New Trustees Join The Architectural Heritage Fund

The Architectural Heritage Fund is delighted to announce the appointment of four new Trustees to its Board: Ben Stirling, Mary Walsh, Joshua Meek, and Stephanie Hall-Stead. Ben has been appointed to replace David Hunter as the Chair of the HIF and Credit Panels and will take over this role in January 2026. Mary, Joshua, and Stephanie join the Board to replace several recently retiring Trustees. Mary joins the Audit and Risk Committee and the Communications Committee, and Josh and Stephanie join the Heritage Impact Fund Credit Panel and AHF Credit Panel.

Ben Stirling

Ben has over 30 years executive and non-executive experience in real estate and architecture, focused on business leadership and development, investment management and finance. His career includes being Co-Head of Affordable Housing at QSix LLP, an investment advisor focused on residential property, and before that he spent 14 years at Aviva Investors, latterly leading the UK/European Direct Real Estate investment business. He has also worked for Deloitte Corporate Finance, TrizecHahn and Arthur Andersen.

He is currently a Council Member at the Architectural Association School of Architecture, where he Chairs the Audit and Risk Committee.  Ben is a Chartered Accountant (ACA).

Mary Walsh

Mary is a senior business leader with extensive experience in both Executive and Non-Executive roles. For over a decade she served as Director of Communications on the Executive Committee of Eurostar, the cross-Channel high-speed passenger rail service, where she led media and internal communications, public affairs and stakeholder engagement across multiple markets. Prior to Eurostar, Mary was Director of Corporate Relations at Lloyds Banking Group.

Alongside her executive career, Mary has a strong track record of non-executive leadership within the charity and social enterprise sectors. She serves on the board of the British Tourist Authority and is a Trustee of Cruse Bereavement Support.

Joshua Meek

Joshua is Chief Impact Officer at Unity Trust Bank. Josh has 10+ years of experience in impact investing, climate economics, and impact management. He specializes in capacity building for organisations in the impact economy and focuses on supporting organisations to achieve their goals while delivering positive impact.

Before joining Unity, he was Head of Impact at Big Issue Invest, leading impact management for both the investment arm and the Big Issue magazine.

Stephanie Hall-Stead

Stephanie is a Chartered Building Surveyor with over 16 years’ experience in the heritage sector. She holds an MSc in Sustainable Heritage and is currently completing an MBA. She began her career in heritage with the National Trust, where she worked as both a Building Surveyor and Project Manager, before moving to North Yorkshire to take up a senior leadership role as Head of Built Environment at Castle Howard.

Stephanie now works as a freelance heritage consultant and project manager, advising national and regional conservation organisations, and supporting community-led heritage projects across the UK.
 

Ros Kerslake, Chair of the Architectural Heritage Fund, commented on the appointments:

“We are delighted to welcome Ben, Mary, Joshua and Stephanie to the AHF Board, including the appointment of Ben as the new Chair of the AHF Credit Panels. Each of them brings a huge range of experience – across communications, social finance, real estate and historic buildings – and we look forward to their valued contributions over the next few years.”

About the AHF 

The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) is a registered charity, working since 1976 to promote the conservation and sustainable re-use of historic buildings for the benefit of communities across the UK, particularly in economically disadvantaged areas. The AHF exists to help communities find enterprising ways to revitalise the old buildings they love. We help them with advice, grants and loans. Our support acts as a catalyst for putting sustainable heritage at the heart of vibrant local economies. For over 40 years, we’ve been the leading social investor in creating new futures for historic buildings.

For more information, please visit: www.ahfund.org.uk