The British Council has announced that Sevra Davis will become its Director of Architecture, Design and Fashion from 25 November 2019. She succeeds Sarah Mann who moved from the role in June this year.

Sevra is currently Head of Learning at the Design Museum where she oversees the museum’s education programme. Before this, she was Director of Design at the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) where she was responsible for the RSA’s work on articulating the potential of design in society, as well as the RSA Student Design Awards - a global curriculum and competition challenging emerging designers to apply their skills to pressing social, environmental and economic issues.

She often speaks on the value of design and a design approach, design for social innovation, and how open innovation could positively impact our future. Sevra trained as an architect and urban designer and spent ten years working in industry prior to moving into the not-for-profit sector.

As Director of Architecture, Fashion and Design, Sevra will lead major projects including working closely with curators Manijeh Verghese and Madeleine Kessler on the British Pavilion presentation at the 17th International Architecture Exhibition at la Biennale di Venezia 2020. João Guarantani will continue to lead the British Council's work in Architecture, Design and Fashion as Acting Director until Sevra joins the team in November 2019.

Sevra says: “Having admired the work of the British Council, and particularly the Architecture, Design and Fashion team for many years, I’m delighted to be joining the organisation to build on and continue the success of its Arts strategy. I’ve dedicated my career to arts for social change and the positive contribution that architecture, design and fashion can make, and I believe strongly in the British Council’s work fostering cultural exchange and dialogue through the arts. I look forward to working with the team and wider partners to further demonstrate the potential of creativity and design to ignite imaginations and connect people worldwide.”

British Council Director Arts, Kate Arthurs says: “Sevra’s passion for design and vision for how it can help us shape our societies could not be more relevant to today’s global challenges. I’m looking forward to working with her and supporting the UK design community to build even better connections overseas.”