Trustees

Life President

Dame Vivien Duffield continues the philanthropic legacy of her father Sir Charles Clore, one of Britain’s most successful post-war businessmen. After Sir Charles’ death in 1979, Dame Vivien assumed the Chairmanship of the Clore Foundations in the UK and in Israel. In the UK she also established her own Vivien Duffield Foundation in 1987 and merged the two in 2000 to create the Clore Duffield Foundation.

Dame Vivien’s UK Foundation has supported a wide range of organisations including the Royal Opera House, Tate, the Royal Ballet, the British Museum, the Natural History Museum, Dulwich Picture Gallery, the Southbank Centre and Eureka! The National Children’s Museum – to name just a few – as well as many hundreds of smaller projects. The Foundation has made a particular contribution to cultural education, having funded more than 40 Clore Learning Spaces across the UK, and to leadership training for the arts and charity sector, having launched Clore Leadership for the cultural sector in 2003 and Clore Social Leadership in 2008.

In addition to the Chairmanship of her Foundation, Dame Vivien was a member of the Board of the Royal Opera House from 1990 to 2001 and is currently Chairman of the Royal Opera House Endowment Fund. She is a Director of the Southbank Centre board and a Governor of the Royal Ballet. From 2007 to 2010 she was Chair of the Campaign for Oxford University. She is the founder and Life President of JW3, London’s new Jewish Community Centre, which opened in September 2013, and founder and Life President of Eureka! in Halifax. She is also Chairman of the Clore Foundation in Israel.

Dame Vivien’s charitable work has been formally acknowledged by many institutions, both in the UK and in Israel. She was awarded the CBE in 1989, the DBE in 2000, and won the Beacon Fellowship Prize in 2006. In 2008 HRH The Prince of Wales presented Dame Vivien with one of the first Medals for Arts Philanthropy. The Medal celebrates individuals who support the arts and recognises the contribution of the most inspiring philanthropists in the UK.

Trustee

Jonathan Reekie (he/him) began his career at Glyndebourne Opera and then went to be General Manager at the Almeida Theatre, founding Almeida Opera. In 1997 he took over as Chief Executive of Aldeburgh Music where he remained until 2014, a transformational period for the organisation culminating in the Britten Centenary celebrations. He was responsible for many highlights including Grimes on the Beach and over his career has commissioned over 40 new operas including Thomas Ades’ Powder Her Face. He co-edited The New Aldeburgh Anthology, a celebration of the Suffolk Coast and its musical life.

In 2014 he became Director of Somerset House Trust and has turned it into the home of cultural innovators, with an acclaimed cultural programme focussed on contemporary culture. He has led the development of London’s largest creative community, including Somerset House Studios for artists and the Exchange, a shared workspace for creative individuals and micro-businesses. In 2019 he co-curated the exhibition 24/7 – a wake up call for our non-stop world.

He’s also previously been a trustee to Musica nel Chiostro Batignano, an arts adviser to the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and is currently a trustee of the Arts Foundation. He is a director of the Northbank Business Improvement District and in that capacity was Chair of the Strand Aldwych Project group which guided the development of London’s largest pedestrianisation project in the last decade.

He has an Honorary Doctorate in Music from the University of East Anglia, is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music and in 2013 was awarded a CBE for services to music.

Trustee

Suzann McLean MBE, (She/Her) is a visionary arts leader. She has been recognised for her outstanding contribution to theatre and her commitment to widening access for young people from marginalised backgrounds to participate and lead in the arts.

As the CEO/Artistic Director of Theatre Peckham, and founder of Young and Talented, Suzann leads a talented and diverse team, achieving consistent growth year after year. Together they create an incredible platform for young people to develop their confidence and talent leading towards sustainable careers in the arts. Her work at Theatre Peckham enables the most exciting artists to stage authentic stories that excite, encourage and challenge audiences.

Beyond her leadership roles Suzann is also a highly regarded actor and director. Her directorial work spans across diverse genres, both nationally and internationally. Recent directing credits include Unseen Unheard, Sunny Side Up (OFFIE Nominated Best Director), Men-TALL, Extremism (OFFIE Nominated Best Director), Driving Miss Daisy (York Theatre Royal) and Catcher (Pilot Theatre). Acting Credits Include Pennyworth, There She Goes, The Honourable Woman, Dr. Who, Little Miss Jocelyn and Measure for Measure (National Theatre). Her work has been recognised with a British Arrows Gold Award for best performance, African Film Award for best actress and the Black British Business Awards Arts and Media Senior Leader.

Suzann continues to shape and inspire the future of theatre.

Trustee

Daisy Hale (they/them) is an award-winning independent producer and Creative Director of The Hale. The Hale produces and develops artists traditionally ostracised from the mainstream, focusing on Queer, Trans, Global Majority & Learning Disabled & Neurodivergent identities. Daisy’s work is not bound by form and takes place in theatres, cabaret, clubs, digital and large-scale events and focuses on using fun and populism that often has a grassroots activism strand to have wider conversations about socio-political topics. They advocate for producer development and creating alternative models of working, leadership and project creation built from a process of care.

Trustee

Kate Varah (she/her) is Executive Director and Co-Chief Executive at National Theatre, working with Director and Co-Chief Executive Indhu Rubasingham to deliver and advocate for the theatre’s huge national and international impact on stages, in cinemas, classrooms, community spaces, and online. Kate will become joint CEO in May 2024.

Experienced arts leader, related current trustee and advisory roles include: Council Member, Creative UK; Sheffield Theatres Crucible Trust (Trustee); PiPA Parents in the Performing Arts (Ambassador); member of: CIISA Co Creation Council; Creative Industries Council Growth Group; the Erskine Analysis formed UAL Advisory Council to understand how trade, migration and foreign policy can better support the creative industries.

Previous roles include Executive Director at the Old Vic; Business Development Director at inclusive theatre company Chickenshed; Solicitor Advocate (Employment) at Linklaters in London, Hong Kong, on secondment to JPMorgan, and additionally managing Pro Bono and Community Investment.

Varied past Trustee and Chair roles performed including: Society of London Theatre Board (Trustee, 2020-2023); Chickenshed, inclusive theatre company (Trustee, 2010-2016); Samaritans Chad Varah Memorial Appeal Taskforce, funding Samaritans Connect (Committee, 2010); and co-founding The Michael Varah Memorial Fund, a grant giving trust working to level the playing field for offenders (Trustee, 2007-date). Honorary Fellow at Keble College, Oxford and Fellow of the RSA.

Vice-Chair

Dhikshana (she/her) fell in and immersed herself in the world of museums, galleries, and the wider creative and cultural sector, reshaping her personal and professional path. Unwilling to let the background, education, or connections dictate people’s involvement in the sector, she champions inclusivity, to ensure that the arts reflect the rich diversity of our society, making it accessible and welcoming to all. With over 18 years of experience in the field, Dhikshana is currently the Head of Creative Programmes at the Museum of London, previously having worked in learning and engagement across the Science Museum, London Transport Museum, Brent 2020 – London Borough of Culture, Somerset House and at youth arts charity the National Saturday Club as well as consulted with the Wellcome Collection and Government Art Collection. She is dedicated to fostering collaboration and innovation, leading teams in the development and delivery of diverse and engaging programming. Additionally, she is committed to promoting representation and equity in the workplace, she has also served as a Trustee for the Museums Association and now holds the position of Vice Chair for Clore Leadership.

Trustee

Catherine Holden (she/her) is a culture and heritage consultant, trainer, facilitator and coach.

Founded on extensive experience in senior roles for leading creative institutions, her practice spans organisational change and governance, fundraising strategy, brands and marketing, as well as personal and team development. Catherine’s clients include a wide range of national and regional museums, galleries, festivals, performing arts organisations, science centres, local authority trusts, heritage bodies and historic houses, as well as membership and leadership networks.

Before founding her consultancy in 2016, Catherine’s career spanned National Museums Scotland, the Natural History Museum, Tate and the National Theatre. She is the chair of the national development agency Craft Scotland, a trustee of the Fruitmarket Gallery, and has served on the boards of the Arts Marketing Association and Edinburgh Art Festival.

Catherine is based in Scotland and works across the UK and beyond. She has a First Class degree in English Literature from Oxford University.

Trustee

Former Senior Partner, and a founding partner, of City law firm SJ Berwin LLP. Since retiring from the firm in 2007 he has held a number of non executive or advisory positions including Chairman of Kyte Group Limited, Chairman of CPA Global Limited and Non Executive Director of Wichford PLC. He is currently a Non Executive Director of Rathbone Brothers PLC, Chairman of Savile Group PLC, a trustee of English National Opera, Executive Committee Member of The Countryside Alliance and Trustee of The Clore Duffield Foundation.

Trustee

Roly Keating is an experienced creative and strategic leader in the cultural and broadcasting sectors. As Chief Executive of the British Library from 2012 to 2024 he transformed the Library’s visibility and impact across the UK and internationally, initiated major capital projects in London and Yorkshire, and revitalised the programme of exhibitions and events.

Before that Roly had a long and successful career at the BBC, where his roles included Controller of BBC Four (which he launched in 2002), Controller of BBC Two and Director of Archive Content. He began his career as a producer/director specialising in arts and documentaries.

Roly is a Governor of the Southbank Centre, a Trustee of Sheffield Documentary Festival and a former Board member of Channel 4, the Barbican Arts Centre and Turner Contemporary in Margate. He was knighted in the 2023 New Year Honours List for services to Literature.