Who we are

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President

Lord Lee of Trafford

President

Lord Lee of Trafford was the founder Chairman of ALVA, a role he held since his appointment in 1990. He stood down at the 30th AGM in September 2020, and was elected as the association's President. [more...]

Staff

Bernard Donoghue OBE

Director

Bernard Donoghue has been the Director of ALVA since September 2011 following a career in advocacy, communications and lobbying, latterly at a senior level in the tourism and heritage sector. Mobile: 07740 622355[more...]

Email: [email protected]

Lucy Santos

Finance and Business Manager

Board

Helen Bonser-Wilton

Chief Executive, Leeds Castle, Kent.

Helen is the Chief Executive Leeds Castle, Kent. Leeds Castle has been described as the 'loveliest castle in the world' and it is a member of Treasure Houses of England. Prior to joining Leeds Castle in March 2021 Helen had been Chief Executive of The Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth. Helen joined the board of ALVA in September 2020.[more...]

Geoff Spooner

Senior Vice President and General Manager; Warner Bros Studio Tour London

Geoff is the Senior Vice President and General Manager of the award-winning Warner Bros. Studio Tour London 'The Making of Harry Potter'. He has previously had senior roles at Warwick Castle, Legoland Windsor and the BA London Eye. Geoff joined the ALVA Board in February 2022.

Sharon Pickford

Director of Support and Revenue, The National Trust

Sharon has been the Director of Support and Revenue at the National Trust since 2018. Prior that she was Members and Donors Director at the National Trust since 2015. Before joining the Trust has senior operational and marketing roles at 02, British Gas and Wayra. Sharon joined the Board of ALVA in March 2022.

Simon Addison

Business Manager, Roman Baths and Pump Room, Bath

Simon is the Business Manager, Roman Baths and Pump Room, Bath, and heads the finance and business planning functions at the Roman Baths. He is responsible for business analysis, pricing strategy and leads the benchmarking work.[more...]

Louise Halliday

Director of External Affairs, Royal Albert Hall, London

Louise joined the Royal Albert Hall as Head of Marketing and Digital in 2013, and was promoted to Director of External Affairs in June 2018. Louise’s responsibilities include Marketing, Press, Branding, Insight, Ticketing Services and the Archive. From December 2022 Louise has also been responsible for Visitor Services, Security, Merchandise and Retail.

Samantha Potts

Head of Visitor Experience, Royal Opera House, London

Samantha is the Head of Visitor Experience at the Royal Opera House, over-seeing Front of House, Box office and the Tours programme. Samantha began her career in the cultural sector working as a Theatre Administrator in a regional theatre in Southampton.[more...]

Lisa Robshaw

Head of Marketing and Sales, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland

As Head of Marketing and Sales at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), Lisa has responsibility for the marketing, sales, membership and adoption and events and experiences teams that work across Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park. Prior to joining RZSS, she held positions at Historic Environment Scotland and Continuum Attractions.

Helen Ireland

Director of Marketing and Communications, National Museums Scotland

Helen is the Director of Marketing and Communications at National Museums Scotland and was previously Director of Marketing and Communications for Scottish Opera.

Baroness Patience Wheatcroft of Blackheath

Chairman of ALVA

Baroness Wheatcroft joined the Board of ALVA in 2012 and was elected as the Chairman of ALVA in September 2020, succeeding the founder Chairman, Lord Lee. [more...]

Thomas Coke, The Earl of Leicester

Chairman of Treasure Houses of England; owner Holkham Hall, Norfolk.

Thomas Edward Coke, 8th Earl of Leicester, became a board member of ALVA in November 2015, and represents the Treasure Houses of England. [more...]

Judith Owens MBE

Chief Executive, Titanic Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Judith Owens was appointed CEO of Titanic Belfast in December 2017, and joined the Board of ALVA in February 2018. Judith was awarded the MBE in the 2022 New Year's Honours List for services to tourism in Northern Ireland. [more...]

Lorraine Rossdale MVO

Head of Event Management and Marketing, Westminster Abbey, London.

Lorraine has been the Head of Event Management and Marketing at Westminster Abbey since 2012, and joined the ALVA Board in February 2018. Lorraine has previously held Director roles at Historic Royal Palaces.[more...]

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