News Story

  • New chair of trustees sought to replace Niels de Vos who is stepping down after five years.

  • Search for new chair marks beginning of pivotal new chapter for the trust.

  • Application deadline Sunday 13 July 2025.

Collage of 9 museum venues: Thinktank, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Aston Hall, Blakesley Hall, Museum Collections Centre, Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, Sarehole Mill, Soho House and Weoley Castle.

Birmingham Museums Trust has begun the search for a new chair of trustees to replace its current chair, Niels De Vos, who is stepping down from the role after over five years of service.

The search for De Vos’s successor marks the beginning of a pivotal new chapter for Birmingham Museums Trust, the largest independent museums trust in the UK, responsible for a collection of over one million objects and nine museum sites across the city.

The successful appointee will be a compelling advocate for the trust, building relationships across the city and beyond and helping it to secure the partnerships and resources it needs to thrive.

They will bring strategic vision, inclusive leadership and a deep commitment to public service, working closely with the co-chief executives and board of trustees to ensure strong governance, champion the trust’s mission and support its ambitious plans for growth and transformation.
 

Zak Mensah and Sara Wajid, co-chief executives of Birmingham Museums Trust, said:

“From the iconic Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery to Thinktank, our science museum, we are a vital cultural force, telling the stories of Birmingham’s people and shaping the city’s future through creativity, education and inclusion.

“With a renewed focus on community engagement, sustainability and digital innovation, this is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of one of the UK’s most important cultural institutions in a radical transformation to become a symbol of hope, social trust and belonging.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank Niels de Vos for his leadership over the last five years and the lasting legacy he leaves.”

More information about the recruitment process, which is being managed by GatenbySanderson, can be found online.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 13 July 2025.