TRUSTEES

CHAIR OF TRUSTEES

As an actor, singer and performer, Peter has had an international  career encompassing work ranging from classical acting to musical theatre - roles with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre and the Washington Shakespeare Theatre, to performing in musical theatre including My Fair Lady, Cabaret, The Phantom of the Opera and Ruthless.

Through their production company, Peter and his wife Gillian Lynne produced charity galas and ballets, as well as shows specifically for smaller theatres such as the King’s Head and Jermyn Street. They have supported a wide spectrum of the performing arts including the development of the new Sadler’s Wells Theatre.

Married to Gillian for 38 years, theirs was a true partnership based on mutual respect and a combined love of life and work. Supporting individuals and institutions has been a constant theme throughout their lives and is an inherent part of Peter’s ethos for the Foundation.

Luke brings vast experience to the Foundation from his many roles within the Arts world. He was Chief Executive of the Royal Academy of Dance from 1999 to April 2022. Previously he was Secretary General of the Arts Council of Great Britain, Communications Director for Sotheby’s Europe, and in earlier years ran the Bath Festival. Luke was also Founder-Director of the Association for Business Sponsorship of the Arts (Arts & Business).

Luke has served on many arts boards, including the Victoria & Albert Museum and the British Council. He was a non-executive Director of Carlton Television and was also Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). Luke holds an Honorary Doctorate of the Arts from the University of Bath and an Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law from the University of Durham. He is a governor of The Royal Ballet and a trustee of the New English Ballet Theatre.

In 2023 Luke was awarded a Knighthood in the first New Year Honours List issued by His Majesty The King. Luke received a CBE in 2017 for services to the arts, particularly dance.

Robert’s extensive career has seen him perform in every aspect of the entertainment industry in the UK, USA and internationally. From musical theatre, plays, opera and cabaret to film, television, radio and numerous album recordings, he has starred in many of London’s West End’s greatest musicals, and his own classical album ‘After a Dream’ reached no.2 in the Classical Charts and was nominated for Album of the Year at the Classical Brit Awards.

His first association with Gillian Lynne was starring as Raoul in Phantom of the Opera. Whilst performing in the Chichester Festival production of Pickwick, which Gillian staged and choreographed, she conceived, wrote and directed for the stage and television ‘That’s What Friends Are For’ especially for Robert and Peter Land which they performed in London and New York.

His continuous work with Gillian lasted over 25 years and Robert is honoured and extremely proud to continue her legacy and commitment to the arts by being a trustee of the Lynne and Land Foundation.

Daniel Ross is the Managing Partner of Ross Bennet Smith Chartered Accountants, a company renowned as a world leader in the provision of professional services to the entertainment industry. Daniel’s clients include some of the most prominent bands, recording artists, actors, directors and producers in the UK and across the globe. Starting out in A&R and then artist management, Daniel opted for a career change by joining one of the world’s largest accounting firms where he specialised in corporate finance for media and entertainment companies, before going on to set up his own business that merged into Ross Bennet Smith.