Our Leadership
Our leadership team combines expertise in Islamic art and archaeology with extensive experience in museum management and programming.
Dr Julia Gonnella joined Qatar Museums as Director of the Museum of Islamic Art in April 2017.
As the director, Dr Gonnella is responsible for the overall management and full programming of the museum. Her current priority lies in the renovation of the museum, which will upgrade the current space and introduce a completely new and enhanced family-friendly visitor experience that allows for a much deeper understanding of the rich Islamic heritage and culture.
Before joining Qatar Museums, Dr Gonnella worked in the Museum of Islamic Art in Berlin, where she oversaw numerous exhibitions and research projects. One of her principal research interests focused on the Citadel of Aleppo where she has been excavating for over ten years. A scholar of Islamic art and archaeology, she has authored or edited ten books and over forty articles, including exhibition catalogues such as Syria Matters for MIA’s ten-year anniversary. She has also taught at Berlin and Bamberg Universities.
Dr Gonnella earned both her B.A. in Islamic Art and Archaeology and M.A. in Social Anthropology at the School of Oriental and African Art (SOAS) in London. She received her Ph.D. from the Eberhard Karls University in Tübingen, Germany.
Sheikh Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Thani
President of the Museum of Islamic Art
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ahli Bank
