Tonya Nelson

Tonya Nelson is Executive Director, Enterprise & Innovation at Arts Council England. She joined the Arts Council when she was appointed to be the first Director of Arts Technology and Innovation in 2019. She is the co-author of the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) policy report titled Culture is Digital. She sits on the board of Trustees of the National Gallery in London and Royal Collection Trust, which looks after the Royal Collection and the official residences of His Majesty The King. She was formerly Chair of the International Council of Museums (UK), Bomb Factory Art Foundation and a member of Christie’s Art World Professional Advisory Group. She worked for University College London for nine years, rising to the level of Director of Museums and Cultural Programmes.

Prior to entering the cultural sector, she was a barrister and management consultant in Washington, DC, where she grew up.