Sevra Davis

Director, Architecture Design and Fashion

Sevra is the Director of Architecture Design and Fashion and Commissioner of the British Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale. She is an experienced architect, design advocate and leader in design for social innovation. Sevra studied architecture and urban design and worked in professional practice for over ten years in the US, the UK and Finland before moving to roles focused on design enabling.

Previous roles include Head of Learning at the Design Museum and Director of Design at the RSA. At the RSA she developed design research and design education programmes focused on design for positive social, environmental and economic impact. She has worked on a number of projects exploring and promoting the journey toward a more sustainable future and a circular economy. 

She speaks and writes frequently about the role of design in an increasingly complex world and in April 2018 co-authored a report for Innovate UK titled ‘Unlocking the creative potential of 21st century industry.’

To contact Sevra, email: sevra(dot)davis(at)britishcouncil(dot)org

Hannah Robinson

Senior Relationship Manager

Hannah joined the British Council in 2018 to curate, programme and commission international projects across architecture, design and fashion. She is developing global programmes, including Making Matters and Fashion Revolutionaries. 

Previously Art Director at The Future Laboratory, Hannah led a multi-disciplinary team focused on futures research. She devised editorial, films and installations that aimed to bring research to life and inspire new possibilities for the intersections of design, technology, materials and the environment.

She consulted on design futures and delivered keynotes at global institutions including Dansk Fashion and Textile, as well as guest lecturing at education institutions including RCA and UAL Futures Studio. Hannah also consulted for Impossible, a design & innovation group focused on planet-centric design.

Prior to this, Hannah took a sabbatical in 2014 to study sustainable design in New York, and completed a residency in Design For Social Change at the School of Visual Arts. Hannah also holds a first class bachelors in Fashion Photography from the London College of Fashion. 

To contact Hannah, email: hannah(dot)robinson(at)britishcouncil(dot)org