The HLF Committee for Yorkshire and the Humber is made up of leading figures in the heritage sector across the region - chosen for their wide range of experience and local knowledge. Responsible for making decisions on regional applications to the Fund from £100,000 to £2million, the committee is supported by the regional HLF team for Yorkshire and the Humber, based in Leeds.

John Williams, who brings strong experience from the finance and housing sectors, and Cynthia Wainwright, who has expertise in fundraising and relationship building for arts and cultural organisations, will join the existing five other members made up of local people through open advertisement. Their expertise widely reflects and complements the range of heritage applications that HLF receives.

John Williams, Sowerby Bridge
John was born in Yorkshire and has lived and worked throughout the county. He brings a wealth of experience due to 38 years in the finance industry, after which he took early retirement in June 2012 to pursue interests in the voluntary and not-for-profit sectors.

As Relationship Director and Head of Lloyds Bank's North Region Education, Community and Government Team for the past 11 years, he had particular responsibility for charities, further education, higher education, NHS foundation trusts, Non Departmental Public Bodies (NDPB) and local authorities. John is now a board member of two housing associations in Leeds and Chester-le-Street, trustee of an almshouse and educational charity in Hull, member of The Princes Trust West Yorkshire Public Sector Committee and a governor of Kirklees College.

He has joined the HLF Yorkshire and the Humber Committee with a particular interest in improving the communities and surroundings that people live in.

John Williams said: "I have had a lifelong interest in our national heritage, particularly in my native area and joining the HLF Yorkshire Committee now gives me the opportunity to use my skills and experience in a productive way. I am particularly excited by both the quality and diversity of the projects that HLF supports and am very much looking forward to getting fully involved in the benefits HLF can bring to people and communities in the region."

Cynthia Wainwright, Sheffield
Cynthia Wainwright‘s expertise in the arts and cultural sector has seen her working for leading institutions including Tate and the British Library.

She has worked as a development and marketing professional since relocating to the UK from California in 1995. As the former Head of Development at The Hepworth in Wakefield, Cynthia was part of the founding senior management team responsible for the gallery’s opening in 2011. While there, she spearheaded the fundraising campaign to complete the gallery building and secured substantial funding for its learning, outreach, exhibition and collections programmes.

Prior to this Cynthia spent seven years at Tate working on ambitious fundraising campaigns in support of its collection and exhibitions, as well as the capital campaigns for Tate Britain’s renovation and Tate Modern’s extension. As a fundraising and development consultant, Cynthia is now involved in supporting innovative cultural projects as well as campaign development strategy for a major university, and she holds degrees in literature and women’s studies as well as a Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) qualification. She has also been active in the European Association for Planned Giving, the Institute of Fundraising, Arts & Business and the CIM.

Cynthia Wainwright said: "Having experience in the arts and cultural sector for the past decade, I am passionate about ensuring and widening the benefits it can bring to our communities. Now, with this new role at the Heritage Lottery Fund, I am looking forward to bringing many transferable skills to the heritage sector. In Sheffield, a city that I’ve known for 15 years, the transformative effect of heritage funding can clearly be seen. I’m excited to get involved in the sheer variety of projects that can be funded and seeing the difference that HLF can make across the region."

Fiona Spiers, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund Yorkshire and the Humber, said: "We are extremely pleased to be welcoming John Williams and Cynthia Wainwright to the Committee. They bring a wealth of experience to what is already a very strong team of decision makers. Their wide ranging expertise and strong regional awareness will be of great benefit to both HLF and the heritage of Yorkshire and the Humber."

Notes to Editors

Cynthia Wainwright and John Williams first committee meeting in post with the Heritage Lottery Fund Yorkshire and the Humber Committee was on 20 March 2013. View further details of the Yorkshire and Humber Committee members.

Further information

HLF: Vicky Wilford on 020 7591 6046 / 07968 129 241, email: vickyw@hlf.org.uk.