The British Library is delighted to announce the appointment of Rachel Calderón as Senior Director of Development. She will lead the Library’s philanthropy team and help drive support for one of the world’s leading cultural and research institutions.
21 July 2026
Rachel joins the Library from Blood Cancer UK where she was Associate Director of Fundraising. Prior to joining Blood Cancer UK, Rachel spent ten years at King’s College London, where she held a range of senior fundraising roles and was part of the team that successfully delivered the £500 million World questions | King’s answers campaign, securing major philanthropic investment in research, education and innovation.
Rachel Calderón, Senior Director of Development at the British Library, said: ‘I am very excited to join the British Library at this pivotal moment as it seeks reimagine what it means to be a national library in the 21st century and transform its spaces in London and Yorkshire. I look forward to working with a brilliant team to engage with visionary philanthropists, funders and supporters to shape the Library’s next chapter.’
Alongside her executive career, Rachel serves as a Trustee of World Book Day Charity and has been an Advisory Board Member for the charity IntoUniversity, reflecting her commitment to education, literacy and social mobility. She was also recently awarded Charity Fundraising Leader of the Year 2026 in the Influential Businesswoman Awards.
Dr Jeremy Silver, Interim Chief Executive of the British Library, said: ‘We are thrilled to welcome Rachel Calderón to the British Library as Senior Director of Development as we embark on new priorities that will help us ensure knowledge becomes possibility for future generations. Rachel’s experience in securing transformational philanthropic support will be invaluable in helping us to create iconic new spaces, develop our core services and engage with the problem solvers of the future.’
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