Four Trustees appointed to The Royal Parks Board
The Secretary of State has appointed Michael Eldridge, Lorna Parker, Justine Simons, and Ruth Willmott as Trustees of The Royal Parks Board for a term of four years.
Michael Eldridge
Michael has over 30 years’ experience in the financial services industry holding a number of senior roles at multi-national corporations. An experienced senior leader in Global Markets/Investment Banking and Custody Operations with specific focus on front office trading and back office operations, operational risk management, governance, regulatory engagement, balance sheet review/growth wind down programs, establishment of new operating teams in alternative locations, and large scale strategic change management projects.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in cross-cultural communications and a Master of Arts degree in organisational management from Trevecca Nazarene University. Michael is also a certified business coach from the Meyler Campbell Mastered program. He is a board member of the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME). Prior to joining State Street, Michael worked at Bankers Trust, Deutsche Bank and Westdeutsche Landesbank. Currently, Michael is the UK Country Head for State Street and the UK Head of State Street Global Markets and is based in London.
Lorna Parker
Lorna Parker conducts Board Effectiveness reviews for UK public companies as an Advisory Partner at Manchester Square Partners. She is a Non-Executive Director of PAI Partners. She was a Trustee of the Royal Horticultural Society (Chair of Nominations,
Appointments and Governance Committee and member of Commercial Board) for 10 years until July 2024. In December 2025, she retired as a Trustee and Vice Chair of the National Opera Studio where she chaired the Finance Committee. She was previously a Non-Executive Director of Indivior plc, a Senior Advisor at CVC Capital Partners, and a Director of Future Academies.
Lorna’s executive career was primarily in executive search, as a partner at Spencer Stuart, where she led their private equity practice across Europe, co-led the legal search practice, was a member of the UK Board practice and was the UK Managing Partner.
Justine Simons
Justine has driven the cultural transformation of London for two decades. She was awarded an OBE in 2015 for Services to Culture in London. An influential voice on the global stage, she founded the World Cities Culture Forum – a leadership network of 50 global cities. She led the capital’s biggest ever festival for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games with over 5,000 events. She is now overseeing its legacy, East Bank in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park - a £1 billion culture and education district.
Justine has shaped the capital’s investment strategy for film, fashion, games and design. She established the Fourth Plinth as a global exemplar and co-chaired London’s Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm. She has designed major policy firsts: Creative Enterprise Zones, the Cultural Infrastructure Plan and the London Borough of Culture - taking culture to venues, public spaces and parks across the capital.
Ruth Willmott
Ruth Willmott is an award-winning landscape designer and experienced charity trustee with a strong commitment to the stewardship of historic landscapes, public parks and nature based spaces. She brings more than 15 years’ experience in landscape and horticultural design, working across heritage, conservation and publicly accessible settings, alongside significant board-level leadership.
Since 2019 she has served as a Trustee and Council Member of the Royal Horticultural Society and is currently Chair of its Governance and People Committee, where she has led a full programme of governance reform and strengthened board effectiveness and diversity. She also contributes to strategic and financial oversight through her roles on the Finance and Commercial Board and Audit and Risk Committee, supporting major capital investment programmes across the charity’s gardens and Estate.
A former strategy consultant at Accenture and PA Consulting, Ruth combines entrepreneurialism, strong commercial and financial acumen with a deep understanding of the cultural, environmental and social value of landscapes. Her work is informed by a belief in the importance of beautifully designed and well managed green spaces in supporting biodiversity, wellbeing, inclusive access and long-term environmental resilience.
Michael Eldridge, Lorna Parker, and Ruth Willmott have been appointed for a term of four years, commencing on 1 March 2026 until 28 February 2030.
Justine Simons has been appointed for a term of four years, commencing on 15 March 2026 until 14 March 2030.
Remuneration and Governance Code
Trustees of The Royal Parks are not remunerated.
These appointments have been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election.
Michael Eldridge, Lorna Park, Justine Simons and Ruth Willmott have declared no such political activity.
Notes to Editors
DCMS has around 400 regulated Public Appointment roles across 42 Public Bodies including Arts Council England, Theatres Trust, the National Gallery, UK Sport and the Gambling Commission. We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom. To find out more about Public Appointments or to apply visit the HM Government Public Appointments Website.