Dr Noorah Al Gailani

At the start of January 2024, I moved to London to join the British Museum as Curator of Islamic Collections (the Arab World).  Before that, I worked for Glasgow Museums as Curator of Islamic Civilisations, based at the Burrell Collection. 

Over the past three years, I have had the honour of serving as a member of the Council of the British Institute for The Study of Iraq.  I was able to contribute to the work of three of its committees:

• the Friends of Basrah Museum Committee with its inspiring work in supporting the Basrah Museum in exceptionally challenging times;
• the Fieldwork and Research Committee with its annual grants for a variety of exciting research and pilot projects that further knowledge and understanding of Iraq, its history, art and culture;
• the Visiting Iraqi Scholarship committee, in partnership with the Nahrein Network, UCL, and the opportunities it provides for partnerships between Iraqi scholars and British institutions.  

I would very much like to nominate myself to serve a second term on BISI’s Council to continue supporting the work of these committees and all the other parts of the work of BISI.  I believe that my recent move to London is an opportune circumstance, and will now better enable me to be more present at BISI activities and events, and more proactive in initiating opportunities and contributing to the furthering of its goals.