Library appoints Katherine Biggs to the role of Deputy Director

Katherine will lead the library's digital function, which includes Digital Archives, Digitization, E-resources, Open Scholarship and the Online Library. She'll be the library champion for all things digital, working closely with colleagues throughout the University to ensure our work and projects match with the library's wider digital strategy. 

Katherine comes to the University of London from the National Portrait Gallery, where she had worked since 2020, moving to the post of Head of Digital in 2022. In that capacity she prioritized and delivered the Gallery's digital plan and championed digital transformation across the institution, leading many cross-Gallery projects including the establishment of an online schools' resource hub. 

At the National Portrait Gallery Katherine also led the website team, online engagement, including mobile and AV, CRM systems, digital partnerships and digitization. 

Katherine has a BA from the University of Oxford in Classics and an MA in Cultural Heritage Studies from UCL, and also serves on the Board of the National Museum of the Royal Navy. Her start date is 16 September.

Catriona Cannon, Librarian and Programme Director, Library Transformation Programme, said:

“A key aspect of the Library Transformation Programme is to establish the foundations of a digital infrastructure to enable us to support teaching, research and engagement, both face-to-face and online. This will enable us to create the conditions for digital and information innovation and experimentation.

“The role of Deputy Director, Digital Curation, Access and Engagement is essential to our long-term strategy, and I am delighted to welcome Katherine Biggs, who has such expertise in this area to help us achieve our goals.”

Katherine Biggs (Deputy Director, Digital Curation, Access and Engagement) said:

I am thrilled to be joining the University of London and supporting the Library in achieving its digital ambitions at this exciting time of transformation.