Duncan Wilson joined Historic England as Chief Executive on 5th May 2015.

From 2011 Duncan Wilson led the Alexandra Park and Palace Trust, developing a major regeneration and conservation scheme to restore the Victorian theatre and world famous television studios. Duncan joined Alexandra Palace from the Greenwich Foundation for the Old Royal Naval College where he was responsible for one of Europe’s finest and most extensive groups of baroque buildings. He also initiated a programme of major open air public events, Chapel concerts and Painted Hall dinners. In 2010 the Foundation opened to the public its new state of the art interpretation and education centre for the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, “Discover Greenwich”. Prior to 2002 Duncan worked at Somerset House Trust, where he led the project to restore the public spaces and open the site to the public from 1997. Duncan is a chartered accountant and his first post-qualification job was as Financial Controller of English Heritage. However, before accountancy he worked as a professional archaeologist in the 1980’s after post-graduate study in European Archaeology from Oxford University. Duncan has been a trustee of the Churches Conservation Trust since 2008 and of the Royal Armouries (2007-2011).

Alex Paterson has been Chief Executive of Historic Environment Scotland since September 2016. Previously, he was Chief Executive at Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). During his time there he oversaw the strategy for key national sectors, as well as business and community growth.

Mr. Paterson also worked to improve the region’s infrastructure, increase international trade performance, and promote business innovation.

Graduated from the universities of Strathclyde and Bath, his experience also stretches into the commercial sector, spending his early career with Esso Chemicals, Volvo, and with Scottish Enterprise. He has a strong background in community investment and engagement, and has a solid experience of organisational development and change management.

Gwilym Hughes was appointed as Cadw’s Chief Inspector of Ancient Monuments and Historic Buildings for Wales in May 2007, becoming Assistant Director (Historic Environment) in 2011.

He has 36 years experience in field archaeology and heritage conservation in Britain, Italy and Zimbabwe. During the late 1980s he spent four years in Zimbabwe where he was involved with the establishment of monument conservation programmes and archaeological research at the Great Zimbabwe and Khami World Heritage Sites. He returned to Britain in 1989 to work for Birmingham University Field Archaeology Unit, becoming one of the Unit Directors in 1998. Between 2000 and 2007, Gwilym was Director of the Dyfed Archaeological Trust based in Llandeilo, Wales.