NATIONAL MUSEUMS SCOTLAND - Key Persons
Adam became a Trustee of National Museums Scotland in April 2017 and his second term of appointment runs until March 2025.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Director of Campus Innovation and Development at the University of Leeds
You are here Home > About us > Our organisation > Leadership > Board of Trustees > Ann Allen
Ann became a Trustee of National Museums Scotland in April 2017 and her second term of appointment runs until March 2025.
Ann Allen is the Director of Campus Innovation and Development at the University of Leeds.
She is passionate about how the built environment can help improve the lives of everyone and is Chair of Architecture Design Scotland and the Built Environment Trust. She sits on the Boards of Scottish Futures Trust, Crown Estate Scotland and the Scottish Water Commission. Her other passion is creating a more equal and inclusive society and until recently was Chair of the Scottish Board of Women in Property and the CICES Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Council.
Ann was awarded an MBE in the 2018 New Year Honours List for services to Higher Education and in April 2022 was made an honorary Fellow of the RIAS.
She chairs the NMS Trustees' Estates Committee and lives in York.
You are here Home > About us > Our organisation > Leadership > Board of Trustees > Beth McKillop
Beth became a Trustee of National Museums Scotland in September 2022 and her term of appointment runs until August 2026.
Beth McKillop has wide experience and expertise in museum collections and development.
Beth was Deputy Director of the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, from 2011 to 2016. She has published and lectured about the arts of China and Korea. Educated in Glasgow, Cambridge and Beijing, she lives in London and maintains strong family links with Scotland.
She is currently a senior teaching fellow at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London University, and a senior research associate at the V&A. She was president of the Oriental Ceramic Society from 2018 to 2021 and has a book on the history of Korean ceramics in preparation.
She lives in London.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chief Executive
- Member of the Board
- Trustee
- Council Member of the UKRI 's Arts & Humanities Research Council
You are here Home > About us > Our organisation > Leadership > Board of Trustees > Dr Bridget McConnell
Bridget became a Trustee of National Museums Scotland in April 2023 and her term of appointment runs until March 2027.
Bridget McConnell is currently a council member of the UKRI's Arts & Humanities Research Council, board member of the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland, Honorary Vice-President of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and a non-executive director of Scottish Power Renewables Ltd.
Bridget is an experienced Chief Executive, Board Member and Chair with a record of achievement in leading and delivering significant service improvements, major capital developments and world-renowned events in the cultural and sports sectors. Career highlights include the 2022 reopening of the Burrell Collection, the opening of the Riverside Museum (European Museum of the Year in 2013), the 2012 opening of the Emirates Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome; a leading role in securing and implementing the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the 2018 European Championships held in Glasgow and Berlin.
A graduate of St. Andrews and Stirling Universities, Bridget has honorary degrees from Glasgow, Aberdeen and St. Andrews Universities and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and was made a CBE in 2015 for services to culture.
She lives in Stirling.
The Director has overall responsibility for implementing the policy and objectives of the Board of Trustees, and for leadership to staff and volunteers.
You are here Home > About us > Our organisation > Leadership > Board of Trustees > Dr Laura Young
Laura became a Trustee of National Museums Scotland in October 2018 and her second term of appointment runs until September 2026.
Laura is a qualified executive coach, working with busy, time-stretched founders, directors and CEOs to develop their businesses, whilst reducing overwhelm.
Laura is most well-known for founding, Teapot Trust, an award-winning national charity that is dedicated to help children cope with long-term health issues, in particular rheumatology conditions, by providing art therapy and art activities.
She is a Guild Fellow at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge; received an Honorary Doctorate from Queen Margaret University in 2015, and in 2016 was awarded an MBE in recognition of her services to children with health conditions. She is a Mental Health First Aider.
Laura began her career 30 years ago at the Science Museum London and remains an ardent supporter of museums and heritage crafts. She has a particular interest in how arts and culture contribute to health and a sense of wellbeing.
Laura lives in Gullane.
The Director of Collections is responsible for curatorial departments, research policy and programmes, collections management and conservation.
Job Titles:
- Chartered Accountant
- Trustee
- Chief Financial Officer for Edinburgh Airport Limited
You are here Home > About us > Our organisation > Leadership > Board of Trustees > Graeme Gibson
Graeme became a Trustee of National Museums Scotland in April 2021 and his term of appointment runs until March 2025.
Graeme Gibson is currently the Chief Financial Officer for Edinburgh Airport Limited with particular focus on long-term financial planning and forecasting, funding, financial control, risk, capital investment and governance.
Graeme is a Chartered Accountant (ICAS) and member of the Association of Corporate Treasurers. He is also a Trustee for an Edinburgh-based organisation The Welcoming, which provides services to migrants and refugees to learn English, find jobs and access local services.
Graeme lives in Edinburgh.
Job Titles:
- Director of External Relations
The Director of External Relations is responsible for Marketing and Communications, Digital Media, Fundraising and our National and International Programmes.
E: H.Ireland@nms.ac.uk T: 0131 247 4332
Executive Assistant: Angela Whitehead
E: a.whitehead@nms.ac.uk T: 0131 247 4431
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chartered Accountant
You are here Home > About us > Our organisation > Leadership > Board of Trustees > Ian Russell
Ian became a Trustee of National Museums Scotland in October 2018 and was appointed as Chairman in August 2020. This term of appointment runs until July 2024.
Ian Russell is a Chartered Accountant and has held a number of senior finance roles in a variety of commercial organisations during his executive career. He was an executive Director of Scottish Power PLC for 12 years, initially as Finance Director and then as Chief Executive.
Ian is now chair of Scottish Futures Trust.
Ian received a CBE in the 2006 New Year Honours List for services to young people and volunteering.
He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and lives in Edinburgh.
Job Titles:
- Chartered Accountant
- Trustee
You are here Home > About us > Our organisation > Leadership > Board of Trustees > Jandy Stevenson
Jandy became a Trustee of National Museums Scotland in April 2017 and her second term of appointment runs until March 2025.
Job Titles:
- Head of Corporate Policy and Performance
The Head of Corporate Policy and Performance provides an integrated approach to policy development, planning and performance management and reporting across National Museums Scotland.
Job Titles:
- Director of Finance & Resources
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Manager of Hollister
You are here Home > About us > Our organisation > Leadership > Board of Trustees > Motaram Mimi Brophy
Mimi became a Trustee of National Museums Scotland in April 2021 and her term of appointment runs until March 2025.
Motaram Mimi Brophy is the manager of Hollister, a large store in the St James Quarter in Edinburgh.
Mimi specialises in business development, visual merchandising, marketing and talent management and holds a Master of Arts in History from the University of Aberdeen. As a young, mixed-race woman she is excited to bring a fresh set of perspectives to the Board and is committed to the continued effort of diversifying and enriching the collections of museums, as well as reaching a wider audience.
Mimi lives in Edinburgh.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Director of Visitor Experience
The Director of Visitor Experience is responsible for the day to day operational management of National Museums Scotland in relation to all services provided to the visitor.
You are here Home > About us > Our organisation > Leadership > Board of Trustees > Manuel Fernández-Götz
Manuel became a Trustee of National Museums Scotland in October 2023 and his term of appointment runs until September 2027.
Manuel Fernández-Götz is Abercromby Professor of Archaeology at the University of Edinburgh, where he has also served as Head of the Archaeology Department.
His main research areas are late prehistoric and Roman societies, specialising in topics such as the archaeology of early cities, migrations, and battlefields. Manuel has carried out fieldwork in the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and Croatia, and authored over 230 publications. His research has been recognised by various distinctions and awards, including the Philip Leverhulme Prize and the Royal Society of Edinburgh's Thomas Reid Medal in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
He has been a board member of the European Association of Archaeologists and the Young Academy of Europe. His memberships and fellowships include, among others, the Academia Europaea, the Young Academy of Scotland, and the Societies of Antiquaries of Scotland and London.
He lives in the Scottish Borders.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Professor in Economics at Cambridge University
Monojit became a Trustee of National Museums Scotland in April 2023 and his term of appointment runs until March 2027.
Professor Monojit Chatterji is an established academic with an international profile.
Monojit is currently affiliated Professor in economics at Cambridge University, an Honorary Professor of Economics at Heriot Watt University and Emeritus Professor of Applied Economics at the University of Dundee. He is also a Bye Fellow at Fitzwilliam College Cambridge following on his stints as Fellow and Director of Studies in Economics at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, and previously the same position at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge.
He has considerable public policy experience in the UK with the School Teachers Review Body, Welsh Remuneration Board and Speakers Committee for IPSA as well as chairing the National Joint Council of the Fire Service.
He lives in Edinburgh.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Chairman of Scottish Medieval and Environmental History at the University of Stirling
You are here Home > About us > Our organisation > Leadership > Board of Trustees > Richard Oram
Richard became a Trustee of National Museums Scotland in October 2023 and his term of appointment runs until September 2027.
Richard Oram is Chair of Scottish Medieval and Environmental History at the University of Stirling and formerly Dean of Arts and Humanities there.
He brings broad experience in senior academic management, coupled with a rich and successful track record of public history and partnership working with local communities in exploring and interpreting their histories and heritage.
With an interdisciplinary background in medieval history, archaeology and architectural history, he has researched and published extensively on Scotland's medieval culture and society within the broader context of the North Atlantic World, and especially on the interaction between humans and their wider environment.
He lives in Perth.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Professor of Developmental Biology
Mary became a Trustee of National Museums Scotland in April 2017 and her second term of appointment runs until March 2025.
Mary Bownes is a Professor of Developmental Biology and has retired as Senior Vice-Principal of the University of Edinburgh.
Mary ran an active research team for many years and was Head of the Institute of Cell and Molecular Biology becoming Senior Vice- Principal when she led on a variety of projects. She has served on national and international bodies relating to research, postgraduate education, widening access, sustainability and public engagement and has been actively engaged with National Museums Scotland over a number of years, especially during the Science Festival and in advising on the development of National Museum Scotland's new Science and Technology Galleries.
Mary lives in Edinburgh.
Job Titles:
- Director of Public Programmes
The Director of Public Programmes is responsible for content development and programming, which includes Exhibitions, Design, Displays, Technical Services and Learning & Engagement.
You are here Home > About us > Our organisation > Leadership > Board of Trustees > Stephen Dando
Stephen became a Trustee of National Museums Scotland in September 2022 and his term of appointment runs until August 2026.
Stephen Dando has led Human Resources in a number of large international organisations spanning both the public and private sectors.
Stephen was a Managing Director at Bain Capital, with a human capital remit across Europe portfolio companies, until his retirement in December 2021.
Prior to this, Stephen was Chief Human Resources Officer at Thomson Reuters, and Director, BBC People, serving as a member of the group executive committee at both. During his earlier career he held numerous generalist and specialist HR roles at Diageo, United Distillers, Austin Rover and Ferranti. He has also held various advisory and trustee roles, including at the Thomson Reuters Foundation, Engage for Success Foundation and the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development.
He received an MBA from the University of Edinburgh and a BA (Hons) from the University of Strathclyde.
He also serves as a Senior Adviser at Bain Capital, is a Non-Executive Board Member of the UK Cabinet Office, and a CHRO Advisory Board member with Korn Ferry, Europe.
Stephen lives in London.
Job Titles:
- Personal Assistant to Director and Office Manager