Board of Directors
Mukesh Sharma
Chairperson
Mukesh Sharma has worked extensively in the travel, tourism and community/arts sectors for over 30 years. He is current shareholder and director of family-run business Thriftway Travel Ltd established in 1982 with head offices in London. In 2009, he headed up a merger with southern company McNeill Rigby Travel Ltd to form one of Ireland’s largest travel agencies McNeill and Thriftway Worldwide Travel Ltd. The merger has opened access to worldwide competitive airfares, worldwide accommodation, car hire and rail travel. Other positions that have been held throughout Mukesh’s career include managing director of GSA Delta Airlines in Northern Ireland and director of GSA Delta Airlines in Northern India.
Mukesh is a board member of Moving on Music, which promotes diverse music throughout Northern Ireland. He also chairs Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Good Relationship Partnership, is regional representative for the Hindu Council UK and has held various positions on the board of the Indian Community Centre.
In 2006, Mukesh helped to establish ArtsEkta and became treasurer on the board. In 2010, he came chairperson and has overseen the development of the organisation since it’s inception.
Julie-Anne McCormick
Acting Treasurer
Julianne McCormick has worked in the arts sector for over eleven years. She has worked extensively with community and voluntary organisations exploring play development, arts education and training for people with disabilities. In 2003 she joined the Arts Council of Northern Ireland where her role as Community Arts Officer for Social Inclusion saw her working with minority ethnic communities in Belfast and across Northern Ireland.
From 2004 to 2009 Julianne worked as Creative Development Officer for Creative Youth Partnerships Initiative in Belfast Education and Library Board. Julianne is a trained art historian and teacher in Further and Higher Education. Julianne’s time living and studying in multi cultural cities such as Leicester and Birmingham opened her eyes to different cultures enriching her life as a result.
Julianne is a founding member of ArtsEkta and is passionate about using the arts to raise awareness of diverse cultural identities. She was chair of the organisation from inception until 2010 when she became vice-chair. Julianne strongly believes that Northern Ireland is a better, more interesting place to live, work and socialise because of the melting pot of cultures here.
Dr Satyavir Singhal
Secretary
Dr. Singhal is a Consultant Anaesthetist for The Royal Group of Hospitals Belfast. Moving to Belfast to fill this position, Dr. Singhal quickly began to interact with local community life meeting founding members of ArtsEkta through the Indian Community Centre.
As ArtsEkta was formed Dr. Singhal took up a director’s position of the board to provide local minority ethnic representation and participate more actively in establishing and ties between various communities.
Clare Doran
Director
Profile coming soon.
Eva Grosman
Director
Originally from Poland, after one year at the Academy of Economics in her homeland Eva came to London, obtaining qualifications in Marketing and Finance. She also holds a Masters degree in Management from Dublin City University and is currently studying for the CIPR Public Affairs and Political Communications Diploma.
At the beginning of 2006, in a response to the changing situation in Northern Ireland and arrival of vast numbers of foreign nationals, especially from Eastern Europe, she has set up a multi service agency Connect NI and established working relationship with the PSNI, Policing Board, Prison Service, Equality Commission, Electoral Commission, CBI, Chamber of Commerce and many more. Eva also founded Link Polska – a monthly magazine, explaining and communicating issues and culture to an emerging Polish community in Ireland and UK.
Eva has worked Project Manager for the Unite against Hate campaign. Unite against Hate, initiated by five partners including the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister, Equality Commission, Community Relations Council, Department of Justice and the Police Service of Northern Ireland highlights all six forms of hate crime and challenges everyone in Northern Ireland to unite to stop it. Recently she has taken up a new post as Partnership Manager at Derry City of Culture 2013
Pamela Ballantine
Director
Pamela Ballantine is a freelance Northern Irish television presenter, best known for her 27 year career at UTV. Pamela began her broadcasting career at Downtown Radio as a secretary, and gradually moved on to reading and reporting for the Downtown newsroom, as well as presenting her own programme and covering for other programmes on the station. She later worked for BBC Radio Ulster as a morning presenter before moving to Ulster Television as a continuity announcer and news presenter in 1983. Pamela moved from the continuity department to become a regular newsreader on UTV Live at its launch in 1993.
Pamela was the main presenter and reporter for UTV Live at 5.30, UTV’s successful news magazine programme which covered all aspects of life; from movies and concerts to health and legal issues. She also works as a presenter and reporter for UTV’s motorsports programme, RPM. Pamela is now a freelance presenter on UTV and U105 and an ambassador for UTV.
