Sue Wilkinson Announced as New Chair

Sue Wilkinson (pictured left), Chair of The Postal Museum with CEO Laura Wright

Sue is a trained teacher, has held significant roles in the education and arts sectors, and spent time in the commercial sector. She served as Chief Executive of The Reading Agency for 5 years and as Director of UK Academic and Government Alliances at Elsevier.

Her career spans time at the Tower of London, setting up South Eastern Museums Education Unit and senior roles at the Museum, Library and Archive Council (MLA). Here, Sue established the Renaissance in the Regions scheme, designed to revitalise England’s regional museums and create centres of excellence. She led the development of the influential quality and impact framework, Inspiring Learning for All, now in use across museums, archives, and libraries globally.

Sue has been awarded an MBE for services to museum education and an OBE for services to literature and libraries. She is currently a Trustee of Historic Royal Palaces, the National Coal Mining Museum, Brighton and Hove Museums and Waterperry Opera Festival.

Sue Wilkinson, Incoming Chair, The Postal Museum:

I have never had a welcome like the one I had when I first visited the museum; I discovered later how that welcome reflects the working culture of the organisation created by its CEO Laura Wright and supported by an excellent senior management team and Board of Trustees.

Museums have always been my passion, and this is one of London’s best. It has an amazing collection, wonderful interactives, and a real commitment to providing high quality, informative and engaging experiences for visitors of all ages. The museum’s inspiring vision is one I am very much looking forward to supporting and developing. It is a great honour to have been appointed as Chair of Trustees.

David Gold, Trustee of The Postal Museum and Chair of the selection committee:

Sue has a deeply impressive track record in the culture and creative sectors. She is a strategic thinker, and it was clear from her immediate recognition of the museum’s welcoming environment that she understood what makes us unique.

Her passion for education and outreach and her commitment to diversity and inclusion is outstanding and will take us to the next level as an organisation. The board are thrilled to be working with her as we progress our vision as a museum, and a new National Portfolio Organisation.

Sue takes over following the 8 and a half year tenure of Rick Wills, who steps down as Chair in March after steering the museum through its opening in 2017, the impact of COVID-19 closures, successfully becoming an Accredited Museum and achieving National Portfolio Organisation status.

Find out more information about the Trustees and Governance of The Postal Museum.