The HLF North East committee is made up of leading figures in the heritage sector right across the region. They are specially chosen for their local knowledge and range of experience. The committee is responsible for making decisions on North East regional applications to HLF ranging from £50,000 to £1million and are supported by the regional team who are based in Newcastle.

HLF receives a wide variety of applications for heritage projects with themes including wildlife, historic buildings and community based schemes. This is reflected in the existing and new committee members’ impressive skills and expertise.

Lindsay Allason-Jones hails from an archaeology and museums background and has a particular interest in the Roman Empire and the archaeology of the North East region. Lindsay currently holds the prestigious position of Director of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Artefact Studies at Newcastle University where she works on involving specialists from the science and arts sectors in researching historical artefacts of all periods. Previously, Linsday was Director of Archaeological Museums at Newcastle University, responsible for the Museum of Antiquities and the Shefton Museum of Greek Art and Archaeology.

This wealth of knowledge will perfectly compliment the already existing team, Lindsay Allason-Jones comments: “I am delighted to have been selected as an HLF committee member for the North East region. The region is close to my heart and I am looking forward to my first meeting this week when I can really get to grips with some projects. Having worked in museums for many years, I know how important HLF funding can be and what a difference it can make, so I am pleased to now be a part of it.”

Dr Susan Antrobus, the second new committee member is an ecologist and is currently the Biodiversity Co-ordinator for the Tees Valley Biodiversity Partnership. Starting her career as a natural environment research scientist, Susan worked on the genetics of plant populations in Oxford and the Antarctic which led on to volunteer and community led conservation projects. Susan specialises in community engagement, education and life long learning mostly within urban environmental schemes, having worked at Castle Eden Dene on the Durham coast and as Middlesbrough’s wildspaces officer. Working across the region, Susan now brings her immense local knowledge to the HLF committee.

Dr Susan Antrobus, says: “It is a real privilege to have been selected as an HLF committee member for the North East. It is particularly exciting as it is the International Year of Biodiversity, and I hope to be able to make use of my experience in the sector for any natural and biodiversity heritage projects. Through my work with volunteers I know that many projects heavily rely on volunteer time and effort, and it is great that I will now play a part in supporting them.”

Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in the North East, Ivor Crowther, says: “We are really pleased to welcome both Lindsay and Susan to the team. They will both bring huge amounts of experience and extensive local knowledge to what is already a strong group. Both new members will be great assets and benefit HLF and the heritage of the North East region.”

Recent highlights awarded by the North East committee include the £249,400 award to Northumberland Working Lives, a project aiming to open up 800 years of Northumberland history including archives of letters, documents and certificates through a major cataloguing and digitisation project; £1.8million to Central Stockton town centre for a major renovation and regeneration project as part of the HLF’s hugely successful Townscape Heritage Initiative programme.

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 33,900 projects, allocating £4.4billion across the UK including £209million in the North East.

Further information

Laura Bates, HLF Press Office on 020 7591 6027 or lbates@hlf.org.uk