Who we are

Loyd is a broadcaster and entrepreneur who has a long association with the arts and heritage sectors. He is chairman of Gresham College, a trustee of the Warburg Charitable Trust, a governor of the British Institute of Florence and president of the Arts Society.

His past appointments include service as a board member of English Heritage, the Museums and Galleries Commission and the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. He was formerly chairman of the Churches Conservation Trust and vice chairman of the Royal Drawing School. A keen guitarist, he performed for the eighth time at Glastonbury this year.

In 2015, Loyd was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to heritage.

Nickie is Leader of Westminster City Council, and previously held roles that covered children and young people, parking, community protection and premises management.

Her portfolio includes city policy, corporate strategy, performance and communications, government relations and public affairs, ceremonial and Lord Mayoral matters, the People Services function and liaison with the BIDS and major business stakeholders in the city.

Away from politics, Nickie has enjoyed a career in communications including roles with The Children’s Society and Bradford & Bingley where she headed up the press office. She currently undertakes a number of training courses for the PRCA, the communications industry trading association.

Ruth is a chartered accountant and a non-executive director of two UK listed companies, Ocado Group plc and Travis Perkins plc, and has chaired the audit committee at both companies.

Her prior experience includes being a non-executive director and chair of the audit committee at Coats Group plc from 2014 to 2018 and a trustee and member of the audit committee of the charity The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for ten years to 31 March 2019.

Prior to her non executive career, Ruth worked for 33 years at the professional services firm KPMG, where she was a member of the UK board for six years, retiring in 2009 as a partner and vice-chairman.

Ruth was a member of the advisory board of The Royal Parks from 2008 to 2016 when it was an executive agency of DCMS.

Heather is Chief Executive Officer of the lifestyle clothing brand Finisterre. She has worked in retail for 30 years including at a variety of high street names and premium brands including Laura Ashley, Fat Face and Hotel Chocolat.

Starting in buying and merchandising, then multi-channel retailing, Heather has vast experience of brand, strategy and commercial planning centred around the customer. She is also a non-executive director for Line Life Ltd and R Chocolate of London.

Michael is the Comptroller in the Lord Chamberlain's Office, and head of one of the five departments in the Royal Household. The Lord Chamberlain's Office is responsible for all ceremonial events attended by The Queen, including State Visits, the State Opening of Parliament, investitures and garden parties.

Michael joined the Royal Household on 1 October 2014, assuming the appointment of Secretary of the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood. Prior to this, he served for over 35 years in the Coldstream Guards.

Wesley is a broadcaster, journalist, historian, horticulturist and curator. He has worked on numerous BBC television and radio programmes, including Nationwide, Newsnight, Panorama, Holiday, Watchdog, Health Check and Value for Money and the various daily news outlets. He has worked in 40 countries and continues to write for national newspapers and journals.

Wesley is a vice-president of the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association. He was a previous member of the RHS Show Gardens Panel and was chairman of the Heritage Lottery Fund Committee for London for seven years.

Wesley was a member of the advisory board of The Royal Parks from 2013 to 2016 when it was an executive agency of DCMS.

Wesley was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2015 for services to heritage.

Jeff was Chief Officer of the Greater London Authority (GLA) until his retirement in 2018. Before this, he was Chief Executive of the Government Olympic Executive at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), where he led the government team which helped win London’s 2012 Olympic bid.

On joining the GLA in 2007, Jeff was a Senior Adviser in the Mayor’s Office and subsequently became the Director of Transition after the election in May 2008.

Jeff’s previous roles include Director General (Children, Young People and Communities) at DCMS and Executive Director of Policy and Partnerships at the GLA.

Georgia was appointed Leader of Camden Council in May 2017. She was elected a councillor for the Kentish Town ward in 2010, and then made her way into Cabinet positions serving as portfolio holder for both young people and adult social care.

Georgia is the Deputy Leader of London Councils and Executive Member for Employment and Skills.

Georgia has a particular interest in youth politics and published a book called Wasted: How Misunderstanding Young Britain Threatens Our Future. It draws on two years spent travelling around the UK interviewing young people about why they weren’t engaged in politics.

Richard has over 20 years’ experience in strategy across business, government and civil society. He has worked variously with Clarence House, the British Council, Ordnance Survey, ENO, Business in the Community and the Department for Business.

Richard began his career with Barclays PLC, where he spent ten years, followed by eight years at KPMG LLP. He has been a local authority member, a non-executive director of an NHS Trust, and for over a decade has been on the advisory board of the Queen Elizabeth II Garden in New York. Richard holds an MBA from the University of Oxford.

Danny was appointed Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich in May 2018. He has been a councillor since July 2004.

Danny grew up in the borough and represents the Shooters Hill ward. He was appointed to the council’s Cabinet as Lead Member for regeneration and transport in 2014. He became Deputy Leader in 2016 and held the Cabinet portfolio for regeneration and sustainability.