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Secretariat

Since the formal launch of INTO at the International Conference of National Trusts in New Delhi in December 2007, the INTO Secretariat has been established within the London headquarters of the National Trust (England, Wales, and Northern Ireland). Click on a name to jump to their profile, or scroll down to view all five.

Other members of the INTO Secretariat include Julie Thompson (Volunteer Placements Manager), John Martin and Emily Knurek (Communications) and Bob Gordon (Hon Accountant).  We are deeply grateful to all of them for the time and energy they volunteer to INTO, as well as to Jacqui Sealey who handles all our administration.


Catherine Leonard, Secretary-General

Catherine Leonard joined the National Trust (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) in 1999 from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and with a background in modern languages and international public and cultural relations.

Prior to her appointment as Secretary-General of INTO, Catherine was responsible for the Trust’s work with overseas heritage conservation groups, running the European Exchange Programme and managing the European Network of National Heritage Organisations.

Over the years, Catherine has been involved with heritage organisations all over the world (from Australia, Bavaria and China to Trinidad, USA and Zimbabwe!).   Her recent INTO assignments include undertaking a strategic review of the National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago, writing INTO’s 2016 ‘State of Global Heritage‘ Report and co-authoring ‘From Start-up to Sustainability: An INTO Handbook for Heritage Trusts‘.  She studied Russian and German at university and has spent time living and travelling in several European countries.

Catherine’s blog page
Email Catherine: cleonard@intoorg.org


Alexander Bishop, Deputy Secretary-General

Alexander Bishop joined INTO in March 2019 as Deputy Secretary-General. A keen linguist, Alexander has a background in the international heritage and development sector and is a passionate advocate for the person-centred value of heritage.

Much of his work prior to joining INTO has revolved around supporting projects in locations globally where heritage has been damaged by conflict or natural disasters. This includes the Cultural Protection Fund at the British Council and the Cultural Emergency Response programme at the Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development.

In the new role of Deputy Secretary-General, Alexander will deliver the work of the Secretariat, taking responsibility in particular for opportunities for INTO members. He will manage the TAP-INTO programme of small grants and seek ways for INTO to amplify its voice in the public domain.

Email Alexander: info@intoorg.org


Bill Turner, Webmaster

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Bill is the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Trust for Land and Culture (B.C.) Society.

Bill Turner before retiring was the Executive Director of TLC, The Land Conservancy of British Columbia. Bill came to this role from a career in commercial real estate and business. He has also served as a member of the board of the American Friends of Canadian Land Trust, the Land Trust Alliance of British Columbia, the Pacific Coast Joint Venture, the Canadian Intermountain Joint Venture and the BC Conservation Lands Forum. Bill served as a member of the Citizens Conservation Council on Climate Action (a council that advises the government of British Columbia on issues relating to Climate Change.

Bill has assisted the Federal Minister of Environment as a member of the Ministers Roundtable on Parks Canada and on the proposal to create a National Trust for Canada. Bill is a member of the Order of Canada (Canada’s highest civilian honour) and in 2007 was given an honorary L.L.D. by the University of Victoria. In 2012 Bill was presented with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal. He is currently the Chair of the Board of Trustees of The National Trust for Land and Culture (B.C.) which is an Associate member of INTO.

Bill has been involved with INTO since 2005 when he joined the steering committee that was tasked to create INTO.

Email Bill: webmaster@intoorg.org


Oliver Maurice

oliver-mauriceresized Oliver Maurice began volunteering as INTO’s Director of Membership Development and Services in 2007. He has been responsible for ‘growing’ the National Trust family, helping existing Trusts develop their capacity and advising embryonic organisations on the transition to becoming National Trusts. During a career spanning 32 years with the National Trust for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Oliver, who trained as a land agent and chartered surveyor, was responsible for the direct management of many properties and estates, firstly in the Lake District (NW England) and then East Anglia, before being promoted to Director of the Northumbria Region, a post that he held for 8 years, and finally Director of the NW region for 10 years. Following his retirement in 2002 Oliver became an international heritage consultant, offering advice and assistance to National and Heritage Trusts around the world. In that capacity he has helped to establish the Bali Heritage Trust, has worked with the Sumatra Heritage Trust, the National Trust for New South Wales, the National Trust of Fiji and Din L’Art Helwa (the National Trust for Malta) and the National Trust of Barbados, giving talks, running workshops and, when requested, writing a report with recommendations following the visit. In 2006, Oliver and his wife moved to the south of France.

Email Oliver: oliver@intoorg.org


Geoffrey Read

Geoffrey-ReadGeoffrey Read is INTO’s Hon Adviser for Asia having spent his career working on urban development issues and programmes. Geoff has a background in civil and municipal engineering and, with a smattering of applied economics. Experience working in Europe, Africa and South and East Asia has given the opportunity to be exposed to a broad range of challenges to be dealt with during policy assessment and formulation, development programme design, and physical project management and implementation. His academic background is in civil and municipal engineering, and business administration. Building on extensive private sector experience, and then some 25 years working in the World Bank Group, much of it China, he has had the opportunity to be exposed to a wide range of approaches adopted, and lessons learned by clients, addressing the challenges of urban development, including those specifically exploring the unique role and features of culture and heritage. In China, he has also advised on heritage programs in a number of provinces and several of China’s mega-cities.

Email Geoff: geoff@intoorg.org

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