BAFA Board Members

Erica Smith is a freelance Executive Director and Senior Producer with over 25 years of experience in the creative industries. She served as the Director of Ports Fest, a prominent annual city-wide arts and cultural festival, for a decade. Her expertise spans programme management and creative production, notably within the UK-wide Creative Partnerships programme, where she played a pivotal role in creativity in education across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Erica’s expertise in leading change management and developing effective teams enables her to navigate complex organisational transformations. Working seamlessly in both operational and creative environments driving innovation forward.

Erica has devised hundreds of innovative regional & national projects and produced thousands of events, with a particular specialism in mixed media and working with communities that differ from her. Additionally, she is the co-founder of Voice FM radio station in Southampton.

Ashley Morris is General Manager of Newbury Spring Festival. In his role at the Festival he is responsible for all aspects of the organisation and administration of the annual Festival, now in its 41st year. His current responsibilities are wide ranging and include running the Festival office, securing funding and sponsorship for the Festival, producing printed marketing materials, volunteer coordination, and overseeing the production of the 45 Festival events each year. Ashley has worked in the music industry for his entire professional career.

Before the Festival Ashley worked as Manager: Administration & Operations at the International Artist Managers’ Association (IAMA). In his role there he was involved with all aspects of IAMA, including membership matters, but focusing on the financial management of the association, and worked closely alongside the Chief Executive and Board to deliver the annual IAMA Conference.

Sharon Canavar is Chief Executive of Harrogate International Festivals, one of the UK’s leading multi-arts organisations, delivering internationally renowned cultural events alongside ambitious community and participation programmes. Her career spans senior arts leadership, partnership development and placemaking, with a strong focus how culture, business and community intersect.

Sharon has led organisations through periods of transformation, growth and challenge, championing creativity as a driver of wellbeing, connection and impact. She is also an experienced creator of new festivals and events, developing distinctive cultural propositions from initial concept through to delivery.

In addition to her executive role, Sharon works as a freelance producer on commissioned projects, collaborating with partners to deliver large-scale national and civic events. Her work combines artistic ambition with strategic insight, robust governance and audience-focused delivery.

After training at the Royal Academy of Music, Alison worked as a musician before going into marketing and fundraising at English National Opera. She became Administrator and then General Manager of The Sixteen, where she worked on international and UK touring, and set up the group’s recording label, CORO. After nine happy years Alison moved into freelance work, with the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain and the vocal ensemble Tenebrae.

Alison now works as Festival Producer for Presteigne Festival, and for Brecon Baroque Festival. She is also a consultant with Craigmyle Fundraising Consultants.

Anna brings with her a wealth of experience in festival management and event production across artforms, venues and visions. Highlights include  Tête à Tête: The Opera Festival, the inaugural Grange Park Opera, Covent Garden Festival through to Culture Richmond, The Big Picture Company, Adonais Dance Company, Early Opera Company, Pimlico Opera & the Farnham Maltings. She is currently Administrative Director at opera company Tête à Tête and Senior Silly Administrator at outdoor arts mavericks The Bureau Of Silly Ideas.

Steve Heap has been Director of Mrs Casey Music (MCM) since 1971, working to organise and promote festivals and events across the UK. Mrs Casey Music also has its own record label, Mrs Casey Records, which specialises in young up and coming acts and ‘great new ideas’.

Steve is a consultant to Community Arts Events, and a founder member and current Chair of the Events Industry Forum (EIF), as well as being a regular contributor to Arts & Events industry publications, including the editing of the Purple Guide.

He was General Secretary of the Association of Festival Organisers (AFO), before retiring in 2024. AFO was dissolved with its members moving to join The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF).

Helen Heslop manages the Live Events Team for the Proms and BBC Radio 3, and has done since 1998. In the past she has also worked on BBC Young Musician of the Year and as Tours Manager of the Philharmonia Orchestra. Her main two roles on the BBC Proms are working with the Controller of Radio 3 / Director of Artistic Planning on the artistic planning and overseeing the logistical planning of the festival. Helen has been involved with BAFA in various guises since 2003.

David is an Associate Professor at Edinburgh Napier University, and leads their BA (Hons) International Festival & Event Management programmes. His 2022 PhD looked at festival communities, making use of social network analysis. For ten years, David worked with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society and other cultural organisations, in Edinburgh, London, Australia and New Zealand. David’s current work (and his students) help keep him informed of the opportunities and challenges involved in running arts festivals, and supporting the people involved.

Emma Whittle is Programming Strategic Lead for The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival and Cheltenham Science Festival, where she curates events and activities across a range of disciplines and formats. She is passionate about the role of the arts in supporting wellbeing and social change, as well as initiatives that promote audience development and widen participation. In 2021, Emma founded VOICEBOX, an innovative platform for 18 – 30s that aims to support young talent and amplify the views and values of young people through arts and culture. Emma is a board trustee for the British Arts Festivals Association (BAFA) and the charity Severn Arts.