Leonora Thomson is Director of Audiences and Development at the Barbican Centre, Europe’s largest multi-arts centre, where she leads marketing and communications, front of house and box office, development and digital strategy.

In her early career she worked in international press and promotion for EMI Classics, then joined the BBC to run press for the Proms and Radio 3, and went on to work as a Strategic Communications Adviser to BBC senior management.  From 1998-2006 she served as a local councillor for the London Borough of Ealing, providing the political leadership for education and children’s social services, ending up as Leader of the Council. She joined the Barbican in 2008 from the Metropolitan Police Service, where from 2007 – 8 she was a senior manager in Ealing’s borough command unit.

She has sat on various boards and is currently a Board Member of the Association of British Orchestras, the National Campaign for the Arts (Research and Education) and the Mercury Theatre, Colchester.