INTO Heritage Leaders

International National Trusts Organisation

In 2022, CAO undertook a scoping exercise to investigate how INTO can support its member organisations through a managed and funded programme for leadership development across the network. CAO facilitated discussions with a task and finish group, undertook a training needs analysis for member organisations, and undertook a series of 1-to-1 interviews in order to design a programme that was bespoke and fully tailored to member’s needs.

The first cohort ran from May – July 2024, with the second cohort taking part March - June 2025. Over 80 individuals from INTO member organisations have now participated in the programme. INTO Heritage Leaders offers a combination of live online workshops, pre-recorded material set out in modules, networking sessions and peer learning groups. Participants bring experiences and career aspirations from their leadership and management responsibilities across the global national trust movement and together they take a a deep-dive into the business and leadership themes and issues relevant to the heritage sector. Evaluation shows the significant impact the programme has had on participants:

“The programme came at a great time for me, as our organisation is in state of change and our leaders are being asked to be bolder and more creative in our thinking. The modules were well-constructed, easy to digest and relevant to my role as a leader in my organisation.”

“The content provided the opportunity for me to step back and reflect on my organisation, my role within it (as an individual and project) and provide skills and ways in which I can make change, look after myself and my team and grow as a leader” 

“The quality of resources that were made available was astounding. Different perspectives were offered, and the speakers were inspiring. I found myself using my acquired knowledge immediately”.  

The International National Trusts Organisation (INTO) is a diverse network of heritage organisations from across the globe, united by a common approach to the conservation of global heritage. The Heritage Leaders programme aimed to address the need to grow leadership skills amongst the next generation of leaders as these organisations move forward into the next phase of development.