Meet the team
Leadership, oversight, and accountability
The Northern Ireland Music Therapy Trust is governed by a voluntary Board of Trustees who bring a broad range of professional expertise across healthcare, law, finance, and the arts. The Board is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the organisation, ensuring effective governance, and overseeing financial and operational performance.
Trustees work closely with the executive team to ensure services are delivered safely, ethically, and in line with the Trust’s mission and values. They are committed to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement, ensuring that all activities serve the best interests of the individuals and communities who benefit from music therapy.
Michael Nicholson
Michael is a doctor with over 30 years’ experience in the NHS, working in Northern Ireland and Merseyside as a Consultant Psychiatrist, after training as a GP in Scotland. He has seen the benefits of music therapy across mental health, community care, and disability services.
A lifelong musician, he has sung with the Belfast Philharmonic and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choirs, and plays keyboards in the PM Big Band. He is committed to supporting NIMTT’s continued impact across Northern Ireland.
Fiona Cassidy
Fiona is an experienced solicitor who spent many years in private practice, including as Senior Partner at Jones Cassidy Brett and later as a consultant with Lewis Silkin. She specialises in employment, discrimination, public administration, human rights, and charity law.
A music enthusiast, she plays piano and violin and previously sang in the Law Society choir. Fiona joined the Board in 2022 and values working with the dedicated team at Northern Ireland Music Therapy Trust.
Nathaniel McGrory
Nathaniel Mc Grory joined the board of the Northern Ireland Music Therapy Trust bringing a blend of commercial leadership and legal expertise developed across consulting, business development, and the legal profession. He currently serves as Commercial Lead at Sans Souci, supporting public and private sector organisations through complex digital transformation programmes.
With an MBA and a Master of Laws (Distinction) from Queen’s University Belfast, Nathaniel has a strong grounding in governance, regulatory frameworks, and commercial strategy. He contributes to the Trust’s governance through his experience in contract management, stakeholder engagement, and organisational oversight across regulated environments. Nathaniel is passionate about the role of purpose-driven organisations in creating meaningful community impact and is proud to support the Trust’s work.
Richard Greenwood
Richard is Director and Founder of Verus Search, an executive and professional search consultancy based in Belfast. He works with organisations across the private, public and third sectors in Northern Ireland to appoint senior leaders, managers and specialist professionals.
With a lifelong interest in music and sport, he values the role both play in improving wellbeing and bringing people together. Richard is passionate about using his experience to give back to the community. He brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise which we have no doubt will contribute to the organisation’s long-term success.
Jill Michael
Jill is Head of People at fscom and brings over two decades of experience in HR functions across a variety of industries. Jill’s expertise includes talent acquisition, employee relations, and organisational development.
Jill is passionate about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and ensuring it sits within overall company strategy, which was recognised with her receiving the Women in Business “Advancing Diversity in the Workplace” Award in 2022. We are thrilled that she has chosen Northern Ireland Music Therapy Trust for her first board level position.
Sinead Sharkey-Steenson
Sinead Sharkey-Steenson is a leadership coach, speaker and entrepreneur with a background in psychology and over 20 years’ corporate experience driving business transformation and shaping culture in organisations.
She is the Founder of Generation Women and Co-Founder of Impact Players, two businesses that create powerful impact, drive change and build communities that help people realise their potential. Sinead brings expertise in leadership, coaching, business improvement and community building to her role on the board of the Northern Ireland Music Therapy Trust.
Elaine Armstrong
Elaine joined as a Trustee for Northern Ireland Music Therapy Trust in 2026 and counts it as a privilege to have this role. She is also currently CEO for The Cedar Foundation, one of Northern Ireland’s largest disability charities, delivering services across NI supporting people at all life stages with disability and long-term health conditions to live the lives they choose.
She is a chartered Health Psychologist with active HCPC registration and Associated Fellow of the British Psychological Society. She has over 30 years’ experience of delivering person-centred services in the Charity Sector, and values the innovative spirit and energy of the sector to realise impact and outcomes, particularly for those facing disadvantage or exclusion. She has a keen interest in good governance that is underpinned by service user engagement and participates in the NI Charity Commission Stakeholder Forum.
Kyle McCarthy
Kyle is a business leader and growth specialist with significant experience in commercial strategy, sales leadership, and organisational development. As Commercial Director at Wayfinders, he has played a key role in driving rapid business growth, expanding operations, and developing high performing teams. With expertise spanning business development, leadership, and change management, Kyle is passionate about helping organisations navigate growth while maintaining strong cultures and clear strategic direction. He is recognised for his practical, hands-on approach and his ability to align people, processes, and commercial objectives.
Kyle is committed to supporting organisations that create meaningful impact within their communities. He brings strong commercial insight, a collaborative leadership style, and a focus on long term sustainability to his governance responsibilities.
Gary Lightbody
Gary Lightbody is a Northern Irish musician, best known as lead singer and guitarist of Snow Patrol, and founder of The Reindeer Section and Tired Pony.
Through the Lightbody Foundation, he supports charities across Northern Ireland, including the Northern Ireland Music Therapy Trust. His work focuses on helping underfunded organisations across sectors such as mental health, education, and music, with a commitment to supporting communities across all backgrounds.
Gemma Swallow
Gemma, originally from Belfast, began her career at the Belfast Festival at Queen’s before moving into theatre production in Scotland and London. She has worked nationally and internationally with leading companies including Théâtre de Complicité, the National Theatre, Young Vic, and Stomp.
In 2013, she became Technical Director of the National Theatre of Scotland, where she champions women in backstage roles and leads on sustainability, supporting environmentally responsible theatre practices.
Emma McCabe
Emma’s passion for music therapy comes from personal experience. During a prolonged period in hospital as a teenager, she used music to express her thoughts and emotions when words were difficult.
Through songwriting and singing, she found a powerful way to communicate and cope. Emma credits music therapy with helping her recovery and inspiring her path into nursing. Now an ambassador for Northern Ireland Music Therapy Trust, she is committed to supporting others on similar journeys.