The Margaret Mooney Award for Outstanding Achievement in Administration honours an administrator who has most embodied the hard work and excellence the professional theatre demands.

Eva Cairns has been working on the administrative side of dance and theatre since 1988. Her first eight years were spent in the field of tour management and touring market development for Judith Marcuse Dance Company (Vancouver) and O Vertigo Danse (Montreal). She started working with theatre during three years at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto where she was assigned to special international projects and was the Administrator for Performing Arts.

In Edmonton, Eva has been the General Manager of Shadow Theatre, the Edmonton Associate for 2004 Magnetic North Theatre Festival, and worked with several independent artists and theatre companies providing grant writing services and mentorships. She came to Catalyst Theatre as Interim General Manager in April 2006 and was seduced, despite herself, into staying.

Eva is a constant source of information and advice to any and all theatre administrators in Edmonton and across the country, a fact acknowledged by the Canada Council for the Arts which this year awarded her with The John Hobday Award in Arts Management. She is a passionate and tireless arts advocate and the professional theatre in Edmonton is truly fortunate to benefit from her tremendous generosity.

The Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards Committee is delighted to honour Eva Cairns.