Chris Batt

Chris Batt OBE is Chief Executive of The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA). MLA is the Government's development agency for the sector and is responsible for leading strategic advice on the delivery of services to users, opening up access to the collections held in museums, libraries and archives.

Previously Chris advised on the use of information and communication technologies in museums, archives and libraries, and led the Government's People's Network programme. His task was to connect all 4,300 public libraries to the Information Superhighway by the end of 2002, giving universal public access to the rich information and learning resources that are now being created in Cyberspace. It was a project completed on time and in budget.

Until August 1999 Chris was Director of Leisure Services for the London Borough of Croydon where he had worked for over 20 years. Closely involved in the development of Croydon Clocktower, the award winning cultural centre, his responsibilities as Director of Leisure Services included libraries, museums and heritage, the arts, sport and recreation, parks and open spaces, and tourism.

Chris has a keen interest in the development of information technology for public use having been involved with the development of computer systems to support cultural heritage and learning since the mid-seventies. He continues to lecture in many countries around the world and has written many books and papers.

Chris Batt has announced that he will retire at the end of the year after four years in the post.  Over that time, Chris oversaw major programmes such as the £150m Renaissance programme, which is transforming England’s regional museums; the Archives Task Force; the £170m People’s Network programme, where more than 4000 public libraries across the UK now offer free or low cost broadband internet access and other services; and the implementation of Framework for the Future, the government’s vision for public libraries.