Leonora Thomson
Interim Chief Executive OfficerLeonora Thomson works to support people and organisations in the arts sector. Recent clients include Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Headlong Theatre and Creatives Lives. Between 2019 and 2021 she was Interim Joint Chief Executive of National Theatre Wales and Interim Artistic Director at the Barbican Centre, London. In early 2020 she completed an assignment as Interim Chief Executive of Anthem the new Music Fund for Wales, a foundation set up to increase musical experiences and opportunities for the young people in Wales.
From 2015 - 2019 Leo was Managing Director of Welsh National Opera, Wales’ leading performing arts company, which tours across Wales, the UK and internationally, where she led the business side of the organisation, balancing practical challenges alongside the highest creative ambition. For seven years prior to that she worked at the Barbican Centre as Director of Audiences and Development.
She joined the Barbican from the Metropolitan Police Service and in her earlier career she worked in communications for the BBC and EMI Classics.
Leo is also a local politician having been elected to Cardiff Council in May 2022. She has also been a local politician in the London Borough of Ealing (1998 – 2006) where she led on education and children’s services, later becoming Deputy Leader and Council Leader. During that period and after she did extensive work for the Improvement and Development Agency, now part of the Local Government Association, mentoring and training other councillors across England.
She has held several non-executive positions and is currently Chair of English Touring Opera and a Trustee of the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. She lives in Cardiff, is a keen musician and is currently learning the accordion.