Carol Bell - Host City speaker

Carol Bell

Position: Executive Director, Great Exhibition of the North

Carol took up the role of Executive Director for Great Exhibition of the North in January 2017 following her role in leading NewcastleGateshead’ s bid to host Great Exhibition.

Prior to this, Carol headed up NewcastleGateshead Initiative’s Culture Team, which is responsible for identifying opportunities for NewcastleGateshead to develop and host significant cultural events and festivals, including one-off events such as sporting events or collaborations with the BBC. In 2012 NewcastleGateshead Initiative played a key role in supporting the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Newcastle upon Tyne and in 2015, NGI programmed an outdoor cultural programme for Rugby World Cup 2015, which held three games at St James’ Park.

From 2005-2010 Carol was responsible for the management of NewcastleGateshead Initiative’s culture10 festivals and events programme and its team. In 2010, Carol was included in the prestigious national UK Cultural Leadership Programme’s inaugural Women to Watch list, as one of the UK’s most respected female cultural leaders.