Icon Board Elections 2026

Textile Conservator at Royal Collection Trust

 

Biography

Cecilia Oliver studied Classics at University College London before completing an MPhil in Textile Conservation at the University of Glasgow. She began her conservation career with roles at the Palace of Westminster and National Museums Scotland, where she contributed to major gallery projects. She joined The Bowes Museum as Textile Conservator before expanding her remit to overseeing preventive conservation, environmental monitoring and collections care. Cecilia is now Textile Conservator at Royal Collection Trust, where she cares for approximately 30,000 textile objects across the Royal residences.

She is an Icon Accredited Conservator committed to promoting heritage craft, and sustainable practice, while supporting professional standards and organisational resilience.

Personal Statement

I am applying to join the Board of Trustees because I am committed to supporting the long-term strength of the conservation profession. I am particularly interested in the future of conservation in a rapidly changing world. The profession faces significant challenges, including skills shortages, financial pressures, sustainability requirements and the need to demonstrate its value to society. I believe Icon has a critical role to play in helping the sector respond to these challenges through advocacy, professional development and the promotion of high standards. As an Icon Accredited Textile Conservator, I have experienced first-hand the value of that support.

The aims and objectives of Icon align closely with many of those of the Royal Household, where sustainable working practices and investment in specialist heritage craft skills are central to the care of collections and historic buildings. Through my experience at Royal Collection Trust, I have seen the value of taking a long-term strategic approach to preservation, and I would welcome the opportunity to bring that perspective to the wider conservation profession.

My career has included roles at National Museums Scotland, The Bowes Museum and now Royal Collection Trust, where I am responsible for the conservation and care of approximately 30,000 textile objects across the Royal residences. In my current position, I established the textile conservation section, creating systems to prioritise conservation needs, manage workloads and track a large and varied collection. I also manage budgets and oversee the work of conservation contractors, ensuring resources are allocated effectively and to a high standard. These responsibilities have strengthened my understanding of strategic planning, risk management and the importance of balancing immediate operational needs with long-term organisational objectives.

Prior to joining Royal Collection Trust, I worked at The Bowes Museum, initially as Textile Conservator and later as Collections Conservator. In this role, my responsibilities expanded beyond practical conservation to include preventive conservation, environmental monitoring, team supervision and wider collections care. I worked closely with volunteers, interns and colleagues across the museum, helping to represent conservation within the organisation and contributing to public engagement activities. This experience reinforced the importance of collaboration, effective communication and achieving shared goals through constructive teamwork.

I understand that trusteeship is fundamentally a governance role, requiring independent judgement, accountability and a commitment to the organisation's charitable purpose. Through my experience managing projects, budgets, contractors and collections, I have developed an appreciation of sound decision-making. I would bring a thoughtful and analytical approach to board discussions, drawing on my experience to contribute constructively to the future of conservation.

I would feel privileged to serve on the Board of Icon. At this stage in my career, I am keen to develop my experience beyond operational delivery and day-to-day management, towards a greater involvement in strategy, governance and the long-term direction of the profession. I believe my experience across museums, historic houses and national collections, combined with my commitment to professional standards and future planning would enable me to make a valuable contribution as a Trustee. Above all, I am motivated by a desire to support the conservation profession and help ensure that cultural heritage continues to be preserved, understood and valued for future generations.

 

Michael Sheppard ACR

Biography

Michael Sheppard ACR MCIOB is Executive Director of the Cathedrals’ Workshop Fellowship, leading a national charity supporting conservation skills, education and workforce development across the UK’s cathedral works departments. An Accredited Conservator with a background in stone and built heritage, he was formerly Director of Works and Property at Lincoln Cathedral. He is a trustee of the Stained Glass Museum, serves on cathedral and professional heritage advisory groups, and teaches historic building conservation. His work brings together practical conservation, professional standards, governance, education and strategic partnership development across the heritage sector.

Personal Statement 

I would like to serve as an elected trustee of Icon because I believe the profession is strongest when practical conservation, professional standards, education and organisational leadership are connected. My career has developed from hands-on conservation and the management of historic fabric into education, charity leadership and national workforce development, while remaining firmly rooted in conservation practice.

I am an Icon Accredited Conservator and Executive Director of the Cathedrals’ Workshop Fellowship, a national charity supporting conservation skills, training and workforce development across cathedral works departments. In that role I lead strategy, governance, finance, fundraising, partnerships and programme development, working closely with trustees, funders, universities, employers, professional bodies and heritage organisations. I have helped develop new education and training routes, secure significant external investment and build partnerships intended to strengthen the long-term resilience of specialist conservation skills.

Previously, as Director of Works and Property at Lincoln Cathedral, I was responsible for internationally significant historic fabric, multidisciplinary conservation teams, major programmes of repair and maintenance, and the practical challenges of balancing significance, use, resources and long-term stewardship. That experience gave me a strong understanding of the realities faced by conservation professionals, employers and clients, and of the importance of sound judgement, proportionate risk management and clear professional standards.

I also bring direct charity governance experience as a trustee of the Stained Glass Museum, alongside service on cathedral fabric advisory and professional heritage groups. Through teaching and programme leadership in historic building conservation, I have a particular interest in developing practitioners, supporting progression, creating credible routes into the profession and ensuring that high standards are sustained as the workforce changes. I have also contributed to professional networks and collaborative research in stone and built heritage conservation, which keeps me connected to current practice and to colleagues across the sector.

I would bring to Icon’s Board a combination of accredited conservation practice, operational heritage management, education and skills development, and executive charity leadership. I am comfortable scrutinising proposals and finances, managing risk, asking constructive questions, building partnerships and contributing to collective decisions. I understand many of the pressures facing conservation organisations and individual practitioners, including workforce capacity, succession planning, funding, access to training, professional recognition and the need to demonstrate conservation’s public value.

Icon has an important role not only in representing conservators, but in shaping the conditions in which conservation can thrive. I would welcome the opportunity to contribute actively to that work, to bring the perspective of built heritage and craft-based conservation to the Board, and to support Icon in strengthening its reach, relevance and influence. I would approach the role as an engaged, collaborative and accountable trustee, committed to Icon’s charitable purpose, to the breadth of the profession and to the long-term resilience of conservation.
 

Who can vote?
Paid up Accredited, Associate, Pathway, Early Career or Emeritus members of the Institute of Conservation are entitled to vote in our Annual General Meeting. Please note that Supporter members are not eligible to vote.

How can I vote?
Eligible members can vote via the form linked in their elections email communications, or live at the 2026 AGM (held online via Zoom). If you believe you are eligible to vote but have not received a voting link, please reach out to the Icon team at [email protected].