Fiona Reynolds
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Fiona Reynolds | |
|---|---|
| Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge | |
| In office October 2012 – 30 September 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Lord Wilson of Dinton |
| Succeeded by | Douglas Chalmers |
| Director General of the National Trust | |
| In office 2001 – 11 November 2012 | |
| Chairman | Sir Simon Jenkins |
| Succeeded by | Dame Helen Ghosh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Fiona Claire Reynolds 29 March 1958 Alston, Cumbria, England, United Kingdom |
| Alma mater | Newnham College, Cambridge |
Dame Fiona Claire Reynolds DBE (born 29 March 1958) is a British former civil servant and chair of the National Audit Office. She was previously master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge and director-general of the National Trust. Since January 2022 and as of September 2024[update] she is chair of the governing council at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester.
Fiona Claire Reynolds was born on 29 March 1958 in Alston, Cumbria, England.[1]
From 1969 to 1976, she was educated at Rugby High School for Girls, an all-girls grammar school in Rugby, Warwickshire.[1][2]
She studied geography and land economy at Newnham College, Cambridge. She graduated from the University of Cambridge with a first class Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1979; as per tradition, her BA was later promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Cantab) degree. From 1980 to 1981, she undertook postgraduate study at the University of Cambridge. She graduated with a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree in land economy; a Cambridge MPhil is equivalent to a taught Master of Arts degree from non-ancient universities.[1][3]
Career
Reynolds' first job was at the Council for National Parks (later Campaign for National Parks).[2] Moving to the Campaign for Rural England, she held various positions before being appointed CEO there.[2]
She joined the Cabinet Office as director of the Women's Unit in 1998.[3]
She became director general of the National Trust in 2001.[4][2] During her tenure, membership of the charity, which looks after 612,000 acres (2,480 km2) of land in the United Kingdom, grew from 2.7 to 4 million people. In February 2010 she was a guest on Private Passions, the biographical music discussion programme on BBC Radio 3.[5] Her appearance on the Chris Evans Breakfast Show on 18 February 2010 added momentum to the campaign to "save" Abbey Road studios.[6]
It was announced in March 2012 that Reynolds would be stepping down as director-general of the National Trust to become the next Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, in succession to Lord Wilson of Dinton.[3][7][8] She was admitted to her new post in October 2012, although was granted a leave of absence until October 2013.[citation needed]
In July 2020, the government announced that Reynolds had been appointed as the next chair of the National Audit Office (United Kingdom), a position she took up in January 2021.[9] She was succeeded as Master of Emmanuel College by Douglas Chalmers in October 2021.[10]
In January 2022 Reynolds became chair of governing council at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester, after having served as vice-chair since March 2021.[11] She remains in the position as of March 2026[update].[12]
