Michelle Charters

Head of International Slavery Museum @National Museums Liverpool

Liverpool, GB

I have been a key supporter of National Museums Liverpool (NML) and International Slavery Museum (ISM) since 1994. I was also a trustee of National Museums Liverpool UK between 2018 up until 2023.I took up the position as Head of International Slavery Museum alongside my role as Co-Director of Centre for the Study of International Slavery (CSIS) in 2024. In this role I will lead and input (alongside my curatorial team, other NML teams; the CSIS team and our community via the Stakeholder groups) the £58m ambition and vision for the next stage of transformation and expansion of the International Slavery Museum in the city of Liverpool, UK. My work and experience over the last 40 years in the charity sector and 30 years as a supporter of NML will feed into this important next stage.My role includes responsibility for ensuring that we build an inclusive visitor offer with a commitment to a collaborative approach to better understanding the history and truth of transatlantic slavery and its impact on the city, the country and the globe.This evolution will include the collaboration of colleagues, partners; funders, historians/academics and stakeholders in Liverpool, the UK and internationally.My decades of community activism and demonstrable track record of creating and leading new opportunities for excluded individuals and groups will ensure the development of a major international museum.My mantra is to ‘Listen, Learn and Act’ which has served me well in all roles past and present.My other voluntary roles have included, Chair of Liverpool, then Merseyside Black History Month Group (20••••09), the first black female Trustee of Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse Theatres and judge of LCR Culture and Creativity Awards (20••••24). I am a Common Purpose Matrix Graduate.