Professor Andrew Wathey CBE
Chair of The National Archives’ Board
Andrew was Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Northumbria University from 2008 to 2022.
The National Archives' Board
The National Archives’ Board is the key strategic advisory body of The National Archives.
Board members
The National Archives' Board is made up of the Chief Executive and Keeper, the executive directors, the Chair of The National Archives’ Board, and four further non-executive board members.
The Board meets ten times a year and minutes are available online. Two of the non-executive board members also sit on The National Archives’ Audit and Risk Committee, where they are joined by an independent member of the Committee.
Non-executive board members
Nigel Baker
Non-executive Board Member
Nigel is a media executive with wide experience at senior management and board level in for-profit companies and the charitable sector.
Sonia Cargan
Non-executive Board Member
Sonia is currently the Chief Colleague Inclusion and Diversity Officer at American Express.
Lopa Patel MBE
Non-executive Board Member and Chair of the Finance and Performance Committee
Lopa is the founder of two ventures in online media and a data-driven marketing consultancy.
Rommel Pereira
Non-executive Board Member and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee
Rommel has had a distinguished career in senior and executive management roles across the regulatory/government, not-for-profit and financial services sectors.
Alison White
Independent Member of the Audit and Risk Committee
Alison is an experienced Non-Executive Director and consultant who works with diverse organisations usually undergoing transition and change.
Executive board members
Saul Nassé
Chief Executive and Keeper
Saul provides strategic vision for The National Archives as it carries out its vital role as guardian of over 1,000 years of iconic national documents.
Tobi Adetimilehin
Finance Director
Tobi joined The National Archives as Finance Director on 1 December 2025. Discover more about her background.
Emmajane Avery
Chief Curator
Emmajane is responsible for leading our Public Engagement Strategy and our work with the archives sector nationally.
Lucy Fletcher
Deputy Chief Executive
Lucy is responsible for The National Archives’ offer to government, providing expert advice and guidance to government departments and public bodies.
Gemma Maclagan Ram
Chief Operating Officer
Gemma is responsible for leading and co-ordinating our innovative research, heritage science and conservation programmes.
John Sheridan
Chief Digital and Information Officer
John is responsible for our digital services, enabling The National Archives to fulfil its ambitions to become a digital archive by instinct and design.
Claire Wightman
Director of People, Inclusion & Change
Claire is the Director of People, Inclusion & Change at The National Archives.
The National Archives’ Board term of reference
Explore the terms of reference of the The National Archives’ Board.
Register of board member interests
This list sets out declared interests of executive and non-executive members who have served on The National Archives’ Board during the 2025-26 financial year.
Non-executive board members
Andrew Wathey, CBE – Chair of The National Archives’ Board
Remunerated interests
- Studiosity Ltd., Academic Advisory Board member (August 2024 – present)
Unremunerated interests
- RISM (UK) Trust, Trustee (1999 – present)
- Northumbria University, Emeritus Professor (May 2022 – present)
- University of Cambridge, External Member of the Council (March 2023 – present)
- Newcastle Cathedral, Member of the Finance and Investment Committee (June 2023 – present)
- Royal Holloway, University of London, Independent Member of Council (Nov 2024 – present)
- Musici Trust, Trustee (July 2024 – present)
Other outside interests
- Royal Historical Society, Fellow (1986 – present)
- Society of Antiquaries of London, Fellow (1989 – present)
- All Souls College, Oxford University, Visiting Fellow (September 2023 – June 2024
- Royal Society of Arts, Fellow (2004 – September 2024)
Nigel Baker
Remunerated Interests
- Sky News Board, Chair (December 2018 – present)
- PCS Instruments Ltd., Board Chair and Non-Executive Director (October 2022 – present)
Unremunerated interests
- Thomson Foundation, Advisor (August 2021 – present)
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Advisor on Strategic Communications (Nov 2021 – present)
Sonia Cargan
Remunerated interests
- American Express, Chief Talent Officer (1995 – present)
Unremunerated interests
- British American Business, Board Member (2021 – present)
Lopa Patel, MBE – Chair of the Finance and Performance Committee
Remunerated interests
- Diversity UK, Chair and Trustee (July 2012 – present)
- NHS Devon ICB, Deputy Chair, Chair of the Population Health Improvement Committee and Non-Executive Board Member (February 2025 – present)
Unremunerated Interests
- King’s Award for Enterprise – Innovation Panel, Judge (2017 – present)
- Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge, Advisory Board Member - Enterprising Women Programme (March 2025 – present)
Significant shareholdings or interests in public or private companies
- DMS Direct Ltd., Director (March 1991 – present)
- Redhotcurry Ltd., Director (February 2000 – present)
Other outside interests
- Chartered Institute of Marketing, Fellow (2007 – present)
Rommel Pereira – Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee
Remunerated interests
- APMG International, Non-Executive Board Member (November 2025 – present)
- Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Deputy Chair and Chair of Audit and Risk Committee (June 2019 – present)
- London Ambulance Service NHS Trust, SID, Deputy Chair and Non-executive Director and Chair of Audit Committee (February 2020 – present)
- Supply Chain Coordination Ltd., Non-Executive Director and Chair of Audit and Risk Committee (January 2023 – present)
- HM Land Registry, Non-Executive Board Member, Member of Audit & Risk Committee and Member of the Remunerations & Nominations Committee (February 2025 – present)
Unremunerated interests
- NHS North East London Integrated Care System – Audit Chair’s Group, Member (June 2019 – present)
Alison White – Independent Member of the Audit and Risk Committee
Remunerated interests
- Oil and Pipelines Agency, Non-Executive Director and Audit Committee Chair (January 2022 – present)
- Ministry of Defence, Non-Executive Director and Defence Audit and Risk Assurance Committee Member (November 2022 – present)
- Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Non-Executive Director and Chair (2023 – present)
- Ministry of Defence: Review and Challenge Panel, Strategic Defence Review, Chair (September 2024 - December 2024)
- Vice Chair of the Standards Committee, Public Relations and Communications Association (April 2026 – present)
Executive directors
Saul Nassé – Chief Executive & Keeper of Public Records (SCS2)
Unremunerated interests
- Robinson College (University of Cambridge), Senior Member (July 2024 – present)
Tobi Adetimilehin, Finance Director (SCS1)
No relevant interests.
Emmajane Avery – Chief Curator (SCS1)
Unremunerated interests
- St Mary with St Alban Church (Teddington) – Building Governance Group, Member (May 2023 – November 2024)
Lucy Fletcher – Deputy Chief Executive (SCS1)
No relevant interests.
Gemma Maclagan Ram – Chief Operating Officer (SCS1)
No relevant interests.
John Sheridan – Chief Digital and Information Officer (SCS1)
No relevant interests.
Claire Wightman, Director of People, Inclusion and Change (SCS1)
No relevant interests.
Former directors
Hannah Lee, Interim Director of People, Inclusion and Change (SCS1) (Term ended January 2026)
Relevant interest of family members
- Husband: Shared Intelligence, Public Policy Consultancy
Andrea Metcalf, Director of People, Inclusion and Change (SCS1) (Term ended September 2025)
Unremunerated interests
- Dorset Cricket Board, Non-Executive Director (HR Lead) (2024 – present)
Peter Mills, Interim Finance Director (SCS1) (Term ended January 2026)
Remunerated interests
- DCMS, Deputy Director – Commercial (2013 – present but on loan to The National Archives)
Unremunerated interests
- Enable Leisure and Culture, Trustee (June 2025 – present)
Relevant interest of family members
- Wife: Historical Royal Palaces, Textile Conservator
Lucy Windmill, Interim Director of People, Inclusion and Change (SCS1) (Term ended January 2026)
- No relevant interests.
Last updated 21 April 2026
Meeting minutes
Summaries from previous meetings can be found in the UK Government Web Archive.