Who’s in Charge? Co-Leadership in Archaeology and Heritage
- 11 November 2026, 13:30-15:00 GMT
- Online
DV Trends: Who’s in Charge? Co-Leadership in Archaeology and Heritage
Co-leadership is having a moment in the UK heritage and third sector, with several influential organisations already having taken the plunge. So far, however, there’s been little public discussion about why the co-leadership model was adopted, the different variants of co-leadership, what it actually takes to make it work.
Is this the future? In a time when leadership demands increasing complexity, accountability, and public scrutiny, is the CEO role still a one-person job?
We’re hosting a conversation to have an open sector dialogue between three co-CEO pairs who are living it.
Our speakers:
- Claudia Kenyatta CBE and Emma Squire CBE, Historic England
- Kate Gearey and Alex Llewellyn, Chartered Institute for Archaeologists
- Dr Brendon Wilkins and Lisa Westcott Wilkins, DigVentures
This event also includes a live Q&A, so you’ll have the opportunity to put your burning questions directly to our panellists.
Claudia became Co-CEO of Historic England in a job-share with Emma Squire in November 2025. Claudia joined Historic England in September 2018 as Director of Regions which became a job-share with Emma Squire from December 2023. Prior to that, Claudia spent 15 years at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, where she specialised in heritage and culture policy, strategy and delivery.
Claudia Kenyatta CBE, Co-CEO, Historic England
Emma joined Historic England in December 2023 as Director of Regions in a job-share with Claudia Kenyatta, and later became Co-CEO in a job-share with Claudia in November 2025. She joined from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, where she spent over five years as Director of Arts Heritage and Tourism.
Emma Squire CBE, Co-CEO, Historic England
Kate has worked for CIfA since 2005 in a variety of professional skills and standards roles before becoming co-CEO with Alex Llewellyn in 2025. She works closely with Alex to ensure the Institute meets its strategic and business aims and provides oversight for the learning & skills and influence areas of CIfA’s work.
Kate Geary, Co-CEO (Learning, Skills & Influence), Chartered Institute for Archaeologists
Alex is co-CEO of CIfA alongside Kate Geary, working to ensure the Institute meets its strategic and business aims. Alex also has oversight for membership and governance. Alex has worked in various roles for CIfA including membership and event management, and more recently focusing on finance, strategic development and governance.
Alex Llewellyn, Co-CEO (Membership & Governance), Chartered Institute for Archaeologists
