Thompson to Chair British Council 

The British Council has appointed Dr PAUL THOMPSON Chair, effective from January 2024. 

He succeeds STEVIE SPRING CBE whose term ended in December last year. 

SARAH SANDS, currently Acting Chair, will return to her role as Deputy Chair when Thompson assumes the post.
 
Thompson held several leadership roles in the educational and cultural sectors including New York’s Cooper Hewitt and the Smithsonian Design Museum, before becoming Vice Chancellor at London's Royal College of Art (RCA). 

During his time at the RCA, Thompson led a curriculum reform, oversaw the creation of the world’s first STEAM higher education institution, and developed the annual £1m Sir Frank Bowling Scholarship Fund to support Black and Caribbean diaspora students. 

He is a trustee at the V&A Museum and Chair of the Creative Education & Careers Working Group at Creative UK . 

British Council’s Chief Executive SCOTT MCDONALD said Thompson’s experience combined with passion for the arts, culture and education will be a “huge benefit” to the organisation. 

“I look forward to welcoming Paul and working closely with him in the coming years.”

Thompson commented: “Throughout my career I have worked closely with the British Council’s expert staff across Asia, the Gulf and North America,”

“I have huge regard for the institution’s role in promoting UK soft power and our world-class universities and am delighted to be joining Scott and the Board of Trustees.”