Jackie Crozier the former Festival Director of Manchester Pride, has been elected as the new Chair of Manchester’s Gay Village Business Association (VBA).
The VBA – which is made up of representatives from many local businesses around Canal Street, Manchester – voted unanimously for Jackie to take on this challenging voluntary role. She takes over from current Chair Andrew Stokes – Chief Executive of Marketing Manchester – whilst continuing to work as a freelance events manager.
In addition to this, Jackie will continue as George House Trust ambassador. Most recently she coordinated the hugely successful Same Sex Hand-holding event which opened Pride House Manchester earlier this year (February 7-23).
Jackie says: “I am absolutely thrilled to have been elected as the new chair of the VBA, and hope to make my predecessor, Andrew Stokes, proud. He has been a vocal ambassador for Manchester’s Gay Village for many years, and I pledge to work tirelessly to build on the foundations he has laid to develop and market our iconic Village.
“Manchester’s Gay Village is an integral part of the cultural fabric of the city, and is an extremely important place for many LGBT people, their friends and families. The Village Business Association ensures that organisations located in the Village work together to make it an exciting, enjoyable, safe and diverse place to spend time. It also works to protect staff and customers. I look forward to helping create a fantastic future for Manchester’s Gay Village”.
Michael ‘Polly’ Pollard, deputy chair of the VBA, and co-owner of Taurus Bar, said: “Jackie is already an influential figure both in the Gay Village and Manchester in general – so this appointment seems both natural and fitting. We look forward to Jackie’s ideas, passion, enthusiasm at our weekly meetings.”
Jackie was named amongst the UK’s most inspiring LGBT people by Attitude magazine (2010), won a Homo Hero Award for ‘Community Champion of the Year’ and has previously featured on the Independent on Sunday’s annual Pink List (2011).
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