• Deborah Spence has been appointed as a trustee of Birmingham Museums Trust and chair of its finance and risk committee

• Deborah is founder and chief executive of DJS Consulting Solutions Ltd

• She has over 30 years’ experience as a chartered account, private equity adviser, chief financial officer and consultant.

Birmingham Museums Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of Deborah Spence as a trustee of Birmingham Museums Trust and chair of its finance and risk committee.

Deborah Spence qualified as a chartered accountant over 30 years ago and is founder and chief executive officer of DJS Consulting Solutions Limited, a company which creates business growth strategies to maximise exit value, for service-based SMEs, providing services including fractional CFO, coaching and consulting.

Previously, Deborah has worked as an adviser in private equity for a Big Four accounting and consulting firm, advising on management buy-outs and other acquisitions, raising debt and private equity funds.

She has also worked as a finance director/chief financial officer and consultant, interpreting financial information in a commercial context in a variety of industry sectors including media, travel, software as a service (SAAS), transport and fashion retail.

Deborah has held a number of non-executive director positions, including board member of Birmingham Royal Ballet since 2016.

She succeeds Clive Bawden who has been chair of the finance and risk committee since 2020.

Speaking of her appointment, Deborah said:

"I’m delighted to be joining Birmingham Museums Trust as a trustee and chair of the finance and risk committee.

“Birmingham’s museums are important centres of culture and heritage and this is an exciting time for the trust, with the continued phased reopening of Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and the recent launch of the Your Museums, Your Move fundraising campaign.

“I’m looking forward to working with the leadership team and other trustees to build a resilient financial future for our civic museums and a long-term sustainable business model for the trust.”

Zak Mensah, co-chief executive of Birmingham Museums Trust, said:

“We’re very pleased that Deborah has agreed to join us. Following the recent launch of our five-year strategy we’re continuing to strengthen our board with expertise that will drive positive change.

As a cultural business, Deborah’s experience will be invaluable, and we look forward to working together.”