Carole Souter is currently Chair of The Heritage Alliance, Sulgrave Manor Trust and the Fabric Advisory Committee of Salisbury Cathedral. From 2016 to 2022 she was the Master of St Cross College, Oxford. From 2003 to 2016, Carole was Chief Executive of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Heritage Lottery Fund, overseeing the distribution of over £400m a year to projects making a lasting difference to people and heritage across the UK.

She began her career in the civil service and has over 20 years’ experience of policy formulation and operational management in the Departments of Health, Social Security and the Cabinet Office.

Carole has a BA in PPE from Jesus College, Oxford, an MA in Victorian Studies from the University of London and is a Fellow of the  Society of Antiquaries. She is an Honorary Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford, and was awarded the CBE in 2011 for services to conservation.'