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Moira Sinclair announced as new Chair of Clore Leadership

Moira Sinclair has been announced as the new Chair of Clore Leadership. She succeeds Sandy Nairne CBE, who stepped down after five years in the role at the beginning of March 2019.

A headshot of Moira Sinclair

Moira Sinclair is herself a Clore Fellow from the first year of the programme in 2004/5 which also incuded an eclectic and dynamic range of successful cultural leaders including Anwar Atktar, Writer and Journalist; Maria Balshaw, Director, Tate; Susanna Eastburn, Director, Sound and Music; Ciara Eastell, formerly CEO Libraries Unlimited; Nick Merriman, Chief Executive, Horniman Museum and Gardens; Keith Merrin, Director, Sunderland Culture; Eddie Nixon, Artistic Director, The Place; Axel Rüger, Secretary and Chief Executive, Royal Academy of Arts; Julia Twomlow, Director, Telegraph Museum, Porthcurno; and Erica Whyman, Deputy Artistic Director, Royal Shakespeare Company.

Moira Sinclair is well known for her impressive track record in leadership and governance roles in the culture sector. She is Chief Executive of the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and has previously held directorial roles at Arts Council England and Vital Arts, in addition to her governance and advisory work for organisations such as the British Library, the London Mayor’s Cultural Strategy Board, Arts Impact Fund, and East London Dance.

The appointment comes at a time of evolution for Clore Leadership. 2019 sees the organisation exploring new horizons, as it makes a deliberate move to refresh and promote an enhanced range of programmes and activities to cultivate excellence and innovation in the leadership of culture.

Moira Sinclair, Chief Executive of the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, said:

“The world needs strong, creative leaders, now more than ever, and those people need nurturing. As a new Fellow some fifteen years ago, I could never have imagined that I would now be joining Clore Leadership as the new Chair. The programme opened my eyes to the possibilities that sat within my grasp, gave me the confidence and skills to apply myself, and helped to create the platform for me to thrive as a cultural leader. If I can now contribute just a little to make sure the same opportunities are there for the next dynamic and diverse generation, I will be thrilled.”

Dame Vivien Duffield, Trustee and Founder of Clore Leadership, said:

“When we embarked upon this Programme I could not have foreseen the extent of the multiple successes we would be witnessing fifteen years later: from national theatre directors, to museum, gallery and orchestra leaders, and a diverse range of Clore leaders working across
the arts and creative industries in myriad ways. I gain tremendous satisfaction from seeing one of our very first Fellows now being appointed the Programme’s Chair. There could be no better emblematic indicator of the Programme’s achievements over its first decade and a half, and I very much look forward to working with Moira on Clore Leadership’s exciting future. No-one could better understand or be more supportive of its work to cultivate excellence in cultural leadership.”

Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair of Arts Council England, said:

“Moira’s appointment is exciting news for Clore and the whole arts world. Strong leadership is vital to the health of the sector, while increasing diversity at senior levels continues to be a priority. We need a range of innovative approaches and Moira has the experience to help champion and strengthen the leadership and governance of the sector.”

Hilary Carty, Director of Clore Leadership, said:

“I am delighted to be working with Moira. She joins Clore Leadership at an exciting time as we harness the wealth of experience and learning from the past 15 years to explore new horizons and generate fresh perspectives on the future of cultural leadership. As a sector leader herself Moira understands the requirement for the high quality and impactful leadership, that sits at the hear of our ambition as a dynamic and inclusive resource for leaders and aspiring leaders in the cultural sectors.”

About Moira Sinclair
Moira is Chief Executive of the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. In 2018/2019, PHF will make £30m grants to organisations and individuals working in the arts, in cultural education, in migration and integration, and in giving young people voice. PHF also partners with Comic Relief on a £3m Tech for Good programme, and with Esmée Fairbairn and Step up to Serve on the £4m Act for Change Fund. Moira is Chair of East London Dance and Vice Chair of the London Mayor’s Cultural Strategy Board. She is also a member of the British Library Advisory Council, of the Investment Committee for the Arts Impact Fund and of the Governing Council for the European Foundation Centre. Previously she was Executive Director London and South East for Arts Council England, and Director of Vital Arts. She has worked in local government, and in theatre and production management. A graduate of Manchester University where she studied drama, Moira became a Clore Fellow in 2004/05.

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