Lynne Best (née McDowell) is currently Head of Communications for the music licensing company PPL, where she took up the role in 2016. She was previously Managing Director at Well Red Music and Media which provided corporate communications and policy advice to a range of global media and music companies. During this time, she also led the development of the Cato Academy – a roadie school specialising in tour management, production management, backline and live sound. She has also held the role of Head of PR at BPI, the UK’s representative body for record labels and organiser of The BRIT Awards and Mercury Prize.

Prior to working in music, Lynne started her career at the European Parliament in Brussels following the completion of her business and languages degree in Strasbourg, France. She is Chair of the Americana Music Association UK, Vice Chair of the Oh Yeah Music Centre in Belfast, and a Board Member of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland (where she will soon become Chair of the North/South Committee to ensure positive relations for the arts across Ireland). She is also on the Advisory Panel of the all-Ireland mental health initiative, Minding Creative Minds.