Staff Profile Helen Goddard

Helen Goddard is the Project Director for the National Slate Museum redevelopment and is responsible for the overall management and delivery of the programme. Leading the wider project teams she reports to the Project Board on progress and ensure the project stays on schedule and within budget.

“It’s my job to make sure that everyone shares the same vision and that we achieve our ambitions and realise the benefits of the project for our visitors, communities and funders.”

What do you enjoy the most about your role?

I love making the case for the project and telling its story to our stakeholders and funders. I like to get my teeth into strategy, vision and interpretative approaches. Most of all I love working with such talented and big-brained colleagues and learning from them each day.

One part of the project I’ve really enjoyed is working with Llechi Cymru and thinking and developing that joined up visitor experience we want to achieve for the World Heritage Site.

What has been your favourite part of the project so far / greatest achievement?

Honestly, my Welsh language. Everyone at the Museum speaks Welsh as a first language and it’s helped me move from being a long-time learner to a confident second-language Welsh speaker since joining the project, which has been a long-held dream of mine.

What does slate mean to you?

Community and belonging, struggle and ingenuity.

The redevelopment of the National Slate Museum will have a big impact on the area and the story of slate? What are you looking forward to most when the Museum reopens?

I can’t wait to watch our first visitors experience the Museum through all their senses and see peoples’ expressions as they play and explore.

Who, what or where do you take inspiration from?

My Uncle Meic who passed away a few years ago. He was my hero growing up, and a passionate advocate for Welsh culture. He would be so proud to see me working to promote the heritage, language and traditions of this most special corner of the world.

What advice would you give someone starting a career in a similar field?

It’s a low-budget, tight-timescale sector. Don’t try to do it all on your own!