Guidance

UK City of Culture 2029: Expert advisory panel

Published 10 April 2026

UK City of Culture

UK City of Culture is a UK-wide programme, developed in collaboration with the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The competition is run by the Department for Culture and Sport (DCMS), inviting places across the UK to set out their vision for culture-led regeneration and takes place every four years.The 2029 UK City of Culture competition follows the success of previous winning places: Bradford 2025, Coventry 2021, Hull 2017 and Derry-Londonderry 2013.

Role of the expert advisory panel

The purpose of the expert advisory panel is to assess the UK City of Culture 2029 expression of interest and full bids against the published criteria, and provide independent expertise and objective advice to DCMS ministers at both the long and shortlist stages. In convening this panel the intention is to benefit from a wide range of experience across the UK in investing in culture to achieve multiple cultural, social and economic outcomes. This will ensure the most successful UK City of Culture 2029 and provide support and constructive feedback to all bidders for the title. The panel will also undertake visits to successful shortlisted places in 2026 and act as a critical friend to the winning place.

Sir Phil Redmond CBE (Chair)

Sir Phil Redmond CBE is the creator of drama series including Grange Hill, Brookside and Hollyoaks, and an ambassador for culture and the creative industries. When Liverpool was named European Capital of Culture 2008, Phil promoted the year-long event across the UK and internationally. Phil became Deputy Chair of the Liverpool Culture Company Board in 2007 and also Creative Director. Following European Capital of Culture, Phil became Chair of National Museums Liverpool, establishing the Institute of Cultural Capital. The UK City of Culture programme was directly inspired and driven by him during his term as Creative Director of Liverpool European Capital of Culture in 2008.

Claire McColgan CBE (Deputy Chair)

Claire McColgan CBE is a cultural leader with over 30 years’ experience delivering culture-led regeneration across local and national government. As Director of Culture, Visitor Economy and Major Events for Liverpool and the wider region, she has produced events including Liverpool 2008, Eurovision 2023, and the UK COVID-19 reopening programme. She has also led bids for and delivered UNESCO City of Music and the UN Accelerator City Programme. Claire serves as a Non Executive Director at Carnegie UK and Visit Isle of Man, and has been recognised with an MBE, CBE, and honorary awards from LJMU and Edge Hill University for outstanding service to culture and the City of Liverpool.

Roberta Doyle (representative for Scotland)

Roberta Doyle is a senior UK culture and arts industry figure and a graduate in Business Administration. She has held director-level roles within Scotland’s largest cultural organisations including the National Theatre of Scotland, Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet and the National Galleries of Scotland. Roberta has high-level governance experience on boards including Scottish Opera, The Tron Theatre Glasgow, where she is Chair, Glasgow School of Art, The Donald Dewar Arts Awards and the National Autistic Society. She has lectured and tutored on arts management courses including the TMA (UK Theatre) and Theatre Forum Ireland Essentials of Arts Marketing courses. Roberta is also a Justice of the Peace in the Sheriffdom of Glasgow and Strathkelvin.

Dr Sarah Green OBE

Dr Sarah Green OBE has 30 years’ experience in placemaking. As Chief Executive of the NewcastleGateshead Initiative, Sarah leads destination marketing and investment activity for Newcastle and Gateshead. Having qualified as a lawyer, Sarah developed a career in economic development as Director of Regions and Nations at the CBI. Sarah has a MSc in Urban Regeneration, a MBA and a doctorate which considers how to animate communities. Sarah was awarded an OBE in 2025 for her contribution to the visitor economy, sits on the government’s Visitor Economy Advisory Council and the Visit England Advisory Board. Sarah also chairs the Employee Owned Trust of Ryder Architecture, is an elected member of the National Trust Council and a board member of North East Museums.

Shona McCarthy (representative for Northern Ireland)

Shona McCarthy has 35 years’ experience of leading inclusive cultural events. She led the delivery of the inaugural UK City of Culture, Derry-Londonderry 2013. She was CEO of the charity behind the Edinburgh Fringe, the world’s biggest performing arts festival, leading it through a decade of upheaval. She was Chief of Imagine Belfast, bidding to be European Capital of Culture. She talks publicly and passionately about the LegendDerry experience of 2013, and the success of Belfast’s unsuccessful bid. Shona brings firsthand experience of the challenges and opportunity of culturally-driven social and economic advancement, and champions strategic investment in the arts. She is the first woman to Chair the International Fund for Ireland, supporting 40 years of peace-building initiatives on the island of Ireland.

Jonothan Neelands

Jonothan Neelands is Professor of Creative Education at Warwick Business School, University of Warwick, and Academic Director for Cultural Partnerships. He is a leading authority on cultural policy, major events and place-based cultural development, with a focus on how culture can strengthen communities, civic pride and local economies. Jonothan advises cities, cultural organisations and government on the long-term value of cultural investment and major cultural programmes. He contributed to Creating the Golden Thread: An Ambition for Major Events in the UK and leads research on the Joint Cultural Needs Assessment (JCNA), helping places use evidence and data to shape effective cultural strategy.

Devinda De Silva (representative for Wales)

Devinda De Silva has over 20 years’ experience within the field of participatory arts and social change and has worked in partnership with communities across Wales, the UK and internationally. He was a founding member of National Theatre Wales. As their Director of Collaboration for over ten years, he oversaw the creation and development of their engagement work.He recently co-chaired the Welsh Government’s Priorities for Culture and was a Council member at Arts Council Wales, chairing their Equalities Committee.

Moira Sinclair OBE (representative for England)

Moira Sinclair OBE is an experienced leader in funding, policy, and delivery across the arts, cultural, and charity sectors. Her current work includes consultancy and coaching, focused on building organisational capacity and supporting leaders. She chairs Clore Leadership, Factory International in Manchester, and the Investment Committee for the Arts & Culture Impact Fund. In 2025, she stepped down as Chief Executive of Paul Hamlyn Foundation after ten years, following roles at Arts Council England and as Chair of the London Mayor’s Cultural Strategy Group. Her background includes leading an arts and health charity, working in local government and theatre management. She is a graduate of Manchester University, a Clore Fellow and received an OBE in 2020 for her contributions to arts and charity.

Trenton Tomlinson

Trenton Tomlinson is Label Operations Manager at Universal Music Recordings (UMR), Universal Music UK’s catalogue label, where he leads the delivery of catalogue releases and creative campaigns. He has championed projects that bring historic music back into cultural circulation, including creating UMR’s Black Story initiative celebrating the legacy of Black UK music through curated releases and vinyl pressings. He oversees major campaigns such as Record Store Day and National Album Day, working with artists including Elton John and the Spice Girls. Trenton is Chair of UMG’s Pride Network, serves on the BPI’s Equity & Justice Advisory Group, and is part of the Stonewall LGBTQ+ Leadership Programme.

Megan Wastell

Megan Wastell is a creative and innovation leader with a 20-year record of turning new ideas into cultural formats and audience experiences across media and entertainment. She most recently served as SVP and Global Creative Director at Merlin Entertainments, shaping creative strategy across more than 140 attractions around the world. Earlier in Megan’s career she held senior roles at some of the UK’s largest media brands. She built Global’s podcast studio from the ground up, directed creative strategy for Sky’s in-house agency, and launched digital brands that evolved into multi-platform IP. Megan joins the panel bringing expertise in audience engagement, creative development and the commercial power of cultural storytelling.

Claire Whitaker CBE

Claire Whitaker CBE has over 25 years’ experience as a CEO and Non-Executive Director across culture, health, education and housing. She has played an active role in policy-making within culture, placemaking and civil society. As a cultural producer, she combines creative vision with expertise in strategy, governance, and entrepreneurship. Throughout her career, Claire has been an advocate for equity, diversity, inclusion, driven by a belief in the power of culture to transform society. Claire was an owner and director of international live music producers Serious, producing events across the UK and internationally; more recently she led Southampton’s shortlisted bid to be UK City of Culture 2025.