Sidney Cooper Arts Trust: mission, people and supporters

Sandra has had a 35-year career in the public and private sector specialising in the visitor economy, destination management, heritage and creating and developing public/private sector partnerships. She began her career in local government, then for Tourism South East and then went on to lead the team at Leeds Castle.  After Leeds Castle she led the award-winning destination management organisation Visit Kent; a partnership spanning 200 large businesses and 3000 SMES. She served as a Trustee of The Historic Dockyard Chatham for 10 years, leading on safeguarding, Arts Council projects, tourism and marketing.

She was awarded the MBE in 2015 and an Honorary PhD from Canterbury Christchurch University in 2017. She has experience in oversight and budget build for budgets between £2m and £8m in not for profit and Charity settings, contracting consultancies for marketing, PR, legal, arts, finance (accounting and audit) small scale capital projects. Sandra lives in Canterbury.

Robyn has a 35-year career at a senior level in tourism and leisure communications, marketing management and policy development. She began her career as a journalist with Reed International and The Economist Group before moving into senior marketing roles with British Airways, Cunard Line, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the English Tourist Board. Establishing her own consultancy in destination marketing and leisure planning, she delivered contracts and campaigns for clients such as the Environment Agency and the London Development Agency, and developing particular expertise in accessible tourism with clients such as Visit England and Visit Scotland.

She also worked as a Senior Lecturer in Tourism Marketing at London South Bank University Business School and, following her recent move to Canterbury, was lecturing part time at Canterbury Christ Church University Business School. Robyn is a Trustee of the national charity Tourism for All working to improve accessibility in the tourism and travel industry. 

Alison has had a 30-year career in information management and development. She began her career in children’s libraries, before moving into the private sector to run an information department for a pharmaceutical company and to manage a marketing and PR department for General Electric Capital.

Following the birth of her children she moved out of London to become the Director of St Albans Museums & Galleries where she managed the Verulamium Museum Trust, developed the exhibition strategy and oversaw over 1,000 school visits a year across all 4 sites. She moved on to work in Higher Education as Director of Development first for the University of Hertfordshire and finally for the University of Kent as a senior manager leading on fundraising for the Colyer-Fergusson Concert Hall and organising external events and graduation ceremonies in Kent and world-wide.

She has been responsible for departments of over 30 people, expenditure budgets of £1m and £2m, multi-million fundraising campaigns, and is experienced with data systems and the deployment of market intelligence. Alison lives in Canterbury.

Carole has worked in the public and private sectors and brings skills in social enterprise and marketing. She has experience of setting up and running small businesses involved in hospitality, recruitment, training and careers guidance. Prior to moving to Canterbury, she set up the first Community Interest Company (CIC) in the London Borough of Bromley and for over 15 years has been actively involved in the volunteering, community and social enterprise sectors, including four years as a Trustee with Community Links Bromley.

She is a Trustee of the Canterbury Society, works at the Canterbury Volunteer Centre and takes a strong interest in green issues.