Nicola Rees currently serves as the Associate Director of Development at the University of Galway since October 2022, with a previous role as Director of Development and Alumni Relations during a maternity cover. Prior experience includes serving as Director of Development at Stanford Live from October 2016 to July 2022, and Associate Director of Leadership Giving at Stanford University from October 2015 to October 2016. Nicola Rees held the position of Director of Annual Giving at the San Francisco Opera from February 2012 to October 2015, and worked at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art from December 2001 to January 2012 as Associate Director of Development, Membership, and Assistant Director of Development, Individual Giving. Earlier roles include Executive Director at Schola Cantorum from November 1996 to November 2001. Educational qualifications include an academic degree in Music history, theory, and analysis from the Royal Northern College of Music, completed from 1990 to 1994.