Executive Team Biographies

Duncan Wilson OBE

Chief Executive

Roles and responsibilities

Duncan became Chief Executive of the newly formed Historic England in May 2015.

Previous experience

Duncan joined Historic England from the Alexandra Park and Palace Trust where he was Chief Executive from 2011 to 2015. From 2002 Duncan was Chief Executive of the Greenwich Foundation for the Old Royal Naval College, and before that Director of the Somerset House Trust.

Duncan’s first job as a chartered accountant in 1987 was as Senior Management Accountant at English Heritage. Before accountancy he worked as a professional archaeologist in Oxford and Herefordshire, following post graduate research in European Archaeology.

External roles

Duncan has been a trustee of the Churches Conservation Trust (2008-2017) and a trustee of the Royal Armouries (2007-2011) and a community governor of Corelli College in Greenwich (2004-2007).

Michael Bishop

Director of Corporate Strategy and Business Improvement

Roles and responsibilities

Michael leads Historic England’s strategy development, corporate planning and performance monitoring. He leads on programme management, responsible for several major projects and programmes alongside grants administration, organisation development, and business development (fundraising and income generation).

Previous experience

Michael joined Historic England (formerly English Heritage) in 2013. He has held a variety of operational roles ranging from business management and grants administration to establishing our charged-for services. He has led Business Improvement since June 2018. Michael previously worked in retail, beginning his career in the John Lewis Partnership, and has also worked in event management.

External roles

Michael is a trustee of London Youth.

Liz Bushell

Director of Corporate Services

Roles and responsibilities

Liz oversees Historic England’s corporate services teams which include facilities, finance, human resources, and information management and technology.

Previous experience

Liz joined Historic England in December 2022 as Director of Corporate Services. She is a qualified Chartered Accountant. She previously worked for Arts Council England for over 20 years as Director of Finance and then Chief Financial Officer. Prior to that, she worked as an auditor for EY in their technology, communications, and entertainment division. Liz has a Diploma in Business Administration and is a certified coach.

External roles

Liz was previously a trustee of Bletchley Park Trust and is an independent member of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Finance Committee.

Claudia Kenyatta

Director, Regions (job-share)

Roles and responsibilities

Claudia Kenyatta and Emma Squire (job-share) oversee Historic England’s work in the regions, where we deliver expertise and advice, grants, and major programmes and build the effective partnerships that help us to explain, protect and care for the historic environment.

Previous experience

Claudia joined Historic England in September 2018. Prior to that, Claudia spent 15 years at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, where she specialised in heritage and culture policy, strategy and delivery. Her last role at DCMS before joining Historic England was as Director of Corporate Strategy. Before joining DCMS, Claudia worked in a variety of roles in the Cabinet Office and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

External roles

Claudia is Chair of the Board of Trustees at Battersea Arts Centre.

Emma Squire CBE

Director, Regions (job-share)

Roles & responsibilities

Emma Squire and Claudia Kenyatta (job-share) oversee Historic England’s work in the regions, where we deliver expertise and advice, grants, and major programmes and build the effective partnerships that help us to explain, protect and care for the historic environment.

Previous experience

Emma joined Historic England in December 2023 from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, where she spent over five years as Director of Arts Heritage and Tourism. At DCMS Emma worked with HE on projects including the Culture Recovery Fund, preliminary work on the renewal of the English Heritage Trust licence, shepherding through some of the more finely balanced listings cases, and championing High Streets Heritage Action Zones. Emma oversaw 28 public bodies while at DCMS, including not only Historic England but also the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Churches Conservation Trust, Arts Council England, and the national museums and galleries. She oversaw the UK City of Culture Competition and was Senior Responsible Officer for the Culture Recovery Fund.

Emma’s previous roles in Government include working at the Department for International Trade, and roles across the Business Department and the Treasury.

Ian Morrison OBE

Director of Policy and Evidence

Roles and responsibilities

Ian Morrison was appointed Director of Policy and Evidence at Historic England to help shape the future direction and strategies of the organisation and lead the delivery of its specialist services, strategy and central listing and research functions. Ian is finding new ways to champion and protect England’s historic environment and to maximise its value to the public.

Previous experience

Ian was previously Chief Executive of the Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) where he successfully expanded the charity’s advice, grants and loan services to help meet the growing demand of enterprising communities wishing to repair and re-use historic buildings they value. Prior to joining the AHF, Ian was Head of Historic Environment at the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), where he held the lead UK policy role for the historic environment and introduced and directed a number of HLF’s grant programmes. His early career was spent with Historic England (formerly English Heritage), where he amassed 15 years’ experience working in a variety of roles in London and the South West. Trained as an archaeologist, Ian has undertaken numerous archaeological excavations across the UK and the Middle East.

External roles

Ian is a former serving member of the Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England, the Prince’s Regeneration Trust Advisory Panel, the FWW Centenary Cathedral Repairs Fund and the DCMS-sponsored Cultural Development Fund Advisory Panel.

Amy Pitts

Director of Communications and Public Engagement

Roles and responsibilities

Amy leads our public engagement teams which include marketing and content, communications, creative programmes, learning and inclusion, and the Historic England Archive. Amy is responsible for engaging all audiences with the work of Historic England, inspiring people to get involved with heritage and the historic environment and overseeing a strategic approach to national and regional communication.

Previous experience

Amy joined Historic England in July 2019 from her previous role as Director of Visitor Services and Retail at the UK Parliament. Amy was at the UK Parliament for 5 years, prior to which she worked with Historic Royal Palaces at Kensington Palace. Amy brings a range of experience in engagement strategies, audience development and innovation planning in culture and heritage.

Andrew Wiseman

General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Roles and responsibilities

Andrew is head of Historic England’s legal, governance, internal audit and operational and organisational risk functions.

Previous experience

Andrew joined Historic England in 2018. He is a qualified solicitor. Prior to joining Historic England he had been a partner in a number of law firms where he specialised in planning, health and safety and environmental law. Many of his clients were public sector bodies.

External roles

Andrew is a board member of a Housing Association as well as sitting on their Audit and Risk Committee. He sits on the Law Society’s specialist Planning and Environmental Law Committee. He is a former Chair of UK Export Finance’s Advisory Board, CIWM’s Governance and Professional Ethics Committee and also a DEFRA Expert Committee.