Carole Souter to leave the Heritage Lottery Fund
The recruitment of her successor will begin in a few weeks
Carole Souter has announced she will step down as the chief executive of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF).
She said she was leaving her role at the end of April 2016 to take on new projects.
“‘By the time I leave I will have been here for 13 years – over half the organisation’s lifetime – during which time we will have committed more than £4.8bn of National Lottery funding to over 28,000 projects across the UK,” she said.
“As we begin to think about our next strategic framework, this feels like the right moment to wrench myself away and to start planning my own new projects.”
Souter, who has worked in policy development and operational management in the public sector for more than 30 years, joined NHMF/HLF in 2003. Prior to this she was the director of planning and development at English Heritage.
She has also worked in a number of government departments, including health, social security and the Cabinet Office.
She sits on the boards of Creativity, Culture and Education, the Kent Wildlife Trust and the National Communities Resource Centre. In 2011 she was made a CBE for services to conservation and was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 2014.
It is not yet known who will replace Souter, but a statement from the HLF said the recruitment process for her successor will begin in the next few weeks.
Peter Luff, the chairman of both the NHMF and the HLF, said: "It is impossible to overstate the contribution that Carole has made to the heritage of our nation through her inspirational leadership of both funds.”
Luff will be delivering a keynote speech at the Museums Association’s annual conference and exhibition, which will take place in Birmingham from 5-6 November.
She said she was leaving her role at the end of April 2016 to take on new projects.
“‘By the time I leave I will have been here for 13 years – over half the organisation’s lifetime – during which time we will have committed more than £4.8bn of National Lottery funding to over 28,000 projects across the UK,” she said.
“As we begin to think about our next strategic framework, this feels like the right moment to wrench myself away and to start planning my own new projects.”
Souter, who has worked in policy development and operational management in the public sector for more than 30 years, joined NHMF/HLF in 2003. Prior to this she was the director of planning and development at English Heritage.
She has also worked in a number of government departments, including health, social security and the Cabinet Office.
She sits on the boards of Creativity, Culture and Education, the Kent Wildlife Trust and the National Communities Resource Centre. In 2011 she was made a CBE for services to conservation and was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 2014.
It is not yet known who will replace Souter, but a statement from the HLF said the recruitment process for her successor will begin in the next few weeks.
Peter Luff, the chairman of both the NHMF and the HLF, said: "It is impossible to overstate the contribution that Carole has made to the heritage of our nation through her inspirational leadership of both funds.”
Luff will be delivering a keynote speech at the Museums Association’s annual conference and exhibition, which will take place in Birmingham from 5-6 November.