Vikki Heywood DBE
Former Chair, RSA
Dame Vikki Heywood DBE
Vikki Heywood held the position of Chair of the RSA between 2012 and 2018, the first in its history to be invited to return for a second three-year term following a change in its bye-laws. Vikki is currently on the board of the National Theatre amongst other non-executive and trustee roles.
In addition to the RSA she was chairman of Unboxed, Creativity in the UK, the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, 14-18 NOW – a programme of First World War Centenary arts commissions that reached over 35 million people over five years, and the Warwick Commission on the future of creativity.
Vikki was the Executive Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company from 2003 until 2013, and before that Joint Chief Executive of the Royal Court Theatre. She trained as a Stage Manager at the Central School of Speech and Drama.
Vikki was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Birmingham, becoming a Doctor of Letters in December 2009 and was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2012 for services to theatre, followed by a Damehood in 2020 for services to the arts,