Project Team

Gillian Osgerby has been a key figure in shaping the city’s landscape. With seven years at Hull City Council, her expertise in delivering complex capital development projects has driven transformational change across the city, particularly in the realm of preserving its historic assets.

As Programme Director for the £70m Hull Maritime project, Gillian oversees the restoration of six of Hull’s most significant maritime landmarks, including the Grade II* listed Maritime Museum, Dock Office Chambers, Queen’s Gardens, the North End Shipyard, and the historic ships – Arctic Corsair and Spurn Lightship. Her role involves providing strategic leadership to ensure the successful delivery of these high-profile projects, alongside a comprehensive community engagement programme that aims to connect the city’s rich maritime history with its residents and visitors alike.

Gillian’s work extends beyond Hull Maritime, with notable contributions to other landmark projects in the city. Under her leadership, Pearson Park has been refurbished, properties along Beverley Road improved, and the Guildhall Time Ball installed. She’s also been instrumental in the restoration of the National Picture Theatre and the South Blockhouse site.

Gillian’s leadership and passion for Hull’s heritage have been central to revitalising the city’s historic assets, ensuring they remain a central part of Hull’s future while honouring its past. 

Malcolm started working for Hull Museums in August 2012 as a seasonal Heritage Assistant and has had several roles since taking on this post including Museums Audience Development Officer, throughout the preparation and delivery of the museums and gallery programme for Hull's UK City of Culture year.

During this time, Malcolm contributed to a variety of events and exhibitions including Poppies:Weeping Window and Bowhead at Hull Maritime Museum and Spencer Tunick's Sea of Hull at the Ferens Art Gallery.

Before working for Hull Museums, he worked in dispute resolution for npower Business. Prior to this Malcolm was studying for a PhD in medieval history at the University of Hull following the successful completion of undergraduate and master’s degrees at the same institution.

Robin Diaper has been involved in the heritage sector for more than 20 years, with experience of working in historic buildings and national, independent and local authority museums.

After brief periods working at the former colliery Snibston Discovery Park in Leicestershire and the National Railway Museum in York he gained his MA in Museum Studies at the University of Leicester. Between 2000 - 2004 he worked as Assistant Curator and then Curator and Assistant Collections Manager at Harewood House near Leeds, caring for collections that included Italian Renaissance paintings and the biggest collection of Chippendale furniture in the UK.

In 2004, he became the first Curator of the Guildhall for Hull City Council. Four years later he became Curator of Maritime & Social History for Hull Museums, having curatorial responsibilities for the Maritime Museum, Arctic Corsair, Spurn Lightship, Streetlife Museum, Hands On History and Wilberforce House Museum.

As part of this role, Robin led and developed the successful 2017 exhibition programme for the Maritime Museum which led to a 395 per cent increase in visitor figures that year.

The volunteer manager role will ensure that the project achieves its aim of improving skills, providing training and changing lives by means of a wide ranging, tailored volunteer program that reaches all communities and all areas of the city of Hull.

Tom has worked for Hull Museums since 1993 in front of house, curatorial and volunteer support roles.

His first museum job came about thanks to a period volunteering with a partner organisation. Outside of work Tom volunteers as a school governor and is a volunteer director of a small Community Interest Company promoting wellbeing through engagement with the natural environment.

Anna Marshall has worked in communications and marketing for Hull City Council since 2005 with various roles including Marketing Assistant, then progressing to Marketing Officer and finally Media Officer.

Anna led on the PR for award-winning campaigns, exhibitions and events including the re-opening of Ferens Art Gallery following a £5.2m refurbishment, The Turner Prize and the Spencer Tunick - Sea of Hull installation, which generated worldwide exposure for Hull, ahead of the UK City of Culture year as well as contributing to record-breaking visitor numbers, attracting over 519,000 visitors to the gallery during 2017.

Anna has completed both CIM and CIPR qualifications whilst in full-time employment and completed the 2019/20 cohort of the LGCommunications Future Leaders programme. Prior to this Anna successfully completed a HND in Travel and Tourism at the University of Hull and GNVQ in Travel and Tourism Management.

Peter was born and raised in Essex where his family home was also a museum, the Colne Valley Postal History Museum, so was involved in history and heritage from young age.

Having secured a place at Hull Uni, he moved to Hull to study History at University of Hull and in that time wrote for the ‘Hullfire’ student newspaper. Peter graduated from the University of Hull in 2020 with First Class Honours.

He held a bartending job for six months (6 months longer than he should – apparently, he was not a good bartender)!

In September 2021, Peter began work at Hull City Council in Legal Services in a service support and admin role and joined the Hull Maritime team in February 2022 as the new Project Assistant.

Peter is instrumental in ensuring the team works as efficiently and smoothly as possible and is involved in all elements of the project from marketing to fundraising activities.

Growing up, Emma lived very close to Chatham Historic Dockyard and enjoyed many days out exploring maritime history as a child. She went on to volunteer at Chatham Historic Dockyard and enjoyed visiting plenty of other historic attractions with her family.

Emma has worked in libraries for the last 10 years in a range of roles including Outreach Worker. She enjoys engaging with people on creative projects and activities and was often found running story times, reminiscence sessions, code clubs, craft activities, talks and theatre performances in libraries and other community venues.

Emma will be working with a wide range of community groups to explore and celebrate Hull’s maritime history in creative and engaging ways.

Previously, a Primary school teacher, Chris has worked for Hull Museums as an education enabler since 2014, delivering, developing and evaluating workshops and tours for a diverse range of school and community groups.

In between dressing up as a Victorian engineer, mummifying school children or leading tours on William Wilberforce, Chris has also recently completed an MSc in Museum Education at the University of Glasgow.

Having studied Microbiology at Edinburgh for his undergraduate degree, and focussed his Master’s dissertation on STEAM learning in museums, Chris is particularly passionate about the power of STEAM education and is looking forward to incorporating fun, engaging, interactive learning opportunities for the project.

Sion Atkinson recently joined the Hull Maritime team in July 2024, bringing with him valuable maritime experience from his previous role managing Hull Marina. This connection to the maritime industry enhances his ability to understand and oversee complex projects within Hull Maritime. Before joining the team, Sion already worked closely with Hull Maritime, assisting with the return of the Spurn Lightship to the marina.

At Hull City Council, Sion is responsible for leading key aspects of the Hull Maritime project, including the opening of the Spurn Lightship, planning the passage of the Arctic Corsair to its new home, and managing the handover process for significant assets such as the Hull Maritime Museum as they return to use by the public.

Donna is a Project Manager with more than 20 years’ experience in the development and delivery of complex regeneration projects. Throughout her career, she has successfully delivered projects that have contributed to the social, cultural, environmental and economic regeneration of places and communities. She worked at North East Lincolnshire Council before joining Hull City Council in 2021. Her experience spans neighbourhood renewal, coastal regeneration, public realm improvements, public art and the conservation of heritage assets, including the restoration of a Grade II Listed former flour mill.

She has also played a key role in securing investment from a wide range of external funding organisations. 

Most recently, Donna has led the refurbishment of Queen’s Gardens. She has worked with a wide range of stakeholders and partners to deliver this major restoration project to create an accessible, sustainable and welcoming environment for residents and visitors, while respecting the heritage significance of the original design. She is currently part of the team delivering the fit-out and interpretation of Hull Maritime Museum, the Arctic Corsair and the North End Shipyard