People

Karon has been the driving force behind Samling from its inception in 1996, initiating and developing projects, and raising the funding to underpin the charity’s programme. A graduate in English Language and Literature, she has worked as a teacher and a journalist. Music has always played a significant part in her life, particularly singing, together with a commitment to young people and education.

Jane studied Russian and German at the University of Durham and has worked in international sales and marketing roles across a range of sectors in Russia, Chile, Canada and the UK. She has reviewed and written articles for Bachtrack and she runs a classical music events website in Durham. Jane is an enthusiastic choral singer, singing in church and secular choirs since childhood.

Heather trained as an accounts clerk and has been working with Samling part-time as its secretary since 2003. She particularly enjoys the regular contact with our young artists and the varied nature of the work. In her spare time she enjoys playing badminton, walking and gardening.

Sir David Bell is currently Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Sunderland. Sir David was born in Glasgow and educated in his local comprehensive school. He took degrees at the University of Glasgow and obtained his PGCE from Jordanhill College of Education. In a career spanning over 40 years, Sir David has held a number of major posts across the education system. Between 2012 and 2018, he was Vice-Chancellor at the University of Reading. Previously, he was Permanent Secretary at the Department for Education for six years, serving four Secretaries of State and three Prime Ministers. He also served as Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Schools for nearly four years and was Director of Education and Libraries with Newcastle City Council in the 1990s. In 2020, Sir David was made a Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Tyne and Wear and became the non-executive chair of Karbon Homes, a large social housing provider in the North-East of England and Yorkshire. Among other non-executive roles, Sir David is a trustee and advisory board member of the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) and a governor of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC).

Chris became a partner in the independent firm of Chartered Accountants, Ryecroft Glenton, in 1984 where he is Managing Partner. He is a qualified independent financial adviser (IFA). He acts for a number of larger business clients and has particular expertise in advising those in the service sector. Chris is a board member at the Port of Tyne Authority where he is also a member of the Finance Committee and Trustee of the pension fund. He served as a Trustee of the North Shields YMCA and MEA House Trust before becoming a Trustee of Samling.

Audrey is MD of training and HR consultancy firm Macnaughton McGregor Ltd which she established in 2003. Her specialisms in the training and coaching fields are in strategic development, leading change, conflict resolution and personal effectiveness of individuals and teams. She is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and regularly mentors HR and training managers at the start of their careers. She has two boys and enjoys watches them play cricket for their local team, where she is an active committee member and scorer for the junior team.

John is a retired solicitor who worked for many years as partner at Bond Dickinson. He is Vice Chairman of Institute for Turnaround, the leading professional body for accredited experts who drive step change in organisations of all types. His portfolio includes a number of non-executive directorships and trusteeships, including the Beamish Museum.

Tony came to Newcastle University and completed a BSC and then a PhD in engineering. This was followed by five years as a lecturer at Edinburgh University. He then returned to Newcastle University and became an owner-director of SMD and helped to develop the business for 18 years. He then established The Engineering Business and eventually sold it to IHC Merwede, a Dutch shipbuilder, in 2008. In 2010 Tony established OSBIT Power with two colleagues and is building this business with a team of gifted engineers. Tony was David Goldman Visiting Professor at Newcastle University 2008-2010 and was awarded an Honorary Degree in Civil Law from Northumbria University in 2008. He was NE Business Executive of the year 2008. Tony is a Deputy Lieutenant of Northumberland and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Rupert Tyler graduated with a degree in Classics and Modern Languages before embarking on a career with one of the UK’s leading Wealth Managers. He held a wide variety of positions including Head of Charities, Head of Regional Directors, and Head of the London Office. He was also the driving force in the organisation’s ESG and CSR strategies. He was Chair of the Finance Committee at Ravensbourne (College of Design and Communication) where he helped oversee the ground-breaking new campus on the Greenwich Peninsula as the institution gained University status. He is currently Chair of the Jerwood Foundation, The Garden Museum and The National Garden Scheme.

George is a Durham University graduate and now works as a management consultant. His real passion is music and he has enjoyed performing in concerts and student productions at Durham, as well as working on the stage management at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma during his year abroad. He got to know Samling as a participant on the Academy programme in 2019, a true highlight of his time at university. He is delighted to be on the board of trustees and looks forward to supporting the organisation’s continued success, in particular by championing opera among young people.