The multi-award-winning theatre cinema and library has bolstered its board of directors with the appointment of two new board members.

Erik Boekesteijn is a senior advisor at the National Library in the Netherlands. He is a consultant for Public Libraries 2020 – the organisation tasked with raising awareness of the important role libraries play. He is a facilitator and consultant for the International Federation Library Association. He is also the owner of Shanachie Media and producer of This Week in Libraries and ShanachieTours, a global network exploring best practice in libraries.

Also joining the board is financial director Louise Towers, a Chartered Accountant with more than 15 years experience in the commercial, not-for-profit and charity sector. Louise graduated with a first-class Mathematics and Management Science degree from University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology she Joined Arthur Andersen in Cambridge, where she qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2002 before going on to head the finance team on a number of high-tech growth companies in Cambridge. She and her family moved back North to the Wirral in 2012. Since then she has also added both not-for-profits and charities to her sector experience with a particular focus around strategies for achieving long-term sustainability, against a backdrop of funding cuts in the sector.

Erik said:

I am absolutely thrilled that I have been blessed with the marvellous opportunity to take a seat in the board of the magnificent Storyhouse. I hope to further assist in improving its services and making the people in the region of Chester as well as around the world know the ‘library of the future’ exists and is very much alive in Storyhouse.

Louise said:

I am thrilled to be joining the board of trustees of Storyhouse. As a regular visitor [and having been involved as a consultant before the building was opened] I am delighted to become part of the Storyhouse team and am looking forward to working with the board to ensure that Storyhouse goes from strength to strength as it enters its third year.

Andrew Bentley, CEO of Storyhouse added:

We are thrilled to have added two extremely well qualified individuals in their specific areas of expertise.  Erik has unique experience as an international library innovator and Louise’s strategic creativity and financial resilience create a diverse board that has the skills and experience needed to continue Storyhouse’s exciting journey.

Louise and Erik join Storyhouse’s board, chaired by Peter Mearns – a marketing and communications consultant, young trustee Maddie Clarke, Sue Leech, Geoff Clifton,  Cllr Richard Beacham, Jane Hyndman, Professor Allan Owens, Rio Matchett and Katrina Michel. 10. Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre takes exactly 19 days to build. Don’t worry – we help the grass to grow back afterwards!