thumb|Carole Souter in September 2016
'''Carole Souter''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|CBE|FSA|FRSA}} (née Teague,<ref name="Jesus">{{cite web |title=Notable Old Members |url=https://www.jesus.ox.ac.uk/about-jesus-college/history/notable-old-members/ |website=Jesus College, Oxford |access-date=9 April 2023}}</ref> born 1957) is the current Interim Chair of Historic Royal Palaces and former Master of St Cross College, Oxford, and Chief Executive of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Heritage Lottery Fund.
==Biography== Born in 1957,<ref name="Jesus" /> Souter obtained a Bachelor of Arts degrees in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Jesus College, Oxford, between 1975 - 1978, and a Master of Arts in Victorian Studies from the University of London between 1981 - 1982.<ref name="Saxton"/> By 2016, her career had spanned "over 30 years of policy development and operational management in the public sector", including work in the civil service in the Department of Health, the Department of Social Security and the Cabinet Office.<ref name="DCMS"/>
Souter joined the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Heritage Lottery Fund in 2003, having previously been Director of Planning and Development at English Heritage.<ref>{{cite web|title=Carole Souter to step down as Chief Executive|publisher=Heritage Lottery Fund|date=29 September 2015|url=https://www.hlf.org.uk/about-us/news-features/carole-souter-step-down-chief-executive/|access-date=10 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221090723/https://www.hlf.org.uk/about-us/news-features/carole-souter-step-down-chief-executive|archive-date=21 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Her other board appointments have included the boards of Creativity, Culture and Education,<ref>{{cite web|title=Carole Souter|publisher=Creativity, Culture and Education|url=http://www.creativitycultureeducation.org/carole-souter|access-date=11 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220100812/http://www.creativitycultureeducation.org/carole-souter|archive-date=20 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> the Kent Wildlife Trust,<ref name="Saxton"/> and the National Communities Resource Centre (at Trafford Hall).<ref>{{cite web|title=Carole Souter|publisher=National Communities Resource Centre|url=http://www.traffordhall.com/team-member/carole-souter/|access-date=11 December 2016}}{{Dead link|date=October 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> She is also a member of the Academy of Urbanism,<ref>{{cite web|title=Carole Souter|publisher=Academy of Urbanism|url=https://www.academyofurbanism.org.uk/members/Carole-Souter/|access-date=11 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221013239/https://www.academyofurbanism.org.uk/members/Carole-Souter/|archive-date=21 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> a trustee of Horniman Museum and Gardens,<ref>{{cite web|title=Carole Souter|publisher=Horniman Museum and Gardens|url=http://www.horniman.ac.uk/about/trustees/people/carole-souter|access-date=11 December 2016}}</ref> and a lay canon of Salisbury Cathedral.<ref name="Saxton"/>
In March 2016, Souter was appointed as a trustee of Historic Royal Palaces.<ref name="DCMS">{{cite web|title=Culture Secretary Appoints New Historic Royal Palaces Trustee|publisher=Department for Culture, Media & Sport|date=15 March 2016|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/culture-secretary-appoints-new-historic-royal-palaces-trustee|access-date=11 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Carole Souter CBE appointed as Trustee of Historic Royal Palaces|publisher=Historic Royal Palaces|date=15 March 2016|url=http://www.hrp.org.uk/news-and-media/press-resources/historic-royal-palaces-press-releases-and-archives/carole-souter-cbe-appointed-as-trustee-of-historic-royal-palaces/#gs.upNc8wo|access-date=10 December 2016}}</ref>
In May 2016, it was announced that the Fellows of St Cross College, Oxford, had elected Souter as the next Master of the College. In September 2016, she succeeded Sir Mark Jones, who had been Master of St Cross since 2011.<ref name="Saxton">{{cite web|title=Carole Souter CBE elected Master of St. Cross College, Oxford|publisher=Saxton Bampfylde|url=http://www.saxbam.com/news/post/547-carole-souter-cbe-elected-as-master-of-st-cross-college-oxford|access-date=11 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220172357/http://www.saxbam.com/news/post/547-carole-souter-cbe-elected-as-master-of-st-cross-college-oxford|archive-date=20 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=St Cross College Elects New Master|publisher=St Cross College|url=http://www.stx.ox.ac.uk/about-st-cross/news/st-cross-college-elects-new-master|access-date=10 December 2016|archive-date=7 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160607150705/http://www.stx.ox.ac.uk/about-st-cross/news/st-cross-college-elects-new-master|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In June 2020, it was announced by the Governing Body of Oriel College, Oxford, UK, that Souter would chair an 'Independent Commission of Inquiry' into the intended removal of the Cecil Rhodes statue and plaque at Oriel College, as well as related matters such as "how to improve access and attendance of BAME undergraduate, graduate students and faculty".<ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=17 June 2020|title=Statement from the Governing Body of Oriel College|url=https://www.oriel.ox.ac.uk/about-college/news-events/news/statement-governing-body-oriel-college|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618203652/https://www.oriel.ox.ac.uk/about-college/news-events/news/statement-governing-body-oriel-college |archive-date=2020-06-18 |access-date=18 June 2020|website=Oriel College}}</ref> This inquiry arose in response to immense pressure from the Rhodes Must Fall movement in Oxford, and from the wider Black Lives Matter movement.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Tominey|first=Camilla|date=2020-06-17|title=Cecil Rhodes statue to be taken down at Oxford's Oriel College|language=en-GB|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/06/17/cecil-rhodes-statue-taken-oxfords-oriel-college/|access-date=2020-06-18|issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-17|title=Oxford college backs removal of Cecil Rhodes statue|url=http://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/jun/17/end-of-the-rhodes-cecil-oxford-college-ditches-controversial-statue|access-date=2020-06-18|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> The Commission was due to report by the end of 2020 but the report was delayed a couple of times.<ref name="BBC Rhodes" /> The final report for the commission set up to examine the figure's future said the "majority" of its members supported its removal but Oriel College said it would not seek to move the statue due to costs and "complex" planning processes.<ref name="BBC Rhodes">{{cite web|last=|first=|date=9 June 2021|title=Cecil Rhodes statue will not be removed by Oxford College|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-57175057|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=9 June 2021|website=Oriel College}}</ref> [[File:Portrait_of_Souter_at_StX.jpg|thumb|Souter portrait at St Cross college. The portrait was commissioned by Qui Leilei and gifted by Souter to the college. ]] As of Sep. 2022, and after 6 years, Souter retired her duties as St Cross College, Oxford.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Master of St Cross Carole Souter to Retire |url=https://www.stx.ox.ac.uk/article/master-of-st-cross-to-retire |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=www.stx.ox.ac.uk |language=en}}</ref> She took the role of Interim Chair of Historic Royal Palaces.
==Awards and honours== Souter was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2011 New Year Honours list for services to conservation.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=59647|date=31 December 2010|pages=1–28|supp=1}}</ref> In 2014, she was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London.<ref name="FSA">{{cite web|title=Mrs Carole L Souter CBE FSA|department=Fellows Directory|website=Society of Antiquaries of London|url=https://www.sal.org.uk/about-us/fellows-directory/S/page/9/|access-date=11 December 2016}}</ref> Souter is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA).<ref name="FSA"/> She was made an Honorary Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fellows and Lecturers|publisher=Jesus College, Oxford|url=http://www.jesus.ox.ac.uk/people/fellows-and-lecturers|access-date=11 December 2016|archive-date=22 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922053245/https://www.jesus.ox.ac.uk/people/fellows-and-lecturers|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ox.ac.uk/gazette/2011-2012/6october2011-no4964/collegeshallsandsocieties/|work=Oxford University Gazette|title=Colleges, Halls and Societies|publisher=University of Oxford|date=6 October 2011|accessdate=29 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111217031415/http://www.ox.ac.uk/gazette/2011-2012/6october2011-no4964/collegeshallsandsocieties/#|archive-date=17 December 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Personal life== Souter is married with two children.<ref name="Saxton"/>
== References == {{reflist|30em}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Souter, Carole}} Category:Living people Category:Masters of St Cross College, Oxford Category:Alumni of Jesus College, Oxford Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Category:Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of London Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Year of birth missing (living people)