Anette Ollerearnshaw

Anette Ollerearnshaw has gained her expertise of planning, production and delivery through working at the forefront of world-leading arts organisations and higher education providers. She works in key roles providing structure and leadership in support of the strategic vision, efficiency and innovation to enhance organisational performance coupled with continual improvement. 

Following a long career in Wigs, Hair & Make-up (WHAM) in live performance, she is still often sought as an industry consultant to form teams and lead creative production processes as well as sharing industry knowledge, skills teaching and nurturing the next generation of talent about topics such as sustainability and equality, diversity & inclusion.  

She enjoys working collaboratively, developing dynamic teams and ensuring that we make space to enrich each other within this; one of her guiding principles is strength through diversity. 

Anette is author of the WHAM sustainability principles and guidance for the Theatre Green Book and is the founder of the Association of British Theatre Technicians’ (ABTT) WHAM community, where she also volunteers as a Trustee Director. In 2024 she founded the pioneering ABTT WHAM Design awards, for which she acts as Executive Producer and which are now being presented annually at the Theatre Show in Alexandra Palace London.

She regularly writes articles for the quarterly industry ABTT ‘Sightline’magazine, and titles have included ‘The Politics of Innovation in Performance Technologies’ and ‘Sustainability in Wigs, Hair & Make-up for Performance’ and ‘Training & Education in the performing Arts: Hold to Run- at the Intersection of Machine & Performance’.

Since 2022, Anette has also shared her wide-ranging expertise by volunteering at Theatre Deli as Deputy Chair of the Board of Trustees and Designated Safeguarding Lead. She is also part of artist residencies selection panels and mentors to the annually selected Trainee Trustee. 

Drawing on her leadership in estates, technical and operations management, Anette brings specialist knowledge in strategic facilities oversight, risk management, and sustainable infrastructure planning for cultural organisations. 

She sits on both the Properties and Governance Subcommittees, where she contributes to the ongoing development of Theatre Deli’s estate strategy—ensuring that spaces are safe, accessible, and operationally robust in support of the organisation’s creative mission.