The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the largest funder for the UK’s heritage with a vision for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future.  Since 1994 we have invested £8.6 billion of National Lottery players money in heritage from bumble bee conservation to historic building, landscapes and local and national heritage from Shetland to the Scilly Isles, touching all communities across the UK. 

Over the next 10 years we aim to invest over £3billion to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities. We have a UK Board of Trustees, and devolved Committees in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and 3 England areas, who make grant decisions using local knowledge and expertise. 

Eilish has worked in heritage all her professional life and has extensive experience across the sector and the breadth of the UK’s heritage.  

She joined the Heritage Fund in 1996 and has held a variety of roles – both operational and strategic – including Regional Manager North East, Head of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Major Grants and Special Programmes.   She took on the role of Chief Executive in January 2022. 

Prior to joining the Heritage Fund, Eilish worked with Historic Scotland, Historic Monuments & Buildings Branch, Northern Ireland and in the heritage sector in Ireland.