The Crystal Palace Park Trust has appointed as its new chief executive Victoria Pinnington, who currently heads up the world-acclaimed Horniman Museum and Gardens.
Park keeper: Victoria Pinnington takes over at Crystal Palace Park Trust next month
Pinnington will take up the new post next month, taking over from Val Shawcross, who has worked as interim CEO for almost a year, at a crucial period when the Trust took over the management of the Grade II-listed historic park from Bromley Council.
Pinnington has been a member of the senior leadership team at the Horniman since 2012, in which time the collections of anthropology, musical instruments and natural history alongside gardens and living collections, have been transformed, significantly expanding audiences, improving income, and winning the Art Fund Museum of the Year award, the world’s biggest museum prize.
Pinnington had previously worked as head of international marketing at King’s College London.
Announcing the appointment, the Trust said today that Pinnington “joins Crystal Palace Park Trust as it embarks on one of the most exciting place-making projects in the country.
“After 25 years of campaigning, this community-led charity has been handed the keys to the internationally significant, 200-acre park for the next 125 years, with the aim of becoming a national exemplar of how communities can lead the way in saving historic, environmental and cultural assets.
Revitalised: Crystal Palace Park has become a host of a range of concerts and events over the past 12 months
“This has coincided with the establishment of major festivals, recent funding from Historic England, the National Lottery and the Mayor of London, the announcement of a major regeneration of the National Sports Centre and the imminent regeneration of the park itself.”
Pinnington said: “I feel immensely privileged to have been given the opportunity to work alongside partners and the local community on the regeneration of such a historically significant and special place. I cannot wait to get started.”
Philip Kolvin KC, the co-chair of the Trust, said: “Victoria is a leader, with a perfect blend of experience in heritage, green space, community engagement and commercial development. With her at the helm of our brilliant and committed staff team, we can plan the Park’s future with confidence.”
Martin Tempia, Kolvin’s Trust co-chair, paid tribute to the efforts of Shawcross, first as the Trust’s founding chair, and most recently as the interim CEO. “Val’s contribution to the Trust has been tremendous,” Tempia said.
“As chair, she laid the foundations of the organisation, ensuring that it was both able to meet its obligations and take on the responsibility of governing the park. As interim CEO she oversaw the handover of the park and the Trust’s development as an effective and financially stable organisation, capable of regenerating the park and serving the communities who use it.
“She leaves with our heartfelt thanks and best wishes for her retirement.”
- If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, or want to publicise your residents’ association or business, or if you have a local event to promote, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com
As featured on Google News Showcase
- Our comments section on every report provides all readers with an immediate “right of reply” on all our content. Our comments policy can be read by clicking here
Inside Croydon is a member of the Independent Community News Network
- Inside Croydon works together with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, as well as BBC London News and ITV London
ROTTEN BOROUGH AWARDS: In January 2024, Croydon was named among the country’s rottenest boroughs for a SEVENTH successive year in the annual round-up of civic cock-ups in Private Eye magazine
