Paul Thompson CBE

Paul studied Drama and English Joint Honours at Bristol University before completing a Masters and then PhD in Modern European Drama at the University of East Anglia. From the world of the humanities he turned to art and design, working firstly at the Design Council; the Design Museum (where he became Director 1993-2001; The Smithsonian Design Museum, New York and finally as Vice Chancellor of the Royal College of Art 2009-2015, ranked the world's leading Art & Design Museum for 12 consecutive years. He was awarded a CBE for services to the Arts & Education in 2024. He is currently Chair of the British Council and a non-executive director of Creative UK. Paul is an advisor to the South Asian Arts Foundation, Serendipity.