Sir Edward Braham appointed Prime Warden
The Goldsmiths’ Company is delighted to announce that Sir Edward Braham has taken office as Prime Warden, succeeding Brigadier Ed Butler. Edward is the Chair of M&G plc, Chair of Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) and Chair of The Lord Mayor’s Appeal. He is also a non-executive member of the Board of HM Treasury and a Commissioner on the Global Commission of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking. Previously, he was the Senior Partner of Freshfields. Edward received a knighthood in the 2025 New Year’s Honours for services to corporate law and business.
The Goldsmiths’ Company is delighted to announce that Sir Edward Braham has taken office as Prime Warden, succeeding Brigadier Ed Butler. Edward is the Chair of M&G plc, Chair of Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) and Chair of The Lord Mayor’s Appeal. He is also a non-executive member of the Board of HM Treasury and a Commissioner on the Global Commission of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking. Previously, he was the Senior Partner of Freshfields. Edward received a knighthood in the 2025 New Year’s Honours for services to corporate law and business.
Edward Braham is used to guiding institutions through significant moments – an important skill for the Prime Warden at the helm of the Goldsmiths’ Company as it enters its 700th year. While this might seem like a daunting task, he sees the role as in the service of the Company’s wider mission, “we have a remarkable story. This anniversary gives us the chance to share it properly. That story is built around its values: trust and integrity, craftsmanship and skill, care and quality, and belonging and fellowship.” Edward is clear that thinking strategically about the coming century is just as important as celebrating the milestone birthday, stating that “For a Company with such an important role, the Goldsmiths need a solid backbone”.
His time as a member has informed his approach. He joined the Goldsmiths in 1989 and found its relationship with Freemen to be “quite arms-length”. Now Freemen are much more involved from the beginning, more willing to share ideas and to contribute. Edward is particularly pleased to see a growing commitment to the Company’s current giving programme. “In an organisation like ours”, he says, “it is essential that members are seen to engage in the Company’s philanthropic work.”
A significant turning point in his own understanding of the Company was joining Goldsmiths’ Centre’s inaugural board of trustees, which he chaired from 2016 to 2022 – “It introduced me to the challenges that the trade had in training and development”. In areas of Company business where he has had less hands-on experience, inspiration has come from the work done by his fellow Assistants. He cites the efforts of colleagues, including Dame Lynne Brindley and Michael Prideaux, in reimagining the Company’s approach to philanthropy through the Goldsmiths’ Foundation, which he describes as a “fundamental shift in philosophy” aimed at increasing its impact.
Working within the Company’s historic governance structure can sometimes be challenging, but Edward recognises that it gives access to the extraordinary breadth and depth of experience offered by its community. “The Chair does many things, but I would say at the heart, you’re trying to help everyone fulfil their potential.”
Realising the potential of the Goldsmiths’ 700th anniversary will be Edward’s principal focus, and he’s already played an important part in one of the first things on the calendar: the opening of the new London Museum, which is scheduled for late 2026. He was a member of the Museum’s Campaign Board and sees how the Goldsmiths’ support for this nationally significant project will not only help the Museum tell the story of London, but also (through the Goldsmiths’ Gallery) tell the story of the goldsmithing trade. “What has emerged is a remarkable exhibition, which will be a destination in its own right”, with, he adds, “the benefit of getting our own treasures out of the vault and in front of people from around the world”.
Finding ways to make the most of your opportunities can happen at any scale. One of Edward’s private passions, wildlife photography, requires patience, planning, and knowing when to take a chance. As the Company steps into its eighth century, he’s looking forward to helping it to make choices and take chances that will pay dividends in the future.