Sir Mark Jones

Director - Victoria & Albert Museum

Sir Mark Jones has been Director of the Victoria & Albert Museum since May 2001. During his time there, 70% of the museum has been renewed: this year sees the opening of new Medieval and Renaissance, Ceramics, Buddhist Sculpture, Theatre and Performance and Gilbert Collection galleries. V&A exhibitions travel worldwide and were seen by 2.3 million people outside the UK in 2008.

Sir Mark Jones read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Worcester College, Oxford and gained an MA at the Courtauld Institute of Art. Previous positions include six months at the National Museum, Singapore in 1969; Assistant Keeper of Coins and Medals, British Museum (1974-1990); Keeper of Coins and Medals, British Museum (1990-1992); and Director of the National Museums of Scotland (1992-2001). He has retained an active scholarly interest in his specialism and is Vice President of the British Art Medal Society. He is also an Honorary Professor at Edinburgh University and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and has an Hon. D.Lit. from Royal Holloway College (University of London). He was Chairman of the National Museum Directors’ Conference 2006-2009 and is a trustee of the National Trust (2005-), the Gilbert Collection (2001-), The Heather Trust (2001-) and The Pilgrim Trust (2006-); and is a member of the Court (2002-) and Council (2001-) of the Royal College of Art.