Dame Diane Lees

Dame Diane Lees served as Director-General of the Imperial War Museums from October 2008 to March 2023 and now runs a charity advisory company. She began her career as a historic buildings researcher before transitioning to exhibitions, education, and interpretation. Throughout her career, Dame Diane has been involved in numerous groundbreaking projects, including the rescue of a hat block manufacturer’s workshop in Manchester, the recovery and display of the Mary Rose in Portsmouth, and the redesign of the Nelson Galleries at the Royal Naval Museum. She also project-managed the development of SPECTRUM, the UK standard for museum collections documentation, and led the creation of the award-winning Galleries of Justice in Nottingham, the country's only museum of law.

Since April 2018, Dame Diane has served as Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lincoln’s Board of Governors and was Chair of the Board until July 2024. She is a member of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, a Freeman of the City of London, and an Ambassador for the Halo Trust. She holds several prominent roles, including Emeritus Vice President of the American Air Museum in Britain and an expert panel member for the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.

Recognised for her contributions to the museum sector, Dame Diane was awarded a CBE in 2015 and a DBE in 2022. She holds honorary degrees from the University of Reading and Nottingham Trent University.