She takes over from Dan Clayton Jones who steps down after seven years. 

Dr Williams will join the 15-strong Board of Trustees, which includes leading figures from the heritage sector, appointed by the Prime Minister to run both Funds. Their role is to steer the policy and direction of the HLF and decide on the larger grant applications for heritage projects. The Board also takes all decisions on applications to the NHMF, the nation’s fund of last resort for heritage, which currently distributes £5m each year. 

Dr Williams commented: “I’m delighted to be joining the Board of the Heritage Lottery Fund and the National Heritage Memorial Fund. As a passionate advocate for heritage - in all its guises - I am looking forward to becoming actively involved with funding decisions for projects in both Wales and right across the UK.”

Biographical note:

As well as working in the private sector as a specialist in leadership development, Manon Williams is a member of the household of The Prince of Wales, where she has served as a senior Private Secretary since 2004. Prior to this, she worked in public affairs and governance at the BBC, as Secretary of BBC Wales and subsequently Head of Public Policy, Nations and Regions. She has also been a member of the Senior Civil Service as Director of Communications at the National Assembly for Wales and worked as Head of Press and Public Relations at S4C. She is currently a member of the Welsh Government’s Tourism Sector Panel.

Manon is a former Chairman of The Prince’s Trust Cymru and Governor of the Royal Shakespeare Company and has served on the advisory boards of the Philharmonia Orchestra and Welsh National Opera. She holds a doctorate in Medieval Literature from the University of Cambridge.

Notes to editors

• Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. HLF has supported more than 30,000 projects allocating £4.7billion across the UK.
• The National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) is the ‘fund of last resort’ and receives annual grant-in-aid from the Government. It was set up in 1980, to save the most outstanding parts of our national heritage, in memory of those who have given their lives for the UK. NHMF is due to receive £20m grant-in-aid from the Government between 2011 and 2015 allowing for an annual budget of £4m -£5m. www.nhmf.org.uk  

Further information

Please contact Natasha Ley, HLF press office, on telephone: 020 7591 6143 or mobile: 07973 613 820.