About

Past, Present, Future is led by
​James McQuaid.

James McQuaid

Learning and engagement has been a strong theme in James' life – as a teacher, television programme maker and heritage professional. He joined National Trust (NT) head office in 2006 as National Learning Adviser. Today he works as both a National Trust and freelance consultant developing organisational-wide and local strategy for audience engagement. A theme of his time with the NT is innovation. He led on digital and mobile interpretation, was part of a team that took the NT to Glastonbury Festival, designed a project to redefine the role the country house (Croome) and led the development (public programme) of a ground-breaking regeneration project in Birmingham (Roundhouse).

Freelance, he has worked with a wide variety of clients, including monasteries, churches, libraries, animal sanctuaries, country parks and houses, gardens, historic boats and hotels.  James is also a consultant and expert adviser to the Heritage Lottery Fund where he specialises in supporting large, complex and transformative projects.

In 2013, he won a place on the prestigious Clore Leadership Programme, an intensive year-long programme that aims to develop authentic and skilled leaders in the cultural sector. The programme comprised two, two-week residential leadership courses, a three month secondment, workshops and study visits and a £9,300 budget for training and coaching. The programme brings some of the best and well-respected people in their fields to work with Fellows, one of whom acted as James's mentor - Baroness Genista McKintosh.

James' interests include:

·        The role of heritage and the arts in urban regeneration
·        The ways in which heritage and the arts can complement one another
·        Changes in audience behaviour, motivation and expectations – especially in                                    young people (http://www.theguardian.com/culture-professionals-network)  
·        Digital and online engagement