Heather Hilburn

I am delighted to have been chosen as an Honorary Fellow of the

Royal Institute of British Architects.

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For the last twenty five years, I have been creating cultural places and healthy spaces for local communities. I have been leading projects and shaping design, delivery and financing, while protecting the natural environment and places of historic significance.

With a background in architecture, urban design and cost management, I have held significant senior leadership posts including Principal Design Advisor for the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and Strategic Projects Director for the Tower of London.

I have championed community access to natural and man-made landscapes, including opening up the Tate Modern to the river Thames, softening the embankments at the River Lea and cultural programming in the Royal Parks through the Serpentine Pavilion programme.

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I currently hold executive and non-executive board level posts, supporting leaders in culture and the environment. 

Executive roles: I am Managing Director of Biodiversity Capital, supporting investors in the built environment, bringing together the private sector and social entrepreneurs, as well as providing support to land owners on town planning and environmental legislation. I am also Chief Executive of Thames Estuary Partnership, a consortium of public and private sector organisations that operate on the river Thames and UK coastline, working together on a long-term programme to address climate change and biodiversity. 

Non-Executive roles: I also sit on the Board of Directors for the Social Investment Foundation (Access), the City and Guilds London Art School Property Trust, and I am a Commissioner for the Essex Climate Action Commission.