Lizzie Guntrip is part of the Dustkickers, a group of 16-25 year olds who have been helping transform the way young people get involved with heritage. The group played a key role in deciding how £10million of National Lottery funding was awarded through HLF’s Kick the Dust programme.

Now, as a member of the South East Committee, Lizzie will be part of a panel making decisions on applications from across the region for up to £1m of National Lottery funding.

Meet our new members

Alongside Lizzie, there are three other people joining the South East committee while the London committee is welcoming two new members.

Each brings a wealth of local knowledge and diverse experience and specialisms – from wildlife and landscapes to historic interiors and community champions.

South East Committee

Emily Brennan – conservation leader

Passionate about wildlife and wild places since childhood, Emily strongly believes in the right of future generations to have a healthy, beautiful natural environment. She has over 25 years’ experience in conservation organisations and currently works for the National Trust looking after properties in Surrey and Sussex.

Lizzie Guntrip – wildlife writer and inspirer

Lizzie is a consultant and writer on natural history and access for all and inclusivity issues. In 2015, having been diagnosed with the neuroimmune disease M.E., Lizzie launched the social movement #WildlifeFromMyWindow with BBC Earth, celebrating how nature uplifts and inspires.

Lydia Lee – curator and place maker

Lydia has a passion for high quality place making and sustainable regeneration. Her roles in the public sector have included managing CABE and English Heritage’s education programme, Engaging Places, as well as community engagement in museums, curator for a historic house and Head of Culture at LB Bromley.

Neena Sohal – participation pioneer

Neena is committed to widening participation in heritage and culture and has worked in the sector for her whole career. As a freelance consultant, she has advised on and pioneered numerous innovative projects engaging diverse communities and schools across the South East of England. She is a trustee of the South Asian Diaspora Arts Archive, founder Director of the RAH and has worked in a number of senior management level positions in local authorities.

London Committee

Claire Madge – blogger and accessibility champion

Claire is a museum consultant, award-winning volunteer and blogger who has worked passionately to improve inclusion across the sector. She sits on the Access User Group at the Globe Theatre and worked with the Horniman Museum for four years to help make their exhibitions and spaces more accessible to everyone.

Peter Neal – landscape specialist

Peter is a landscape architect and environmental planner with over 25 years professional experience. A sector leader, consultant and author, Peter specialises in green infrastructure planning and the design, funding and management of urban parks and the public realm. He wrote the Rethinking Parks research report for Nesta and HLF’s State of UK Public Parks reports.