Hilary Lade has served as Vice-Chairman and Director of Oxford Inspires from 1998 until 2008. Prior to this, she worked as Managing Director - Shell Gas Limited for Shell UK, before joining the National Trust as Property Manager for Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal.
In 1993, she joined English Heritage as Director of Historic Properties, with responsibility for all of its 410 historic properties and then returned to Shell UK as Head of Global Gas Business. Between 1999 and 2002, she chaired the Royal Parks Advisory Board followed by the position of Director of the British Tourist Authority.