About us
In short
Hild is a partnership between Dr Francesca Benetti and Delphine Jasmin-Belisle, joined by trusted associates. We offer consultancy services to UK and international heritage organisations.
Our Story
Hild's story begins with a friendship.
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We met and worked together a number of years at the Heritage Alliance, the independent body representing the breath of the UK Heritage Sector. There, we championed and supported heritage organisations of all sizes through a number of forums, networking and training initiatives.
In 2022, Fran relocated back home to Italy. Our story could have ended there.
Instead, this became an opportunity to build new bridges to collaborate. Motivated by a shared vision, we built Hild as a limited company, to enable us to continue to work together to support heritage organisations realise their potential, in the UK and beyond.
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We also welcomed a trusted associate to join us, India Guest, who led the engagement activities behind the Rebuilding Heritage sector-support programme, delivered by the Heritage Alliance.
Meet the team
Founder & Director
Delphine Jasmin-Belisle
Delphine Jasmin-Belisle is the Head Development & Membership for the Heritage Alliance, the advocacy body representing the independent heritage movement in England. Experienced fundraiser, she is dedicated to driving financial and operational resilience. Passionate about the sector’s sustainability, she designed several sector support programmes including Heritage Digital and Rebuilding Heritage supporting over 2200 UK heritage organisations. In partnership with Timmus Research she delivered the DASH Survey 2021 which gathered the views over 4,500 heritage staff, and volunteers on digital skills and aptitudes. Previously, Delphine managed a portfolio of English Heritage sites across the Yorkshire Coast and Moors.
Founder & Director
Dr Francesca Benetti
Francesca Benetti is Historic Environment Forum Task Group Manager, an initiative funded by Historic England and hosted by the Heritage Alliance aimed at facilitating strategic collaboration in the historic environment sector in England. She is an archaeologist specialising in cultural policy analysis, project management and evaluation. She enjoys working in team and for ten years she collaborated with the Medieval Archaeology Group at the University of Padova, where she was involved in several research projects. She is also Head of Publishing at SAP Società Archeologica, one of the leading archaeological companies in north Italy.
Associate
Sam Cooper
Sam Cooper is Deputy Chief Executive of King’s College Student Union
He holds an MBA from Cranfield School of Management and his background in heritage and cultural charitable trusts covers 17 years’ experience in a wide range of senior commercial and operations positions.
Before joining King’s College Student Union, he was the Operation Director of the Temple Church team and previously Sam enjoyed three years’ as General Manager of Kenwood House leading a uniquely diverse team of over 350 volunteers and 40 staff at this ‘free to enter’ English Heritage site.
In this time, he has worked on a number of major heritage projects, helping to plan sustainable, financially resilient strategies that have ensured long term success and continues to enjoy visiting a castle at the weekend with his family.
Associate
India Guest
India Guest is passionate about history, heritage and languages. She worked at the Heritage Alliance as Communications and Engagement Officer of the Rebuilding Heritage programme. She read Classics at the University of Kent. She began working hands-on with maritime heritage in 2017. She has a passion for sharing knowledge and traditional skills and contributed to the development of on-board programmes. She has also worked for the National Trust, stewarding natural and historic landscapes. India has more recently been involved with the restoration of a 106 year old sailing ship in Devon. She has been managing the charity’s communications, fundraising and outreach programme, as well as developing its vision for the future.