Dr Karen Exell is a museums and cultural development professional and academic with extensive experience in project managing major new museum project developments in the Middle East and UK, as well as managing and delivering strategic and operational planning and development.

She is also an experienced researcher in the field of museums, culture, arts and non-western modernities with a focus on the Gulf region. Ms Exell established and directed the Masters in Museum and Gallery Practice at UCL Qatar from 2011-2015, a programme which now has graduates placed in museums and related positions across the Middle East and internationally. She is an experienced grant writer, and currently holds a large grant to investigate museum audiences in the Gulf, and has an excellent academic publishing track record.