Nicky Ure
FOUNDER & CEO, URECULTURE
— Culture sector strategy & planning in the Gulf region an Europe
— Leader in regenerative sustainability for the culture sector
— 20 years experience across law, arts and culture and sustainability
— Former Director at the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT), Abu Dhabi
— Gallery Climate Coalition Spain Founding Member | Fellow of the Royal Academy of Arts (FRSA)
— MA Hons | PGDL | Business Management Sustainability, University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
Nicky Ure, Founder and CEO of UreCulture, is a senior cultural strategy specialist with over 20 years of experience across law, arts and culture, and sustainability in the Gulf region and Europe. A recognised leader in sustainability and regenerative impact within the culture sector, she applies a multidisciplinary, systems-thinking approach to develop forward-looking strategies and frameworks that prioritise environmental and social responsibility and net-positive solutions. Driven by a passion for enabling and preserving cultural heritage and the arts, Nicky established UreCulture to translate the mission of the culture sector into actionable sustainability strategies that create lasting impact for future generations.
Throughout her career she has held a number of senior leadership positions for high-profile arts and culture actors and projects, developing strategies and governance frameworks across large-scale teams and complex stakeholder mappings. Nicky has collaborated with world-renowned organisations, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, France Muséums, TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary, Expo2020 Dubai, the Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia and the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi. Her portfolio also includes work with prominent artists such as Manal Al Dowayan and Hashel Al Lamki.
A thought leader in sustainability and the arts, Nicky has been invited to speak at leading platforms such as the Department of Innovation MoCX at the Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia, the Art Business Conference at Art Dubai, Central Saint Martins (London), and Instituto de Empresa (Madrid). She was a founding committee member of the Gallery Climate Coalition (Spain) and she is currently a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
From 2008 to 2015, Nicky was Director of Programmes (Culture) at Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT), where she shaped the Culture Sector’s strategy, organisational design, and large-scale projects. Her contributions included planning for the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, and Abu Dhabi Art. Before transitioning to the culture sector, Nicky began her career as a banking lawyer with Simmons & Simmons in the UK.
Nicky earned an MA Hons. from the University of St Andrews, a Postgraduate Diploma in Law from the University of Law (London), and a certificate in Business Sustainability Management from the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.