Philippa Simpson

Philippa Simpson is an experienced museum leader currently serving as the Director for Buildings and Renewal at Barbican Centre since April 2024. Previously, Philippa held several significant roles at the Victoria and Albert Museum, including Director of Design, Estate and Public Programme, where strategic leadership of capital projects and design initiatives was provided. With a strong background in design management, Philippa has also worked as Acting Director of Design and FuturePlan and Head of Design and Interior Projects, overseeing various design-led initiatives and managing teams responsible for gallery and exhibition designs. Philippa's career includes positions as Exhibitions Manager at Royal Museums Greenwich and Assistant Curator at Tate, contributing to prominent exhibitions. Philippa holds a Doctor of Philosophy in History of Art from The Courtauld Institute of Art, complemented by a Master's and Bachelor's Degree in the same field from The University of Edinburgh and The Courtauld Institute of Art, respectively.