Esme Ward is Director of Manchester Museum, at the University of Manchester. Esme has worked in museums and heritage as an educator and cultural leader for over 25 years, including at the V&A, National Trust, the Whitworth and now, Manchester Museum. She has also worked across sectors, notably health and education.

She is Professor of Heritage Futures and for several years taught Museology. She led the £15 million capital transformation of Manchester Museum which reopened in February 2023, with the aim of renewing its creative and civic mission. She is currently leading work with others to develop practice and policy on repatriation, ecological stewardship and building an ethics of care in museums.

She is Co-Chair of the University Museums Group and sits on the National Museum’s Directors’ Executive Council. She sits on the Research England Advisory Group (REAG), Kew’s Wakehurst Advisory Committee and is a Trustee of Hope Valley Climate Action. She is the founding Chair of the National Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance and a Fellow of the Clore Leadership Programme.