Lilli Geissendorfer

Deputy Director

Lilli is Deputy Director of Creative PEC, responsible for supporting the team to realise the centre’s potential in achieving policy change, long term sustainability and international profile for the Creative Industries at the core of UK economic growth.

Previously, she was Director of Jerwood Arts, the leading independent funder, where she channelled £10 million of funding to over 1000 early-career artists, makers, curators and producers between 2018-2023 and significantly grew its reach and partnerships across the UK. She led a national exhibitions programme of new work including Jerwood Collaborate!, featuring Array Collective, Turner Prize-winners 2021, and launched Jerwood Survey, now in its third edition. With a strong focus on improving socio-economic diversity and inclusion, she created almost 100 year-long jobs through Weston Jerwood Creative Bursaries, and took an innovative approach to funding processes, piloting random selection with the 1:1FUND.

Lilli has also worked in theatres and think tanks, including Almeida Theatre, Demos and Arts Council England, where she introduced environmental sustainability reporting for NPOs in 2012. She has been a Clore Emerging Leader, and a Salzburg Global Seminar Next Generation Cultural Fellow.

She is currently a trustee of Fuel Theatre, an Advisor to the national movement What Next? for culture, a mentor with Arts Emergency and really wants to start a podcast to go where Front Row can’t.