Chair of Trustees, Duncan McCallum, steps down at the beginning of 2027. His enthusiasm, commitment and experience have been of huge value to the SPAB. He will be greatly missed in this lead role, but he is expected to remain an active member and volunteer and to contribute to our Anniversary celebrations.
Our new Chair for 2027 is Mike Harlow. Mike has a long connection with the SPAB and takes up the post following a career in which he was latterly Deputy Chief Executive of the Land Registry. He is trained as both engineer and lawyer and for some years was Legal Director of English Heritage. Mike says:
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to contribute to SPAB's important work. If I am honest, though, I am much more delighted by the opportunities I hope it will give me to be moved and awed by the historic places you are involved with.”
“If I put my hand on a door that has been opened by our ancestors, I sense a connection with their world in a way that nothing else can create. That is why the SPAB's philosophy will be important forever. It meets a common, perennial human need for a genuine and moving connection with our history and the beauty and skill in our ancestor's creativity.”
He adds that, on joining the SPAB “you are a member of the oldest historic buildings conservation society in the world. Next year it will be 150 years since William Morris and Philip Webb started their campaign to remind people of what they realise themselves when they experience it: copies don’t cut it. We all love it when we get to walk in and touch the real thing. It is the authenticity that moves us. And in a world of digital twins and AI slop, that campaign is as important to us and our children now as it was then.”
In addition, Andrew Cameron has agreed to be our Honorary Treasurer. He has considerable relevant experience as a trust's solicitor and as Chair of the Leche Trust which makes grants to charities. He will chair our Finance and Audit Sub-Committee (FASC) and will become a Trustee. We thank Clare Birks who has done sterling work as Hon Treasurer for 2026. She will remain involved with SPAB’s FASC in 2027 and with the London Regional Group, but it was agreed at the outset that her tenure as Hon Treasurer would be limited to a year.
Elected Guardians for 2027 are also now confirmed by the Board and will join the following committees:
Scotland Committee, Ashley Turner, John Robson and Ian Davidson
Technical and Research Committee, Declan Cahill and Jessica Hunnisett
Casework Committee, Henry Russell and Yuliia Shamne
Education and Training Committee, Andrew Townsend and Thom Taylor
Anniversary and Advocacy, Sara Robertson
Mills Committee, Peter James
Ireland Committee, Tara Murphy and Gerard Edwards.
Image: Mike Harlow, our new Chair, credit: Mike Harlow