Yinnon Ezra MBE, MA, FRSA has been a local authority Chief Officer since 1990 with a sound track record of finding innovative, practical and radical solutions to delivering Community and Cultural Services which engage communities by widening participation.
Since 2002, Yinnon has been Director of Recreation and Heritage Services at Hampshire County Council. His portfolio covers libraries, arts, tourism, adult and community learning, museums and archives, countryside including looking after and promoting 3000 miles of rights of way, the River Hamble, community development, sport and outdoor learning.
He also leads on "Community Engagement" on behalf of the Council's Corporate Management Team of which he is a member. The Department has nine Chartermarks and is currently rated as "4 star-Excellent" (Culture Block) by the Audit Commission's Comprehensive Performance Assessment.
Yinnon started as a volunteer youth and community worker in the Black Voluntary sector in West London, eventually being appointed Director of Community Services for the London Borough of Ealing before joining Kent County Council as Director of Arts and Libraries.
He is an adviser to the Local Government Association and is particularly involved in developing creative links between local government, government departments and a number of Non- Departmental Public Bodies. He is a volunteer for the Prince’s Trust, a member of the Trust’s South East Regional Council, and on the Board of Governors of the University of Winchester.
He was appointed to the National board of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council in April 2007 and in January 2008 was appointed by the Prime Minister to the National Board of the Heritage Lottery Fund/National Memorial Fund. He was awarded the MBE in January 2008 for services to local government.