The Diocese of Chester has appointed Harriet Roberts as its Director of Development. Harriet will take up her post in June.
The new role, funded by the National Church, has been created to help build a new vision and strategic direction for the diocese.
Harriet’s passion for people and places comes from a 22-year BBC career in storytelling and partnerships. She made and presented programmes for local radio and regional television. As a project manager and event producer, she would bring stakeholders together at a grassroots level around a national event, programme brand, or learning campaign.
More recently, Harriet has become respected in place-making. She has worked with different towns, cities, and counties to create place narratives, communication strategies, and collaborative projects with multiple stakeholders.
Harriet and her family will be moving to Cheshire from Ribble Valley, Lancashire where she is a Methodist local preacher and mission enabler.
Her husband, Ben Thomson works at Media City, Salford where he is Head of Storytelling for BBC Children in Need, and their daughter, Lizzy will be starting at Priestley College, Warrington in September.
Harriet said: "I am fascinated by the opportunity for Christians to learn from the lockdown and build a simpler, bolder, humbler church. This role is an exciting new challenge which aligns my faith journey with my professional experience."
The Bishop of Chester, Mark Tanner, has welcomed the announcement saying: "I am delighted that Harriet will be joining us at this important time to help us discern fresh vision and strategic direction for the diocese. She brings with her experience in helping people and organisations to identify and tell their story and will play a vital role in helping us tell ours. Please pray for Harriet, her husband Ben and their daughter Lizzy as they prepare to move to the diocese and join us in the exciting work we have before us.”
Photograph courtesy of Paul Adams