon was Chief Digital Officer for the City of Salford. Prior to this he has had several Director roles including educational establishments – schools, colleges, and universities.  He has been on several boards including Liverpool Vision, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society non-executive director; Liverpool Education Partnership Innovation Board; Liverpool City Region Employment and Skills Board; Teach First Regional Council; Greater Manchester Digital Inclusion Task Force; Greater Manchester Digital Steering Group, Digital Salford skills for schools, Salford Culture and Place Partnership.  He became trustee of the Shakespeare North Trust in April 2022.

Alistair has recently retired after completing 25 years as a daily newspaper editor. He was Editor of the Liverpool Echo and Editor in Chief for Trinity Mirror North-West and North Wales and several other publications prior to this and worked as a journalist in the regions for 41 years. He has been a member of various boards and committees including the Arena and Convention Centre, Independent Press Standards Organisation, Merseyside Crimestoppers, Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, Liverpool Cultural Partnership and Hillsborough Justice Fighting Fund.  He became trustee of the Shakespeare North Trust in April 2022.

Peter is currently an Independent Marketing & Communications Advisor, being the Chair and Trustee of several leading Northwest organisations including Storyhouse Chester, Bluecoat Liverpool, Manchester Literature Festival, Marketing Cheshire (LEP) and Open Eye, Liverpool. He has considerable experience of Board membership, and his former Chair, Trustee and Committee roles are extensive – his summary including 26 organisations.  Peter has an extensive background in marketing and communications and was an Executive Director of Marketing & Communications of Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) for 11 years.  He became trustee of the Shakespeare North Trust in April 2022.

Ian is a town planner and chartered surveyor with a strong commitment to building viable, vibrant, and inclusive places.  During an extensive career, he has contributed to the economic regeneration of Manchester and Liverpool and, established and delivered the UK’s International Business Festival 2014–2018 as Festival Director. Ian is a director of several not-for-profit organisations including the Liverpool Biennial, Liverpool Commercial District BID, and his own consultancy.  He became trustee of the Shakespeare North Trust in May 2020 and serves on our Development Committee as well as supporting the creation of our Marketing & Audience Development Strategy. 

Sue is an experienced HR Professional who has been a Trustee Director with Shakespeare North for two years supporting HR and Leadership Development.  She was most recently HR Director at Kellogg’s where she held several roles including European Talent Director and HR Director for the UK and Ireland Commercial Business.  

Sue lives in Rainhill, Merseyside and is delighted to be supporting the development of Shakespeare North in her local area and beyond.  She was attracted to join the Shakespeare North Trust Board as it is a truly unique and exciting project taking place in her local area. The opportunity to play my part in creating an iconic venue that will provide inclusive and high quality cultural, performance and educational programmes is one she could not resist.  She became trustee of the Shakespeare North Trust in May 2020. 

Sheena is currently the Venue Director at The Factory, Manchester International Festival, having been appointed in 2021. Her role is in the opening and launch of this significant cultural building in 2023.  She previously held the post of Theatre Director for the Palace Theatre & Opera House, Manchester (Ambassadors Theatre Group) for four years. Included in her experience in this role is her establishment of the Palace Theatre & Opera House Trust, launching a community and education programme.  Her background includes several other Executive Director roles including HOME Manchester and the West Yorkshire Playhouse.  She became trustee of the Shakespeare North Trust in April 2022.