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Current Trustees

Our Trustees promote Historic Royal Palaces’ Cause in the world.

They act in the organisation's best interests, ensuring high standards in all the work we do, and that we use our money and resources as effectively as possible.

The gardens surrounding Hampton Court Palace

Who's who

Charles Mackay - Chairman

Chairman of TDG plc (2000-2008), Senior Independent Director of Johnson Matthey plc (until 31 March 2008), currently Advisory Director of the House of Habib, and a member of the Board of INSEAD. He was non-executive Chairman of the Eurotunnel Group 2001-4, having been Deputy Chairman since 1999 and a non-executive director since 1997. He was until 1996 Group Chief Executive and Deputy Chairman of Inchcape plc, the international marketing and services group. Previously he worked with BP, McKinsey, Royal Pakhoed and the Chloride Group. Former non-executive directorships have included HSBC Holdings, British Airways, Thistle Hotels (where he was deputy chairman) and Gucci Group.

Sir Alan Reid KCVO
Deputy Chairman

Keeper of the Privy Purse and Treasurer to The Queen, and Receiver General of the Duchy of Lancaster. He is also a trustee of the Royal Collection and Chairman of Royal Collection Enterprises Ltd. Formerly he was International Chairman of KPMG Management Consultancy Worldwide and Chief Operating Officer for KPMG in the UK. He is also Governor and member of council, King Edward VII’s Hospital Sister Agnes.

Dawn Austwick OBE

Director of the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. She was Deputy Director of the British Museum, and from 1995–2000 Project Director of Tate Modern. Formerly she was Principal Consultant at KPMG, Theatre Manager of the Half Moon Theatre, and Projects Co-ordinator at Arts & Business. She is a Trustee of the Woodland Trust and sits on the London Advisory Committee of Arts & Business and the Public Interest Group of the Public Management Foundation.

Bridget Cherry OBE FSA

An architectural historian, writer and lecturer, and formerly Editor of the Pevsner Architectural Guides. She was an English Heritage commissioner, 1992-2001 and is a Member of English Heritage's Advisory Committee and Historic Parks and Gardens Panel. She is also a Trustee of Sir John Soane's Museum, the Museum at Fulham Palace, and the Building Books Trust and a board member of the Heritage of London Trust.

Sue Farr

An Executive Director of Chime Communications plc since 2003 and prior to this European Managing Director of Golin/Harris. Formerly Director of Corporate Communications for Thames Television plc (1990-3) and Director of Marketing for the BBC (1993-2000). A director of The Marketing Society since 1984, she was the first woman Chair in 1991-2. She is now a Fellow and a member of the Chairman’s Council. She was chairman of The Marketing Group of Great Britain in 1999-2001 and is Council member.

John Hamer

An education consultant, he has worked as a teacher in primary and secondary schools in Manchester, Sussex and Canada. He was a history, assessment and secondary education specialist, HM Inspectorate. He has been education policy advisor to the Heritage Lottery Fund. He is also an author and an advisor to The Victoria County History, The Historic Houses Association and is a Director of the Heritage Education Trust. He is a trustee/governor for three schools.

Sir Adrian Montague CBE

Adrian Montague is Chairman of British Energy Group plc, the UK’s principal nuclear generating company, Chairman of Friends Provident plc, a FTSE 100 Life Insurance company, and Chairman of Michael Page International plc, a recruitment company and a Director of Skanska AB, the Swedish international engineering and construction group He is also a Director of London First.

Sir Trevor Mcdonald OBE

The television presenter who currently leads ITV’s flagship current affairs programme, Tonight with Trevor McDonald. He has enjoyed a long and distinguished news career, meeting some of the world’s iconic leaders including George Bush, Nelson Mandela and former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. He serves in a number of charitable organisations including National Children’s Homes, the Shooting Star Children’s Hospice, Friends of Barnes Hospital and DePaul Trust. He also helps organisations dealing with awareness of Sickle Cell, autism and homelessness among young people.

Malcolm Reading

An architect who runs a multi-disciplinary company, working in the heritage, education and regeneration sectors. He was Director of Architecture and Design with the British Council 1990-6. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Society of Designers, Honorary Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and an adviser to the competitions office of the Royal Institute of British Architects. He is a Member of the Construction Sector Advisory Group, Department of Trade and Industry.

Sir Hugh Roberts KCVO FSA

Director of the Royal Collection and Surveyor of The Queen's Works of Art. He was a member of the Secretary of State's Advisory Group on the Historic Royal Palaces Agency 1990-8. He is Chairman of the Arts Panel, National Trust, trustee of the Harewood House Trust and The Cobbe Collection Trust and a member of the St George’s Chapel Fabric Advisory Committee.

General Sir Roger Wheeler GCB CBE

158th Constable of the Tower of London and was Chief of the General Staff 1997-2000. He is an advisor of Thales Plc, a non executive director of Serious Organised Crime Agency and AEGIS Defence Ltd. He is also a Trustee of the Royal Armouries and is Vice-President of Sandes Homes, a Services welfare organisation, and President of Combat Stress, the ex-Services’ Mental Welfare Society. He is also Chairman of The Board of Trustees of the Tank Museum.

A full register of interests is available from the Trust and Company Secretary.