Business First May-June 2017 Business First May 2017 | Page 62

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY Is it time for you to get on board? A rts & Business NI bring together the worlds of culture and commerce for mutual benefit. We are currently recruiting for the Professional Development Programme which has two initiatives: Board Bank and Young Professionals on Arts Boards. The programme places business executives and young professionals (21­30 years) from the world of commerce onto the boards of cultural organisations. This has many benefits for both the business person and the arts organisation. The arts organisations gain specialist skills from the board member and the business professional gains an opportunity to develop their skills in a new and very different environment. Jacinta Parkhill, Director, Morrow Communications shares her experiences of participating on A&B NI’s Professional Development Programme and how it has helped shape and support in her career progression. What board(s) do you currently sit on? I am a director and trustee of Audiences NI, a charity that helps arts, culture and heritage organisations to develop their audiences. I joined the Audiences NI board through the Arts & Business NI Board Bank programme in 2015. I am also a board director at Morrow Communications where I work as part of a team of integrated communications specialists delivering marketing, PR, design, digital, advertising, video production and events to a wide range of clients across the UK and Ireland. What motivated you to join a board? I joined the board of Audiences NI two years ago. I was interested in joining a board to further my professional development and a friend recommended that I get in touch with Arts & Business NI to find out about its Board Bank programme. I’ve always had an interest in the arts and come from a musical family – a talent that sadly passed me by – so I felt the Board Bank programme was the perfect fit as I could further develop my leadership skills while contributing to the arts sector. How do you think this experience has helped you professionally? The Arts & Business NI Board Bank programme gave me the opportunity to gain valuable experience as a director on a professional and skilled board. Joining the board of Audiences NI allowed me to further develop leadership skills, hone my knowledge 60 www.businessfirstonline.co.uk and experience of good governance and work with an inspiring group of leaders from across different sectors. I was able to bring this experience to my role as a board director at Morrow Communications, where I head up the business’s creative services team and advise clients on brand and corporate communications strategy. What have you personally got from the experience? Audiences NI is a forward­thinking, ambitious organisation with a great team who are passionate about the arts. It’s a privilege to work with Audiences NI and I get a great sense of satisfaction from being able to contribute to an organisation that is focused on increasing access to the arts as a means of enhancing lives, communities and society. How did the A&B NI board matching programmes help you? The Board Bank programme is a great way for young professionals and those seeking learning and development opportunities to gain leadership experience at board level, while contributing to the arts sector. The experience I have gained as a board member of Audiences NI has been invaluable and I would highly recommend the Arts & Business NI board matching programmes. Arts & Business NI is also seeking to recruit new Directors to our Board as a number of current Directors are coming to the end of their term. Suitable candidates will have experience and skills in one or more of the following areas: cultural leadership, finance and legal. We would also be interested in experienced entrepreneurial individuals with a wide private sector business network and young professionals. These positions are placed on a rolling basis and interested parties will be held on file for consideration. Registration now open for A&B NI’s Professional Development Programme for both Board Bank and Young Professionals on Arts Boards. To find out how to get involved in joining a board of a local cultural organisation or join the board of Arts & Business NI please contact Arts & Business NI, T: 028 9073 5150 or visit www.ArtsandBusinessNI.org.uk to find out more.