taking our culture forward

Hon Chris Thomas MHK

Caairliagh ~ Chair

Hon Chris Thomas MHK

Hon Chris Thomas MHK was appointed Chair of Culture Vannin in November 2016.

A Douglas Central MHK, Chris is the former Minister for Policy and Reform. For Chris' Tynwald profile and full list of interests, please click here.

Chris moved to the Island in 2001 to run the franchised Financial Regulation MSc at the start-up Nunnery Business School having first visited the Island to play his double bass in the Villa Marina in 1979. He was brought up in Millom in the Lake District, studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Balliol College and had a 15 year career in London as a financial analyst and university lecturer following an internship in the EU Commission in Brussels. Alongside this he worked in international projects, most recently in China, Eastern Caribbean and Vietnam.

In his first couple of years on the Island Chris completed the Postgraduate Certificate in Manx Studies, and is Chair of the Island’s United Nations Association, and member of the Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian and Victorian Societies, Manx Wildlife Trust, and The Friends of Manx National Heritage. He was honoured to be asked to deliver the annual Illiam Dhone Address in January 2017.

Chris was a founding member of Culture Vannin’s Building Conservation Forum and is looking forward to serve as Culture Vannin initiates, inspires and supports a wide range of activity.