Louise McKinney is recognised as a thought-leader, with in-depth experience of developing high-profile cultural initiatives in the public and private sectors. Among her extensive international network, she is regarded as a strategic force with the stamina to overcome deep-rooted challenges. Her approach is about clarity, rigour and optimism. She founded her own cultural consultancy, A-I-R in 2005 and advises clients such as the Black Cultural Archives, British Council, Camden Arts Centre, Chisenhale Gallery, The Factory, Louvre Abu Dhabi, and the Victoria Miro Gallery on vision development, organisational transformation, and strategic income generation. Louise has several decades’ experience with leading organisations such as the Serpentine, Whitechapel and Lisson galleries, overseeing multi-million capital campaigns and markets, brokering partnerships with brands, philanthropists, collectors and artists.
Louise devised Future Connected, a values-led leadership development programme, giving Directors of grass-roots and smaller-scale organisations based in London, tools to grow dynamic businesses that inspire and represent their communities. The programme is a collaboration with Lambeth Council’ Economy & Inward Investment Team. She is a regular visiting contributor to the School for Curatorial Studies, Venice, and is a Trustee of arts charity Queer Circle.