National Lottery Heritage Fund Extends Terms Of Two Board Trustees

The terms of two trustees serving on the National Lottery Heritage Fund Board have been extended, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has confirmed.

Mukesh Sharma will remain a trustee for an additional four months, with his second term now running from 30 August until 29 December 2026.

James Twining has received a six-month extension to his first term, covering the period from 30 November 2026 until 29 May 2027.

Both extensions were approved by the previous Prime Minister.

Sharma Extends Second Term

Sharma has experience across business growth, acquisitions, organisational change and international partnerships and was appointed Deputy Lieutenant for the County Borough of Belfast in 2016.

He serves on the boards of several charities, including Barnardo’s, ArtsEkta, the Goliath Trust and The King’s Trust.

Sharma has also served on the Northern Ireland Executive Commission on Flags, Identity, Culture and Tradition and the Cabinet Office Contested Heritage Advisory Board.

Having received an MBE for services to Northern Ireland’s travel industry in 2016, Sharma was awarded an OBE for services to heritage in The King’s Birthday Honours 2026.

Twining To Remain Until May 2027

Twining is chair and chief executive of independent financial advice firm Wren Sterling and chief executive of its fund management subsidiary Magnus.

He has more than 30 years of experience in financial services, having previously held senior positions at SBC Warburg, McKinsey & Co., Jardine Lloyd Thompson and the Kingsbridge Group.

Twining is also a governor of Merchant Taylors’ School and a director of Dunfermline Athletic Football Club. He previously served as a founding trustee and vice chair of the English Heritage Trust.

He currently chairs the Audit and Risk Committee of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, a position carrying annual remuneration of £13,500. The Northern Ireland trustee position is remunerated at £20,749 per year.

Extensions Follow Public Appointments Code

The appointments were made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments, with the process regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Under the code, appointees are required to disclose significant political activity undertaken during the previous five years, including holding political office, public speaking, making recordable donations or standing for election.

Neither Sharma nor Twining declared any such political activity.