Three new Commissioners appointed to the Historic England Board
The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has appointed Ulrike Knox, Jamie Ritblat and Philip Shepherd as Commissioners to the Historic England board.
Ulrike Knox
Ulrike founded Knox McConnell Architects in 2007, a practice which focuses on the conservation and sustainable development of the historic environment. She is the Surveyor of the Fabric for Carlisle Cathedral and Cathedral Architect for Bradford and Manchester Cathedrals and has overseen major projects at other cathedrals, including St Paul’s, Liverpool, and Lichfield. A pioneer in sustainable heritage, she installed the first solar panels on an English Cathedral at Bradford in 2011. Her work also extends to secular Grade I listed sites such as Towneley Hall Museum, Gawthorpe Hall, and Brocklesby Park Estate.
She served as a commissioner for the Cathedrals’ Fabric Commission of England, a member of the Fabric Advisory Committee for Ripon Cathedral, and a specialist advisor to the Diocesan Advisory Committee for Leeds. Ulrike has also been instrumental in distributing grants and awards for organisations such as the Archbishops’ Council, Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust and the Stone Federation of Great Britain. She is a past president of the Ecclesiastical Architects and Surveyors Association, the Bradford Society of Architects and Surveyors and an assessor for the Architects Accredited in Building Conservation register.
Ulrike is also a trustee of Saltaire Village Society and a member of the steering group for the UNESCO World Heritage Site Management Plan for Saltaire.
Jamie Ritblat
Jamie is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Delancey, a real estate company renowned for landmark and complex regeneration projects that integrate homes, workplaces and public spaces. Often involving listed buildings and the stewardship of estates in historically significant areas, his work includes transforming the London 2012 Athletes’ Village into East Village, converting the Olympic Press and Broadcast Centre into the award-winning Here East, leading the creation of a new town centre at Elephant & Castle, and chairing The Earls Court Development Company.
Jamie plays a leading role in Delancey’s CSR efforts, with a strong emphasis on the arts, heritage, education, youth, mental health and culture. He was instrumental in Delancey becoming the first corporate sponsor of Historic England’s national Blue Plaques scheme, and has supported English Heritage, the National Portrait Gallery, Historic Royal Palaces and multiple Heritage of London Trust projects.
He is a Trustee of Blenheim Palace, The Bathurst Estate (Cirencester), and the Heritage of London Trust, serves on the advisory boards of Brown Advisory and the V&A Advisory Council, and recently joined the Imperial College Council as Chair of its Real Estate Committee. His previous advisory, board and Trustee positions include Tate Britain, the MCC, The Southbank Centre, Kew Gardens Foundation Board, King’s College London, and Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres.
Philip Shepherd
Philip is a chartered accountant and a non-executive director for numerous businesses in the culture, hospitality and leisure sectors. He was a Partner at PwC for over 20 years, leading industry practices in the Strategy and Transaction Services divisions, both in the UK and the Middle East. Philip is on the board of XP Factory, a fast-growing business in the experiential leisure sector. He is also on the board and Chair of the audit committee of Chichester Festival Theatre, where he has overseen a successful recovery from the Covid 19 shut down and the opening of the third creative space, The Nest, on the CFT campus.
Lord Neil Mendoza, Chairman of the Historic England Board quotes:
“It is excellent news that Ulrike Knox, Jamie Ritblat and Philip Shepherd have been appointed Commissioners of Historic England by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. All three will bring valuable skills and experience to our board in their distinct areas of expertise. My fellow Commissioners and I very much look forward to working with them.”
Ulrike Knox, Jamie Ritblat and Philip Shepherd have been appointed for a term of four years, commencing on 1 September 2025.
Remuneration and Governance Code
Members of the Historic England Board are remunerated £4,133 per annum. 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.
Ulrike Knox, Jamie Ritblat and Philip Shepherd have declared no 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.