The museum is governed by its Board of Trustees. There are currently seven trustees, who are also directors of the museum.

Trustees

Dr Andrew Herbert (Chair)

Dr Andrew Herbert OBE, FREng joined the Board in 2016. Andrew graduated in computer science from the University of Leeds and gained a PhD at Cambridge University in 1979. He then began work at the famed University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory under Sir Maurice Wilkes and Roger Needham.

Subsequently, Andrew founded two entrepreneurial computing companies and in 2001 joined Microsoft Research in Cambridge, becoming its managing director two years later. Andrew is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and of the British Computer Society and a member of their special interest group, the Computer Conservation Society. He is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists. Andrew was awarded an OBE for his services to computing in 2010.

Since its launch in 2012, Andrew has led the team of volunteers on the EDSAC reconstruction project at the museum.

Andrew was elected chair of the museum in 2017.

Rachel Burnett

Rachel Burnett joined the Board in 2019. She graduated from the University of Exeter, and holds an Honorary Doctorate in Technology from Southampton Solent University. She is past president and fellow of the British Computer Society, and past chair and secretary of the Computer Conservation Society.

Rachel initially worked for large corporate organisations in system development and project management and on some of the most advanced systems of their time: the most complex data storage and retrieval systems in Europe; the first online computer system for foreign exchange dealers; and in retailing. She became a solicitor specialising in the constantly developing area of IT law, working with both suppliers and users. She has worked as an associate lecturer and in management at the Open University, and she has authored several books and other publications on IT law.

As a trustee, Rachel has responsibility for governance and related matters.

Ben Trethowan

Ben is a senior technology leader of some 18 years experience and is currently the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for Brit Insurance. He has worked in various technology and engineering disciplines throughout his career, starting in Systems Engineering & Integration, through Systems Architecture, to then specialise in Cyber & Information Security for the past 13 years.

He advocates for educational outreach and has created and run several programmes relating to Information Technology and Cyber Security skills development with colleges, high schools and community organisations. Prior to becoming a trustee, he was already a longstanding volunteer for The National Museum of Computing for over two decades.

Ben also serves as a Police Support Volunteer within the Cyber Crime Unit of his local Police force, both supporting investigations as well as developing tools / technologies to assist various teams in the prevention and investigation of digital / digitally-enabled crimes. Through his efforts supporting law enforcement both regionally and nationally, Ben won the inaugural National Cyber Award in 2019 for his individual contributions to Cyber law enforcement.

As a trustee, Ben's areas of focus will include improving our financial planning, monitoring and reporting, advocating for and helping develop our learning programme and contributing to our long-term strategic planning.

Andy Clark

Andy Clark became a founding trustee of The National Museum of Computing in 2005 in response to an invitation from the late Tony Sale. He was the chairman of trustees until 2017 and remains a trustee.

Working in real-time computing since the late 1970s, Andy started his career in the flight simulation industry modelling navigation and communications systems. Subsequently he worked in designing and implementing telemetry and control systems before specialising in Computer and Information Systems Security and Cryptology in 1984.

Andy is an acknowledged expert in Cryptography, Information Security, Systems Engineering, Security Evaluation, Information Forensics, Cyber Security and Analytics. He is a registered expert witness with more than fifteen years’ experience of forensic analysis and the presentation of computer and information systems evidence in a wide range of cases in criminal and civil matters. Andy is a past President and Fellow of the International Association for Cryptologic Research and is currently a Visiting Professor at the Information Security Group, Department of Mathematics, Royal Holloway University of London (RHUL).

As well as working with his fellow Trustees to set the museum’s strategy, Andy takes a particular interest in the cryptologic exhibits and galleries.

Rebecca Halls

Rebecca Halls MScM PGDipM PGDipPM MCIM Chartered Marketer 

Rebecca has a Masters in Strategy and Marketing from University of Glamorgan. She works across government and industry specialising in defence, security and space sectors. An expert in marketing, government relations and business development, she has worked on large government programmes in MoD, AWE and UK Space Agency. 

Rebecca has extensive international experience having worked for many years in overseas markets. A Chartered Marketer she is passionate about strategy development and implementation and is engaged across sectors in STEM projects. A strong mentor and coach, she has been a Senior leader in Thales Alenia Space, Telespazio and Serco.

Steve Kay

Steve Kay joined the board in 2020 at the invitation of the current trustees, to recognising the importance that the volunteers play in the running of the museum.

Steve followed a career in computing, being involved in many of the key changes of the industry as it developed and working with some of the big-name machines, many of which can now be seen in the museum. In 1974, he worked as a technical author for ICL then later, for Computer Field Maintenance, as a field service engineer on teletypes and PDP8 minicomputers. From there he had roles in Service and Network Management, and as a freelance computer engineer installing and testing wide area networks. More recently for 3Com/Hewlett Packard, as a principal test engineer of network security products until his retirement in 2013.

Steve is also a volunteer at the museum and continues to work on machine restorations, and from 2017 to 2020 was chair of the volunteer association at the museum.

Sarah-Jill Lennard

Sarah-Jill joined the board in January 2023. Her career in the Foreign Office included postings in Montevideo, Brussels, Budapest and Washington. For her last post in the public service she ran a government agency which produced high end secure technology and engineering solutions for government.

Sarah-Jill Lennard is a former UK Diplomat, and Former Chief Security Officer & Chief Information Security Officer, Deloitte.  She was appointed as a Trustee of The National Museum of Computing in 2023.

She was recruited into Deloitte in 2011 to lead a strategic and holistic approach to security, an area where clients’ requirements are only increasing and the risk to reputation is very real. As Security Partner, her responsibilities combined the roles of Chief Security Officer & Chief Information Security Officer at second line of defence, and Chief Confidentiality & Privacy Officer for the UK and Switzerland, and latterly for North West Europe. Her responsibilities included leading the response team in the event of an incident or crisis.

She left Deloitte in late 2018 and established her own company, Illustro Consultancy Services, and now holds both NED and advisory roles.

Kevin Murrell

Kevin Murrell co-founded The National Museum of Computing with the late Tony Sale and became a founding trustee in 2005.

Since graduating in 1982, Kevin has worked in software development and in 2001 established Savience, an international software company specialising in touch screens for public use in healthcare and other sectors. He is currently technical director at Savience.

Kevin is a long-time member of the Computer Conservation Society, where he was secretary for many years and currently lecture programme organiser. He has written several books and papers on the history of computing in the UK, including Early Home Computers.

Kevin has a special interest in 1950’s computer development in the UK and has been instrumental in acquiring many of the key machines in the museum’s collection. He is frequently interviewed in the press, on television and radio about computing history.

Advisers to the Board

Doron Swade

Dr Doron Swade MBE, MSc, CEng, Hon. FBCS, CITP is Honorary Adviser to the Board.

He is an engineer, historian and museum professional. He studied electronics, physics, mathematics, electrical engineering, control engineering, history and philosophy of science, and man-machine studies at various universities including the University of Cape Town, Cambridge, and Essex. His PhD is in 19th-century history of computing (University College London).

He designed digital hardware for ten years and consulted for the microcomputer industry in the UK and US. He was Assistant Director & Head of Collections, Science Museum, London, and before that Curator of Computing. He has held posts as Visiting Professor at the Royal College of Art, and Guest Curator at the Computer History Museum, California. He has written widely on history of computing, curatorship, and museology, and is a leading authority on the life and work of Charles Babbage.

Doron founded the Computer Conservation Society in 1989, to restore to working order historic computing machines, and The National Museum of Computing has its origins in these early restoration projects. He was awarded an MBE in 2009 for services to the history of computing.

Founders