Sue has held a number of prominent roles within the arts and education. She was Chief Executive of the Reading Agency from January 2014 to July 2019. Prior to this she was Director of UK Academic and Government Alliances at Elsevier.
Sue read history at Clare College Cambridge, trained as a teacher and did a postgraduate course in museum education at the University of Leicester. As Director of Policy at the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) she created the ground-breaking quality and impact framework, Inspiring Learning for All, which is now used in museums, archives and libraries all over the world.
While at MLA she worked with public libraries and their partners to deliver a wide range of programmes, and with local museums to establish, and secure funding for the Renaissance in the Regions programme.
She was awarded an MBE for services to museum education in 2014 and an OBE for services to literature and libraries in 2020. Sue is also a trustee of the Royal Pavilion and Museums Brighton and was previously a Trustee of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and Handel House Museum.
This role is not remunerated. This reappointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office's Governance Code on Public Appointments, the process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The Government's Governance Code requires that any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years is declared. This is defined as holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation or candidature for election. Ms Wilkinson has not declared any activity.
