Kathy Mc Ardle

Kathy Mc Ardle is a seasoned cultural and creative industries entrepreneur with a rich history of successful projects and leadership roles.

She has a strong background in leading cultural initiatives, having notably overseen the development and opening of the new Project Arts centre in Temple Bar, Dublin, as well as serving as the Director of the Lemon Tree arts centre in Aberdeen and contributing to cultural strategies in Liverpool and Greater Manchester.

In her role as CEO of The Creative Quarter (CQ) company in Nottingham, Kathy led a flagship project for economic growth and enterprise development, which received international acclaim and won the European Enterprise Promotion Award in 2015 for Improving the Business Environment.

Transitioning to the British Council, Kathy served as the first Director England and Global Cities, where she played a pivotal role in coordinating the organization's work in England and developing place-based international strategies with various city regions and authorities.

Her work involved collaborating with cities such as Hull, Coventry, Birmingham, and Manchester, among others, on diverse international programs and fostering connections between UK cities and global partners through arts, education, and community initiatives.

Kathy's expertise extends to strategic and business planning, partnership development, project management, fundraising, place-shaping, and the cultivation of sustainable innovation ecosystems, all underpinned by a background in theatre and collaborative practices.

She holds a Master of Arts in Anglo-Irish Literature with First Class Honours from University College Dublin and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature & Mathematical Physics with Second Class Honours from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth.