Michelle is a qualified Chartered Accountant with over 20 years of experience gained from working in FTSE 100 companies, SMEs, not-for profit organisations, charities, and being part of successful start-ups.
Michelle spent the first 10 years of her career in financial service institutions; namely Citibank, Lloyds Bank and NASDAQ, before broadening and diversifying her skills in senior roles within other commercial, not-for profit and charity organisations; including Chelsea FC, Quilter Foundation and creative awards charity D&AD.
As well as having hands-on experience in all areas of finance, Michelle’s diverse skills extend into other operational areas, including HR, legal, ICT and facilities.
Michelle succeeds Paula Thomas in the role, who will retire from the Horniman in June, following a handover period with Michelle.
We’re thrilled to welcome Michelle to our senior team and look forward to the charity benefiting from her wealth of knowledge and experience across sectors. Michelle brings her considerable financial skills to the Horniman at a critical time as we deliver our ambitious Nature + Love project, expanding operations through two new destinations in the Gardens alongside a redisplayed Natural History Gallery. I’d also like to thank outgoing finance director Paula Thomas for her long and outstanding contribution to the Horniman. Across 30 years of dedicated service, 10 of which as Finance Director, Paula has offered kindness, pragmatism and sound judgement in equal measure and has been a consistent steadying hand through the varying financial challenges of the charity sector. We wish her every happiness in her retirement, knowing that she is passing that baton into safe hands.
I am honoured and delighted to be joining the Horniman Museum and Gardens! I very much look forward to working with my new colleagues and contributing to the success of the exciting projects and opportunities that lie ahead.
