Dame Helen Ghosh has lived in Oxford for 45 years, since coming here as a student to read History at St Hugh’s College. After University, she joined the Civil Service and later became Permanent Secretary at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and then at the Home Office. 

In 2012 she left government to become Director General of the National Trust. During her five years there, membership of the National Trust reached 5 million, visitor numbers grew dramatically and investment in conservation substantially increased. Under her leadership, the Trust’s strategy focused increasingly on the natural environment and biodiversity, and on attracting more diverse audiences. 

Helen is currently Master of Balliol College, lives with her family in Grandpont, and has a deep love of the city of Oxford and its surrounding countryside.