07.03.25
mjf is delighted to announce the appointment of Victoria Robinson as chair to our board. Victoria will take over from Professor Kirsty Fairclough who held the position for over 6 years. Speaking on her time with mjf, Kirsty noted:
“I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together. The passion and dedication of our team have been the heart and soul of every event, ensuring we bring the magic of jazz to life for our community. It has been an honour to lead such a brilliant group of people, and I am excited to see how the festival continues to grow and inspire in the years to come.”
Our board, under the helm of Victoria, will continue to play a pivotal role in mjf’s development guiding the organisation through our next period of development including our 30th anniversary festival edition.
“I’m so excited to be joining mjf as Chair. It’s an organisation that truly values and supports artists, and gives audiences the thrill of discovering live music in a city-wide celebration that always inspires. I cannot wait to work more with the team to keep driving this diverse, innovative, creative festival to do what it does best: help artists find themselves and audiences lose themselves.”
Victoria Robinson is the Chief Executive of The Met, a leading arts centre and cultural hub in Bury. Under her leadership, The Met has become a driving force for musical excellence, artist development, and community engagement across Greater Manchester. She oversees both its charitable and trading arms, ensuring its sustainability and growth.
Over the past decade, Victoria has led major transformations, including a £4.6 million redevelopment and the creation of a new community arts space. She also positioned The Met as a digital innovator during lockdown through its United We Stream partnership.
With over 25 years in the music and arts sector, Victoria has worked in event promotion, commercial PR, and cultural leadership. She played a key role in establishing the Bury Business Improvement District and continues to champion culture as a tool for regeneration.
An influential voice in the industry, she serves on the Greater Manchester Music Commission, Night Time Economy Board and now we are delighted to welcome her onto our board.
She will take up the role of chair alongside our previously appointed board including: Iain McKeith, Nelson Beaumont-Laurencia, Yemi Bolatiwa, Gawen Higgins, Robin Phillips, Lucy Scott, Danni Skerritt, Eric Solomons, Thanda Gumede & Julia Payne.