Richard Morsley
Richard Morsley is Chief Executive of the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, a preservation and learning charity responsible for The Historic Dockyard Chatham, the most complete dockyard of the age of sail. Richard is a senior leader with more than fifteen years’ experience across the heritage, cultural, education and local government sectors, recognised for his strategic, commercial, and place-based approach to heritage stewardship.
Richard leads one of the UK’s most complex and successful mixed-use heritage destinations, combining a nationally significant independent museum and visitor attraction with commercial, residential, education, hospitality, events, and screen production activity. Under his leadership, the Trust has achieved long-term financial sustainability on a revenue basis through a diversified and entrepreneurial business model, strengthening its role as a major tourism and economic driver for Medway and the South East.
He brings extensive experience of board-level governance, major public and charitable projects and programmes, partnership working with local authorities, destination management organisations, and national funders. Richard is a strong advocate for heritage-led regeneration and has seen first-hand the transformative impact of long-term, place-based heritage investment on communities, skills, and pride of place. Prior to joining the Historic Dockyard, Richard was Director at Betteshanger Park and Deputy Director at Turner Contemporary. He is a member of the Creative Estuary Advisory Board, member of the Medway Place Board, and a Kent Ambassador.
Rachel Walter
Rachel is a senior tourism and commercial leader with over 20 years’ experience across destination development, heritage tourism and visitor economy growth in England. She currently runs the Holidays business for the National Trust, having held senior leadership roles within the organisation for over 17 years. During this time, she has led national and regional visitor-facing operations, commercial strategy and large-scale investment programmes. Her current role oversees a nationally significant Holidays portfolio generating over £23 million in annual revenue, including 400 holiday cottages, 18 campsites and 600 staff, alongside brand partnerships and film and location activity. Across her National Trust career, she has delivered sustained growth, major visitor experience transformation, multiple award-winning performance and significant investment in sustainable development.
Rachel has held senior destination leadership roles at The Alnwick Garden and across the South West of England, supporting regional regeneration, partnership working and long-term destination development. She brings strong governance experience as a former Non-Executive Director of Visit Bath and Trustee of Bath Preservation Trust, and is committed to supporting sustainable, inclusive and high-quality tourism across England.
Richard Morsley and Rachel Walter have been appointed for a term of five years, commencing on 6 March 2026 until 5 March 2031.
Remuneration and Governance Code
Board Members of the VisitEngland Advisory Board are remunerated £3,300 per annum.
These appointments have been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election.
Richard Morsley and Rachel Walter have declared no such political activity.
Notes to Editors
DCMS has around 400 regulated Public Appointment roles across 42 Public Bodies including Arts Council England, Theatres Trust, the National Gallery, UK Sport and the Gambling Commission. We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom. To find out more about Public Appointments or to apply visit the HM Government Public Appointments Website.