John Nickson

John Nickson is one of the UK’s most experienced fundraisers, having held directorial roles at four national organisations: the British Council, English National Opera, the Royal Academy of Arts and the Tate.

Nickson is now a philanthropist. He co-founded the Our Common Good venture philanthropy fund, and is an ambassador for the Blackpool Pride of Place regeneration project. Nickson recently funded a successful and pioneering pilot project in Blackpool to address acute problems for young people not in education, training or employment (NEETS). He is also currently funding Artis to introduce its creative education project into Blackpool primary schools in the hope that this will encourage a roll out across the UK. Nickson is the author of three books about philanthropy activism, they are OUR COMMON GOOD, GIVING IS GOOD FOR YOU, and most recently, IN SEARCH OF HOPE.

Fifty years in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors as a senior executive and serving as a trustee for education, arts and development charities has strengthened his conviction that the giving of time and money should be at the heart of a healthy society, that philanthropy has a leading role to play in addressing serious societal problems which will only be solved when all the sectors work together.