Louise Richards is the Co-founder and Executive Director of Motionhouse, one of the busiest touring dance companies in the UK, established by Louise and Artistic Director Kevin Finnan in 1988.

Louise is the driving force behind Motionhouse’s trailblazing journey and global success. Her vision shapes the company’s activity and strategic direction. Originally a dancer and choreographer, Louise remains closely involved with the performing company and creative process. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

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Stuart McPherson is owner and Managing Director of KB Event Ltd – a specialist transport and logistics company to the Live Music, Corporate Event and Entertainment industries, which he established in 1992 and which has gone on to become a leader in its field. Stuart’s reputation for providing managed and effective logistics solutions for all manner of events has seen KB’s involvement in international music tours for the likes of Ed Sheeran, The Stereophonics, George Ezra and Little Mix, Government events such as London 2012, the Commonwealth Games and the Papal visit, and worldwide air and sea freight movements for events in The Bahamas, The Maldives and Macau.

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Deborah is Chief Executive of the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM) the UK’s fastest-growing representative body for musicians, with close on 11,000 members. She has led a major change programme at the ISM covering every aspect of its work from setting up the charity the ISM Trust, to developing a campaigning function focused on supporting the music sector and musicians

Deborah and the ISM have been working tirelessly to ensure the survival of the music industry despite the dual threats of COVID-19 and Brexit. In 2020 the ISM released its 5th Brexit report, Will Music Survive Brexit? on the impact of Brexit on the music profession and since then the ISM has continued to gather case studies illustrating the adverse impact of Brexit on musicians.

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Jessie is a freelance violinist and founder of Let Music Live, who played the opening from Mars (Holst’s The Planet’s) outside Parliament in Oct 20, to raise awareness of the issues faced by creative industry freelancers as a result of the pandemic. Jess studied with Erich Gruenberg at the Royal Academy of Music and has worked extensively as a classical violinist and as an onstage musician for theatre in the West End, National Theatre and The Globe, she regularly tours with Jeff Lynne’s ELO, Sophie Ellis Bextor and Michael Bublé and also has performed live with many touring artists, including “Kasabian, Muse and Paloma Faith.

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CEO of DevoConnect, the 1st and best UK Public Affairs Devo agency, and described as “the most influential woman” in public affairs, Gill has over 30 years’ experience and is widely recognised for her achievements in redefining public affairs, increasing lobbying transparency and improving public affairs practices in the UK.

Her experience and passion for both politics and the public affairs industry have made her one of the most well-known figures in Westminster. Gill has helped co-ordinate and win many cross-party campaigns, including the Fair Pint Campaign.

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Tim Brennan is a freelance multi camera vision director / engineer. He has been freelance for 30+ years and has worked worldwide with artists such as, Lady Gaga, Madonna, Rhianna, The 1975, Peter Gabriel, Meatloaf, Arcade Fire, Lynryd Skynyrd and many more.

He started the petition because he wanted to make people aware that we face a very real threat to our livelihoods as touring professionals and to highlight why we all need to be able carry on touring throughout the EU.

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Angus MacKechnie is the Executive Director of OutdoorArtsUK. Previously he worked at the National Theatre, where he was Producer of the Watch This Space Festival and the Platforms programme and was given the Rayne Award for his services to the company. He worked as director on two pieces with the circus/dance company Joli Vyann and served on the boards of Mimbre and Upswing. He was a Fellow on the 2014/5 Clore Cultural Leadership Programme. Previously, he ran a small-scale touring theatre company and worked as an actor, director and writer, after training at Guildhall.

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Natalie is an experienced executive producer, artistic director and project manager with a demonstrated history of working in events, entertainment industry and has an international career which spans over a decade in Independent Film, TV and Theatre. Natalie is also the founder of multi-award nominated film production and events company, and digital platform for writers called Transition Stage Company.

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Ian Smith is a multi-media arts practitioner for over 35 years and multi agency owner for 20 years both booking worldwide and managing artists in the UK and Europe extending to the Ukraine and beyond, dual based in the UK and the EU, pan-globally booking over 300 artists from breaking acts to Grammy Winners; Francesca Gagnon of Cirque Du Soleil to Phil Rudd of AC/DC. Working in the past as national chair of one the UK musicians sections for 8 years, and continuing to creating new international projects in Music, Film , mixed media.

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Dave Webster joined the Musicians’ Union in 2004 following a busy career as a freelance drummer, percussionist and teacher The MU Live Performance department handles a wide range of issues, from international concerns, such as visas and travelling with instruments, to national collective bargaining agreements; busking; building relationships with venues; promoters; festivals and industry bodies.

The British Musicians' Union was established in 1893 and represents over 30,000 musicians working in all sectors and genres of music. As well as negotiating on behalf of its members with all the major employers in the industry, the MU offers a range of services tailored for the self-employed by providing assistance for professional and student musicians of all ages.

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Noreen O’Riordan is Managing Director and Head of Lighting at Entec Sound & Light, located in Northolt just outside London. Entec was formed in 1968 and is the oldest sound and lighting equipment rental house.There is no substitute for the personal touch of a genuinely independent business, especially in the field of live event production. Above all, this is an industry based on human relationships, and it is this simple but crucial fact that has always shaped the Entec character. Having the longest track record in the UK as an independent lighting and sound production company puts us in a privileged position to assess virtually any situation and give valuable balanced advice.

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