Sir Geoffrey Holland, Sarah Carthew, Glen Lawes, John Hicks, Geoffrey Bond, Alexander Cunningham, John Tarrant, Helen Forde and Robert Wand have been appointed as Regional Chairs and National Members to the Board of the MLA.
The appointments of current serving regional chairs Geoffrey Bond, Sir Geoffrey Holland, Sarah Carthew, John Hicks, Helen Forde and Alexander Cunningham will run for three years from 1 October 2006 to 30 September 2009. All the other appointments will run for four years from 1 October 2006 to 30 September 2010.
Biographical notes
Roy Clare has been Director & Accounting Officer of the National Maritime Museum, Queen’s House & Royal Observatory Greenwich since 2000. He has focused on leadership and workforce development issues, representing NMDC and working collaboratively with DCMS, MLA and regional and national museums across the UK. Through this work he was invited by Tony Hall to join the board of Creative and Cultural Skills (SSC). Previously a Rear Admiral in the Royal Navy, Roy has not undertaken any political activity.
Michael Walsh is currently retired, but was formerly Chief executive for Europe, the Middle East and Africa of Ogilvy and Mather. He continues to be involved with a wealth of not for profit organisations. He was appointed chairman of the UK Disasters Emergencies committee in 2005. He has also been a trustee of the British Red Cross, including six years as vice- chairman. He has also been involved with the Maritime Trust, the National Maritime Museum and Children’s Express. He is also a worldwide trustee for WWF. He has not undertaken any political activity during the last five years.
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Yinnon Ezra has been a local authority Chief Officer since 1990, and has a strong track record of finding innovative and radical solutions to delivering Cultural Services that engage with communities. As Director of Recreation and Heritage for Hampshire County Council his portfolio covers Arts, Tourism, Countryside, Museums and Archives, Libraries, Lifelong Learning and Sport. At Kent County Council his department was used as a Government pilot project for the ‘Future of Public Libraries’, now in Hampshire he is seeking to reinvent libraries, having pioneered the Discovery Centre concept which was awarded Cultural Pathfinder status. Yinnon has a history of encouraging practical solutions by breaking down barriers between professionals and encouraging cross-working. He is also an adviser to the Local Government Association on Tourism and Cultural issues. He has not undertaken any political activity during the last five years.
Nicholas Dodd is the Chief Executive of Sheffield Galleries and Museums Trust and lead Director of the Yorkshire Regional Museum Hub. The Trust is a not-for-profit management company and Charity that operates the City's museums on behalf of the Local Authority. He is the accounting officer and answerable to the Chairman and Board of Trustees. For six years until September 2006 he held a position as Trustee of the National Heritage Memorial Fund/Heritage Lottery Fund. He is on the executive of VAGA and CLMG, a Board member of the Sheffield Culture Board and a member of the Museums Association. Prior to 2002 he was head of Arts and Museums for Wolverhampton City Council, and responsible for the development of the service for eight years. He has not undertaken any political activity during the last five years.
Professor Sara Selwood is a cultural analyst. She is currently head of the Department of Cultural Policy and Management at The City University, London, and was previously principal lecturer and Quentin Hogg Research Fellow at the University of Westminster. Prior to that she was head of the cultural programme at the Policy Studies Institute, and director of Art & Society and the AIR Gallery in London. Sara has sat on numerous committees and steering groups and is currently a trustee of the National Portrait Gallery and on the board of Arts Research Digest. She is also a regular contributor to the media. She has not undertaken any political activity during the last five years.
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Sir Geoffrey Holland currently chairs the Government’s Quality Improvement Agency for Lifelong Learning. He was Vice Chancellor of the University of Exeter from 1994 to 2002 and before that Permanent Secretary successively of the Department of Employment and the Department for Education. He chaired the Government Advisory Panel on Education for Sustainable Development (1998-2004). He was a Member of the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education (1996-7) and first Chair of the South West Museums Libraries and Archives Council from 2002. He is a non-executive Director of Limia Investment Group PLC. He has not undertaken any political activity during the last five years.
Sarah Carthew is currently Chief Executive of Richmond Music Trust, providing music education to the London Borough of Richmond. She was appointed to the board of EEMLAC in 2004, becoming Chair shortly afterwards. With twenty years’ experience in both local and national museums, she has held senior positions at both the V&A (2001 – 2005) and The British Museum (1995 – 2001). She has been vital in significantly increasing membership for both organisations while she developed and launched Young Friends of the British Museum with its associated programme of sleepovers, lectures and Sunday Clubs in 1999. She also has a wide range of charity experience, preparation and monitoring of budgets and is familiar with equal opportunities legislation. She has stood unsuccessfully in two local elections for the Labour Party during the last five years.
Glen Lawes is an experienced Chief Executive currently running one of Britain's leading independent museums. His Career spans H.M. Diplomatic Service and general management with British Petroleum; he has successfully managed businesses with a multi-million pound turnover and opened up new opportunities in demanding circumstances in the UK and overseas. Recent achievements include the substantial renewal and expansion of the ten Ironbridge Gorge Museums; raising over £17 million of Lottery and other funds. He has not undertaken any political activity during the last five years.
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John Hicks is a partner in Kentwood Associates, a consultancy working in the cultural and heritage sectors. Over the past five years he has worked with some 40 library, museum and archive services in the UK and overseas, specialising in vision mapping and organisational change. A former librarian, he became a corporate manager with the former Berkshire County Council, concluding his career there as Head of the Paid Service. He has been a member of the Board of MLA South East for the past four years and its Chair for the last three. He is a previous Chair of the Advisory Council on Libraries and a trustee of the LASER Foundation. He is an experienced speaker at conferences and seminars on cultural issues and public library management, both here and abroad. He has not undertaken any political activity during the last five years.
Geoffrey Bond is a Lawyer, Businessman and Broadcaster. Former Senior Partner of Law firm Ashton Bond Gigg specialising in corporate and heritage law, Broadcaster on radio and television with his own series on heritage for ITV in the 1980’s and an original expert on the Antiques Roadshow. Former Director of Central Independent Television Plc and former Chair of Impact Packaging Plc and other Companies, currently non-executive Director of the Charles Lawrence Group Plc. Present Chair of GEM (Group for Education in Museums) and the Papplewick Pumping Station Trust, Deputy Chair of the Museum of Law and the National Centre for Citizenship and the Law. Former Chair of Arts & Business East Midlands and a number of learned societies. Chair Bicentenary (2007) Cultural & Community Sectors Steering Group London. For many years Consul for Norway in the Midlands and founder of the City of London Bridge Ward Club Norwegian Business Scholars Trust and City of London representative of Seed Forum International. Past Master of a London Livery Company and a member of a number of City-related organisations. Sheriff of the City of London 2003/4. He has done extensive pro bono charity work mostly for heritage organisations. He has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years.
Alex Cunningham started his career in journalism and now manages his own Communications, Public Relations and Web Design business alongside public service roles. Alex is the founding Chair of the Children’s Trust responsible for local authority and health services to young people in his Borough. He is a member of the Arts Council England North East and has chaired the MLA North East for three years. He has excellent experience of consulting on crisis management. He is a Labour Councillor at Stockton on Tees and lead member for Children and Young People.
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John Tarrant has worked mainly in Academia, holding a number of posts at high level in a variety of institutions mainly involved with geography and environmental sciences. He is currently Vice-Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield. John has expressed respect for and an in-depth understanding of the MLA and is very aware of the wider implications through his involvement with a variety of universities. He has been involved with a number of international committees and also has some good private sector experience. He has not undertaken any political activity during the last five years
Helen Forde is an archivist with regional, national and international experience. She is the current chair of MLA East Midlands, and was chair of the Museums, Library and Archives Expert Panel at the Heritage Lottery Fund (2002 – 2005). She trained at Liverpool University and worked at the National Archives from 1979 – 2001. She has also taken on numerous consultancies within and outside of the UK, including ICA, the UN, WHO, UNESCO and the British Council. She has not undertaken any political activity during the last five years.
Robert Wand recently retired but was, until 1998, County Librarian of Lancashire when he was appointed as Director of Lifelong Learning and Cultural Services for Lancashire County Council. Much of his career has been concerned with the management of public libraries and museums for large Local Authorities, but he has also worked closely within Arts and Education to develop services to young people. He has not undertaken any political activity during the last five years.
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Notes to Editors
- The Government sponsored Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) and the nine independent Regional Agencies it funds in substantial part, exist to build a successful and creative nation by putting museums, libraries and archives at the heart of national, regional and local life. The MLA is chaired by Mark Wood, who was appointed – for four years - in June 2003 (DCMS News Release 068\2003).
- The Department for Culture, Media and Sport initiated a peer review of MLA in 2004. One conclusion was that the MLA and the Regional Agencies need to work together more effectively to a common purpose if their aims were to be realised more fully nationally and regionally.
- As a result of the review, the MLA Partnership has been formed which encompasses all ten organisations and a Partnership Agreement has been signed. The agreement includes the essential ingredient of linked governance whereby joint appointments have been made of nine Regional Chairs who are also to be national trustees on the MLA Board. This dual membership will form a strong mechanism of communication and alignment ensuring that all ten organisations own and share the MLA’s vision, priorities and direction.
- Members of the national board do not receive remuneration, but may claim reasonable travel and subsistence. Remuneration of £5000 plus reasonable travel and subsistence will be offered for the Regional Chair posts due to the substantial time requirement.
- These appointments have been made in accordance with the OCPA Code of Practice. Appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the appointments process.
