About The Speaker

CEO The Piece Hall

Nicky Chance-Thompson DL

Joining The Piece Hall Trust in 2015, initially as a Trustee, Nicky has been at the helm since 2017 overseeing The Piece Hall’s ascent to world class visitor attraction. Alongside the Board she has successfully steered the business through the turbulent waters of the global pandemic, securing this precious assets long-term future.

Under her leadership an outstanding arts, culture and community events programme has seen the award-winning heritage destination welcome more than 11 million visitors. Growing in both repertoire and reputation the organisation has been described as an exemplar business model and an example of “Levelling Up” in action.

Working alongside the wider team, Nicky has been instrumental is ensuring The Piece Hall delivered on its promise to be a catalyst for continuing regeneration in Halifax and the wider Calderdale borough.

Passionate about both placemaking and the arts, Nicky is a commissioner of ‘No Place Left Behind’ and is Deputy Chair of the Culture, Heritage, and Sport Committee chaired by The Major of West Yorkshire.

A champion of equality, Nicky campaigns for better representation and is an advocate for inclusion by “building a bigger table”. She is a proud ambassador for the Yorkshire Asian Business Association, a judge for the Northern Asian Power List and also the Chair of Leeds Beckett’s #WECAN project which seeks to enable women in foundational roles to become future leaders.

Prior to The Piece Hall Nicky had a multi award-winning career in media, marketing and advertising before moving on to deliver major Government infrastructure programs – specialising in regeneration.

In 2019 Nicky was made a Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, crowned Yorkshire Businesswoman of the Year and was also awarded a place on the highly regarded Northern Power Women’s Power List. Nicky has also received the IOD Judges Special Award in recognition of her achievements.

Nicky is a supporter of Calderdale SmartMove and helps facilitate the annual sleepout at The Piece Hall raising much needed cash to help the vulnerable and homeless across the borough.