Jacqui trained as an actor and started her career performing in theatres as well as touring adaptations of Shakespeare’s work to schools. As an actor at the National Theatre, she began to lead some of their education work with young people and teachers, then became Artist in Residence for a Birmingham-based project, visiting primary and secondary schools in deprived areas of the city and using drama to raise self-esteem.

As a cultural learning specialist, Jacqui is passionate about equitable access to high-quality arts learning. She is committed to actions that diversify the creative industries and empower people to discover new skills, using arts and creativity to affect social change. Jacqui has an interest in research, particularly finding accessible ways to share and disseminate research to inform decision making.

Jacqui has previously chaired the Cultural Learning Alliance and is an Evidence Associate for the CLA. She currently chairs a school governing body. She was appointed as a Commissioner for the Durham Commission in Creativity in Education and received an MBE for services to the arts in the 2022 New Year’s New Year’s Honours List. She joined the board of the Birmingham Hippodrome in 2025.

At the RSC, Jacqui and her team use Shakespeare to help unlock potential in young people and adults. They work with schools, universities, communities and theatres across the UK and around the world.