• Join / Renew
  • View / Create Account
  • View Your Cart
  • Members’ Area
    • Publications
      • Royal Oak News
      • National Trust Regional Newsletters
      • Magazine Discounts
    • Travel
      • Albion Tours 2021
      • Arrangements Abroad 2020
      • Heritage Circle Tours
      • National Trust Partners
      • Hotels and Accommodation
      • National Trust Rentals
      • Royal Over-Seas League
      • In and Around London Map
  • Programs & Events
    • Winter 2021 Online Lectures
    • Past Fall 2020 Online Lectures & Tours
    • Fountains Abbey Online Fundraiser
    • Past Spring/Summer 2020 Online Events
    • Past Winter 2020 Events
    • Past 2019 Fall Events & Tours
    • Past Annual Benefits
    • Past 2019 Spring Events & Tours
    • Past 2018 Fall Events & Tours
  • Impact
    • Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal
    • Recent Campaigns
    • 2019 Grants
    • The Nigel Seeley Fellowship
    • The Damaris Horan Fellowship
  • Stories
    • Houses & Buildings
    • Gardens & Parklands
    • Art & Furniture
    • Nature & Wildlife
    • Cooking & Traditions
    • Families & People
    • Events & Galas
    • News & Announcements
  • About Us
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff
    • News & Announcements
    • Press
    • About The National Trust
    • FAQ
  • Support Us
    • Membership
    • Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal
    • Heritage Circle
    • 2020 Annual Fund
    • Lecture Support
    • Legacy Circle
    • Partners
    • Ways to Give

The Royal Oak Foundation

  • View / Create Account
  • View Your Cart
  • Join/Renew
  • Members’ Area
    • Publications
      • Royal Oak News
      • National Trust Regional Newsletters
      • Magazine Discounts
    • Travel
      • Albion Tours 2021
      • Arrangements Abroad 2020
      • Heritage Circle Tours
      • National Trust Partners
      • Hotels and Accommodation
      • National Trust Rentals
      • Royal Over-Seas League
      • In and Around London Map
  • Programs & Events
    • Winter 2021 Online Lectures
    • Past Fall 2020 Online Lectures & Tours
    • Fountains Abbey Online Fundraiser
    • Past Spring/Summer 2020 Online Events
    • Past Winter 2020 Events
    • Past 2019 Fall Events & Tours
    • Past Annual Benefits
    • Past 2019 Spring Events & Tours
    • Past 2018 Fall Events & Tours
  • Impact
    • Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal
    • Recent Campaigns
    • 2019 Grants
    • The Nigel Seeley Fellowship
    • The Damaris Horan Fellowship
  • Stories
    • Houses & Buildings
    • Gardens & Parklands
    • Art & Furniture
    • Nature & Wildlife
    • Cooking & Traditions
    • Families & People
    • Events & Galas
    • News & Announcements
  • About Us
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff
    • News & Announcements
    • Press
    • About The National Trust
    • FAQ
  • Support Us
    • Membership
    • Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal
    • Heritage Circle
    • 2020 Annual Fund
    • Lecture Support
    • Legacy Circle
    • Partners
    • Ways to Give

Stories

Hilary Mcgrady - Director General of the National Trust

National Trust names Hilary McGrady as new Director-General

December 20, 2017
hilary mcgrady

Hilary McGrady / National Trust images

Hilary, who is the conservation charity’s Chief Operating Officer, said she was ‘immensely proud’ after being appointed to the Trust’s most senior leadership role.

She will officially take over on March 12, next year. Hilary succeeds Helen Ghosh who announced earlier this year that she was stepping down to take up a new position.

Tim Parker, the Trust’s Chair, said: “The decision to appoint Hilary was made by the Board of Trustees and I am pleased to say the decision was unanimous.

“Hilary’s appointment followed a rigorous selection process during which we considered a range of excellent candidates from a variety of different backgrounds and organisations.

“I look forward to working closely with Hilary over the coming years and know she will do an outstanding job leading the Trust.”

Hilary, 51, has worked for the National Trust for 12 years, the last four of which have been in the executive team role of Chief Operating Officer.

As Chief Operating Officer, Hilary has overall responsibility for the operation, care and management of the Trust’s property portfolio in England, Wales and Northern Ireland comprising almost 250,000 hectares of countryside, 778 miles of coastline and more than 500 historic buildings. She oversees the daily running of all the Trust’s properties, including conservation and visitor experience, along with the charity’s commercial business. The Trust has enjoyed four consecutive years of growth in visitor numbers, income and conservation spend.

Hilary previously worked as the Trust’s Regional Director firstly in Northern Ireland, then Wales and finally London and the South East.

Originally trained in graphic design, Hilary’s career path started in the drinks industry in brand and marketing. In 1998, she moved to become director of a national arts charity and was subsequently seconded in 2002 to become CEO of Belfast’s bid to become European Capital of Culture. A two year return to the private sector as cultural tourism consultant preceded her move to the National Trust.

Commenting on her appointment, Hilary said: “I am immensely proud to have been appointed as Director-General of the National Trust. This is a charity I love because it looks after the things that matter to me personally, the outdoors, the arts, heritage, nature and beauty.

“But more importantly these are things that I believe matter to the nation which is why we have 5 million members and many more supporters. I am looking forward to building on that support and inspiring even more people to look after the places that matter to them.”

The Trust’s current Director-General, Helen Ghosh, will leave the charity in early March to take up a new role as the Master of Balliol College, at Oxford University.

During over five years at the helm, Helen has overseen the implementation of an ambitious 10-year strategy, which has seen the Trust return to its roots by playing an active part in meeting some of the big challenges facing the nation such as the declining health of the natural environment, and the loss of green spaces in towns and cities.

Membership numbers and visits have soared since 2012, with both now at all-time high.

Around 25 million people paid to visit a Trust property last year, while there were an estimated 200 million visits to the coastlines and countryside the charity looks after for the nation.

SHARE: Share on Facebook
Facebook
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Email this to someone
email
Post navigation
Previous StoryNext Story

Search the Blog

Filter by Category

  • Houses & Buildings
  • Gardens & Parklands
  • Art & Furniture
  • Nature & Wildlife
  • Cooking & Traditions
  • Families & People
  • Travel & Tours
  • Events & Galas
  • News & Announcements
  • Membership
  • 2020 Annual Fund
  • Royal Oak Lecture Support
  • Legacy Circle
  • National Trust Projects
  • Ways to Give
  • Stowe Restoration Appeal
  • Heritage Circle
  • Partners
  • Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal
  • 2018 Grants
  • Recent Campaigns
  • The Nigel Seeley Fellowship
  • The Damaris Horan Fellowship
  • Attingham Summer School Scholarship
  • About Us
  • Board of Directors
  • Staff
  • Job Opportunities
  • About The National Trust
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

general@royal-oak.org
lectures@royal-oak.org
T: 212.480.2889 | 800.913.6565
F: 212.764.7234

Copyright © 2021 The Royal Oak Foundation. All rights reserved.
20 W 44th Street, Suite 606, New York, New York 10036-6603

This website uses analytical and tracking cookies to improve your user experience and for statistical purposes. By continuing to browse on this website, you agree to the use of such cookies.