Rachel McCrystal

Rachel McCrystal is an accomplished professional with extensive experience in fundraising, partnerships, and consultancy across various sectors. Currently serving as the Coordinator for Japan Week 2025 at Manchester City Council and as Partnerships Manager for Daikin UK in Greater Manchester, Rachel also leads Connect with Japan as Managing Director. Previous roles include philanthropy consulting for University Academy 92 and Forget Me Not Children's Hospice, and head of fundraising at Seashell, where Rachel significantly contributed to a £52 million transformation project. Earlier career highlights feature securing £5.7 million in new business for OnSide Youth Zones and managing strategic partnerships at Barnardo's. Rachel's educational background includes a BA Hons in French and Japanese from the University of Central Lancashire and ongoing studies in Advanced Japanese at The University of Manchester.