Board Member (2018 – 2020), Vice-Chair (2020 – 2022) and Chair (2022 – 2024) of the Independent Theatre Council (ITC).

ITC is the management association and membership body representing UK’s independent arts sector. From drama and dance, to circus and puppetry, ITC represents over 450 cultural organisations and independent producers.

As a management association, ITC supports venues, companies and producers in operating effectively by providing management advice, best practice guidance and standard contracts negotiated with industry trade unions such as Equity, the Writers Guild of Great Britain and Bectu. They advocate for fair practices, uphold ethical standards and promote professional development, ensuring that managers in the sector can thrive.

As a membership body, ITC provides members with a range of resources, such as legal advice, networking opportunities, training and advocacy. Members benefit from collective representation, standardised industry guidelines and professional development opportunities.

My role as Chair involved leading the board as we set about supporting ITC’s overall strategy, training programmes and lobbying activities. I set agendas and facilitated quarterly board meetings, held overall responsibility for the organisation’s financial planning and reporting, spoke publicly and advocated on behalf of ITC at industry events, facilitated conversations with industry peers and stakeholders, and supported the CEO during contract and fee negotiations with industry unions and funders.

Charlotte Jones
Chief Executive of the Independent Theatre Council  (ITC)

Gareth was an effective and supportive Chair of ITC from 2022- 2024. He brought to the role great emotional intelligence, the ability to ask insightful and strategic questions and a strong understanding of the independent theatre sector.

As Vice-Chair (2020 – 2022) he helped see us through the challenging times of the pandemic, supporting our Chair and whole staff team. Gareth’s personal skills and integrity make him an excellent person to have in your corner when times are hard.

His gentle leadership, strength of character and patience are a great asset to the governance of a small organisation trying to punch above its weight and manage a range of demands. His dedication to the role, discretion and reliability rendered him very trustworthy. Alongside all of this he is an inspirational artist.

Ria Parry
Director of The North Wall; Current Co-Chair of the Independent Theatre Council  (ITC)

As Vice-Chair of the Independent Theatre Council when Gareth was ITC’s Chair, it was my privilege to watch him work with the organisation’s board and staff team, and to learn and benefit from his intelligence, care and commitment.

Gareth responds to situations and conversations with huge emotional intelligence and sensitivity, but also with an invaluable interrogative eye. He is not afraid to speak his mind, to say what is needed, but he simultaneously provides and sets up a supportive environment, encouraging those around him to always be open, generous and inquisitive.

Gareth is an excellent communicator and a skilled facilitator, and an asset to any board or creative project.

Philippa Cross
Executive Director of Talking Birds; Previous board member of the Independent Theatre Council  (ITC)

I have worked with Gareth in a number of ways, over more than ten years, most closely as a fellow board member of the Independent Theatre Council. At ITC I greatly valued his careful, caring and inclusive facilitation and leadership as Chair, which made sure everyone’s views were heard, important issues were prioritised, and informed decisions were made.

Both in this context, and through his work steering of East Meets West, he gently but firmly  promoted and enabled thoughtful discussion, championed access, and held a safe space for everyone to feel able to debate sometimes difficult and sensitive issues. He nurtured others to have the confidence to share their own experiences, whether in order to seek support from peers, or to offer their experience to help others.

As a skilled and conscientious Chair and facilitator, Gareth is brilliant at connecting people, asking thoughtful questions, and allowing space for meaningful conversations, all whilst keeping things on a strategic track. He always comes extremely well prepared, makes people feel welcome and valued, and helps them consider varying viewpoints.  He is such a positive force — be that in a boardroom, in a gathering of peers, or in a theatre making space — and a total joy to work with.

Alison King
Chief Executive of Turtle Key Arts; previous Chair of the Independent Theatre Council (ITC)

I met and worked with Gareth on the Independent Theatre Council board, where Gareth was my Vice- Chair. When I stepped down after my term ended, he became Chair of the board.

Gareth was a delight to work with, so considerate and caring. This is a voluntary role, and he never minded additional meetings or phone calls, and giving myself and ITC the support we needed.

He was great at facilitating events and helped hugely in planning and co-running our board retreats and annual AGMs. He is a good listener, patient and kind, always on the end of the phone with a sage word or two, with good knowledge and perspective of our industry and sector.

He is a generous colleague, who has a good work ethic and principals. I would work and collaborate again with him in heartbeat.

Keisha Thompson
Independent Artist & Producer; former Artistic Director & CEO of Contact Manchester; Current Co-Chair of the Independent Theatre Council  (ITC)

I can easily say that being on a board chaired by Gareth was a true privilege. The level of authentic care and due diligence was palpable and clearly impactful.

Taking the baton as a subsequent chair has been a brilliant process which Gareth was instrumental in. His approach to the role has been an abundant template for me to build on. I would feel safe being a part of any project orchestrated by this wonderfully impassioned human!

Dienka Hines
Executive Director of Travelling Light Theatre Company; board members of the Independent Theatre Council (ITC)

I really enjoyed working with Gareth when he chaired the Independent Theatre Council Board. Gareth wholeheartedly embodied the values of ITC, especially the sense of creating a community of support and knowledge among smaller performing arts companies.

I felt he chaired the board with lots of openness and heart, and always encouraged and valued contributions from the board members. He facilitated a lot of high-level conversations bringing together the experience and knowledge of the board to address industry issues, including ITC’s contribution to discussions on the current crisis in small-scale touring.

Dougie Irvine
Artistic Director of Visible Fictions; Current Vice Chair of the Independent Theatre Council (ITC)

Working with Gareth was a total pleasure. Placing people first, Gareth’s leadership style was always filled with generosity and kindness.

Clear in his thinking, Gareth leads a room in such a beautifully understated way yet with a quiet determination. It is abundantly clear to me that he is a huge asset to any organisation, team or collaborative process and I highly commend him and his work.