Hilary Boulding

Dame Hilary Boulding, FLSW (born 25 January 1957) is a British academic administrator and former media professional who served as the President of Trinity College, University of Oxford from 2017 to 2025. She formerly worked for the BBC and Arts Council England, and served as Principal of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Early life and education Boulding was born on 25 January 1957. She was educated at Heaton School, a state school in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England.

Career Media career Having left university, Boulding joined BBC Scotland: she worked as a television director from 1981 to 1985, and a television producer from 1985 to 1992. During her time in charge, she oversaw £22.5 million of development including the building of a 450-seat concert hall and a 160-seat theatre.

In September 2016, it was announced that Boulding had been elected as the next President of Trinity College, Oxford, in succession to Sir Ivor Roberts. This made her the first woman in its 462-year history to head the college. She took up the appointment on 1 August 2017. During her presidency the college's estate was substantially developed with the opening of the £30 million Levine Building in 2022. She stood down as president in August 2025.

Personal life In 2015, Boulding married John Summers, the chief executive of the Halle Orchestra.

Honours In the 2017 Queen's Birthday Honours, Boulding was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) "for services to education and culture in Wales", and thereby granted the title dame.

In 2019, Boulding was elected a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales.