We want to give a very warm welcome to Harriet Manners, the great-granddaughter of Esmée’s founder, Ian Fairbairn, who joined as Trustee in January 2026. We’re also pleased to announce Professor Claire Alexander as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees.
Harriet has a background in management consulting and brings over 12 years’ experience working with some of the world’s largest media, entertainment, and telecoms companies. Passionate about youth access to the arts and the environment, she continues a proud legacy, and we’re excited to have her energy and insights to guide us.
We’re also delighted that Professor Claire Alexander has been appointed to the new role of Vice Chair on our Board. A Trustee since 2021, Claire is a Professor of Sociology and Head of the School of Social Sciences at the University of Manchester. She also sits on Esmée’s Governance and Nominations Committee.
At the end of 2025, we said farewell to two long-serving Trustees, John Fairbairn and Eleanor Updale, who stepped down from our Board of Trustees after 15 years and 11 years of service respectively. We’re immensely grateful for their wisdom, support, and dedication to the Foundation’s work, the organisations we support, and the team. They will be missed and we want to give our heartfelt thanks and send our warmest wishes for the future.
Finally, we’d like to congratulate our Trustee, Joe Docherty, who was appointed to the House of Lords this month. A life peer, Joe becomes Baron Docherty of Milngavie.
