Sandra Dinneen, Paul Farmer, Patrick Newberry, Susie Thornberry, and Richard Upton have been reappointed as Commissioners of Historic England.
The Secretary of State has reappointed Sandra Dinneen, Paul Farmer, Patrick Newberry, Susie Thornberry, and Richard Upton as Commissioners of Historic England for terms of three years and four months from from 1 September 2022 until 31 December 2025.
Sandra Dinneen
Sandra Dinneen is an experienced Chief Executive with roles spanning the public, private and not for profit sector. She has a background in economic growth and has led and advised on a number of successful development projects.
Sandra has a keen interest in organisational development, cultural change and commercialisation. She continues to deliver leadership development programmes and executive coaching. Other roles include being a Non-Executive Director of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Foundation Trust, a founder Trustee and Member of the Sapientia Multi Academy Education Trust and leading the Priscilla Bacon Charity to deliver a new Hospice for Norfolk.
Sandra Chairs Historic England’s Business and Finance Committee and is a member of the Audit and Risk Committee.
Patrick Newberry
Patrick holds a number of non-executive directorships in the financial and professional services sectors, chairing audit and risk committees. He was a partner in PwC for 25 years, working in the financial sector in the UK and globally. He also served as a member of PwC’s Supervisory Board, Chair of its Strategy, Governance and International Sub-Committee and a member of the Audit and Risk Committee. He was a board member and former President (2010-2011) of the Management Consultancies Association.
In the not for profit sector, Patrick is a Trustee of the Georgian Group, Chairman of The Cornish Buildings Group, Chairman of the Cornwall College Group, Member of the Fabric Advisory Committee of Truro Cathedral and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Susie Thornberry
Susie is Assistant Director at Imperial War Museums where she leads public engagement for adults, young people, schools, and families across the five museums. Her extensive experience in arts, museums, festivals, and heritage includes roles with Historic Royal Palaces and Artichoke. Susie became a Commissioner of Historic England in 2018 and is a trustee of Battersea Arts Centre.
Paul Farmer
Paul Farmer has been Chief Executive of Mind, the leading mental health charity working in England and Wales since May 2006.
Paul is Chair of the NHS England Independent Oversight & Advisory Group which brings together health and care leaders and experts to oversee the current mental health long term plan for the NHS in England. He co-authored ‘Thriving at Work’ for the government, setting out how to transform mental health in workplaces.
Paul became a Commissioner of Historic England in 2018. He has an Honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of East London, is an Honorary Fellow of St Peter’s College, Oxford, and The Royal College of Psychiatrists, and was awarded a CBE in the New Year’s Honours 2016.
Richard Upton
Richard was the founder of the specialist regeneration property developer, Cathedral Group and was previously a co-founding Director of Mount Anvil. He has extensive experience in the field of complex regeneration projects through the UK. He was appointed as Deputy Chief Executive of U+I Plc in July 2015. Richard has served as a member of Historic England’s London Advisory Committee since 2012 and has campaigned extensively for sustainable restoration of heritage buildings, including the campaign to save Smithfield Market which he successfully fought and funded; the historic market buildings will now house the new Museum of London.
Commissioners of Historic England are remunerated £4113.00 per annum. All five Commissioners’ terms were initially extended by 8 months; they have subsequently been reappointed for terms of 3 years and 4 months.
These appointments have been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Sandra Dinneen, Paul Farmer, Patrick Newberry, Susie Thornberry and Richard Upton have declared no such political activity.