We employ more than 100 people at the United Grand Lodge of England who share the vision and values at the very heart of what we do.
Now meet the talented leadership team who work hard to contribute to our success as a thriving membership organisation.
Director of HR
Liz joined UGLE in 2014, having previously worked for Morgan Stanley for a number of years. A HR professional with vast experience in the intricacies of people management and employee relations, she has a passion for making a difference and a focus on people.
I head up the HR function with accountability and responsibility for all aspects of HR and payroll for UGLE, UGLE Trading and the Museum of Freemasonry. I get involved in everything from management of pension and benefit schemes, compensation, sickness to recruitment and employee relations plus everything else in between. It’s not a job for the faint-hearted, you need a thick skin and the conviction to follow through. I ensure people are at the forefront and are respected, valued and treated fairly. I support my team, the staff, management and the organisation as a whole by offering guidance and support.
I love that no two days are ever the same as such a varied and interesting role. The people make an organisation, and we have some great people working here. I feel respected and appreciated for the support and advice I give, and that makes it all worthwhile.
Running/fitness, baking, travelling and socialising with friends and family.
Chris Hemsworth
Director of Communications and Marketing
Michelle Worvell joined UGLE in March 2019 as Director of Communications and Marketing. Before this, she was Director of Communications at the Chartered Insurance Institute. Michelle started her career as a journalist and for many years was Editor of Insurance Age magazine where she created a new event from scratch – the Broker Expo.
She is an award winning professional having won Best Annual Report 2018 at the MemCom Awards and BIBA Journalist Award 2003 – Trade Feature – Winner. Michelle has a BA (Hons) in Journalism.
I joined UGLE in March 2019 as Director of Communications and Marketing and one of my first jobs was to restructure the Communications and Marketing team so that it was fit for purpose. The areas under my control include: PR, Corporate Communications, Member Communications, Website, Social Media and Internal Communications. In the two years that I have been at UGLE I have implemented a new PR Strategy which has moved the organisation in a proactive comms position and built relationships with national press journalists and obtained positive national coverage. My other projects include introducing and enhancing a brand marketing centre for use by regional officers, providing the CEO and regional heads with briefing notes and crisis comms support, launching a new members webinar series and the first ever national members e-newsletter – First Rising. In addition, the team has created a new set of toolkits and animations for use by our members and the 48 regions, introduced ‘Ask the CEO’ Twitter events and created a new internal staff communications strategy to support UGLE staff (including a Welcome Pack), working closely with HR on events such as Learning at Work Week.
The chance to make a real difference, with my team, to the public standing and perception of Freemasonry. I also love the variety offered by the role.
For 20 years, I have been a member of the Sealed Knot – a 17th-century re-enactment society – I am a musketeer, so I own a replica 17th-century musket and have a shotgun licence.
Elizabeth I – I find her absolutely fascinating. High intelligent and a strong woman in a man’s world. Everything she did, she did for her country.
Director of Development and Assistant Grand Secretary
Shawn joined UGLE in July 2013 as Director of Technical and Specialist Services before being appointed Assistant Grand Secretary in April 2014. In January 2019, he became Director of Development.
Prior to joining UGLE, Shawn had a background in banking and finance, having been with Citigroup and BMO Bank of Montreal in Canada, and Barclays and Citigroup in London.
My role involves serving as Clerk to the Board of General Purposes and Committee of General Purposes, providing guidance to Metropolitan, Provincial and District Grand Secretaries and conducting a process whereby Brethren can be recognised for exceptional service to the organisation by becoming ‘Grand Officers’ or receiving a ‘Past Grand Rank’. I am also responsible for Development within the organisation including helping to facilitate effective succession planning across the organisation and internally in the Grand Secretary’s Office where we are introducing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) throughout the several Departments.
I believe that Freemasonry is beneficial to society, and there is a feel-good factor working for an organisation which contributes to making the world a better place. Similar to most members of the organisation, the staff are friendly, helpful and kind; and it is nice to have colleagues who are good people.
Travelling and skiing.
My ideal dinner party guest would be Mozart.
I have travelled to 69 countries and lived in three of them (the United Kingdom, Canada and Hong Kong – SAR, China).
Director of Facilities
Richard started in the catering and hospitality industry with his first job being a kitchen porter when he was 17, and 20 years later left as a Director of Events to move into Facilities Management.
Richard has worked for the private, the public and the third sectors in various roles and for organisations including Gardner Merchant Leisure, Chester Boyd, Letheby & Christopher and Leith’s, Kingston University Service Company.
I am responsible for making sure our members, staff and visitors can use Freemasons’ Hall each day we are open. My teams are Security, Reception, Post Room and Room Bookings. Together with Tony Retberg, Facilities Manager, we also manage contracts such as the cleaning, waste, overnight security and pest control. The Facilities team cover 6 days a week and from 07:00 until 21:00 a day – longer if we are open on a Sunday or later during the week because of a commercial hire. Tony, Katherine and I look after the non-Masonic hires of FMH – from filming to dinners, conferences to fashion shows, Christmas parties to drinks receptions, concerts to charity events and Katherine and I look after the Lodge & Chapter Dining and UGLE events at FMH
My husband.
I spent part of my childhood living in Africa and on Ascension Island.
Director of Member Services
Since studying law at university, Prity has had a varied career as a lecturer in law, progressing into IT training management and consultancy and now, as a working mother of two, has brought her skills and experience together and taken up the role of Director of Member Services at UGLE – a post she has held since 2019.
My departments are Registration, District Support and External Relations. In addition to ensuring that we maintain good relations with other Foreign Grand Lodges of which there are over 300 worldwide and increasing year by year, we are responsible for processing all member and membership data and income for our 32 Districts and 47 Provinces amounting to over 4000 lodges. With members at the heart of what we do, this is a key function allowing for reporting and analysis, monitoring member movements and membership trends and behaviour.
The people.
Playing Cards and Board Games; Cooking and Gardening; spending time with family and friends.
I did the Victoria Falls Gorge Swing in Zambia.
Director of Masonic Services
John joined UGLE in 2015 as an administrator in the secretariat department. In March 2018, he stepped in as Interim Head of Secretariat and was promoted to Director of Masonic Services in January 2019. Prior to joining UGLE, he served with the Metropolitan Police Service for more than 30 years.
To mention a few tasks, my team and I make sure that the Masonic Yearbook is up to date along with the Book of Constitutions. We examine documents such as the By-Laws of Lodges and Chapters across the Constitution before being signed on behalf of the Grand Master. We produce Warrants and Charters for new Lodges and Chapters and Patents of appointment for Provincial and District Rulers. These are just a few of the responsibilities which fall under the Masonic Services remit.
There is a camaraderie within the team here at Freemasons’ Hall, which engenders an ethic of working together to achieve a professional outcome for the benefit of the organisation; along with pride in serving the membership, of which many of my colleagues are a constituent part
Bee Keeping (just starting out on the journey), Freemasonry (since 1980), Flat Green Bowls (to International Standard), Rugby Union (Member at Harlequins RFC), Classical Music (favourite – Italian Opera), Reading Proper Books (mainly fiction and certainly not e-books), Watching Most Sports, Gardening (amongst other things growing cucumbers which I hate!)
Whilst employed at Buckingham Palace, I was told in no uncertain terms by a very senior member of the Royal Household to go forth and multiply!
General Counsel
Donald joined UGLE in 2017. He worked in the City as a solicitor and in-house at an international children’s charity before joining UGLE.
I advise on compliance and run the legal department. This supports the organisation on legal matters including litigation, data protection, contracts, property, intellectual property and charity law. It also encompasses the Masonic disciplinary system and records management.
The humility and courtesy of Freemasons, and our small role in helping facilitate the huge amount of charity work they do.
Bouldering, running, gardening, reading, piano, DIY, clowning around with my children.
There are no fun facts about me.
Director of Maintenance
Mark is responsible for maintenance, portering and major building projects at Freemasons’ Hall, a Grade II* listed building and the home of English Freemasonry since its construction in 1932.
He has worked for Grand Lodge since October 1993, starting as a porter then moving into the maintenance department as a Decorator and working his way up to his current position in 2015. As well as being IOSH and NEBOSH qualified, he is also a member of the Institute of Workplace Facilities Management.
I have been at UGLE for over 28 years, and as Director of Maintenance, I am Responsible for the day to day maintenance, building projects and Health and Safety.
I love the variety of work, the people you meet and most importantly, the uniqueness of the building itself, you would be hard-pressed to find somewhere half as interesting to work at.
Watching Millwall (which is probably more of a labour of love than a hobby!).
I was a bone marrow donor for someone who was suffering from Leukaemia.
Deputy Grand Secretary
Graham joined UGLE in November 1987 as Assistant to the Grand Secretary, and has been Deputy Grand Secretary since 2013. He was called to the Bar in July 1974 and after a period in pupillage and practice worked in the Legal Department of Dunlop Holdings from 1978.
Joined in November 1987, and have been Assistant and then Deputy Grand Secretary under six Grand Secretaries.
The endless variety.
My three dinner-party guests would be P.G. Wodehouse, Alistair Cooke [“Letter from America”] and Professor Jonathan Van-Tam.
I represented my College on University Challenge in 1969 and 1970.
Finance Director
Anna joined UGLE as the Finance Director in August 2021. Prior to this, she held a number of senior finance roles within the media sector.
In my role as Finance Director, I ensure the sound financial management of the organisation by providing strategic financial leadership and developing good governance through policies and procedures.
I like the breadth of the work that I cover and working with such knowledgeable colleagues.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends.
Victoria Beckham.
Interim Head of ICT
John joined UGLE in January 2011. In 2018 he was appointed Infrastructure Manager. In March 2022 he was appointed Interim Head of ICT. He has held a number of other roles prior to this and has over 20 years’ experience in the ICT field.
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