London Food & Culture

Knowledge Quarter #6: Donne Robertson, Wellcome Collection

The final installment in our KQ introductory series visits Euston Road's famous charitable trust

Credit: Wellcome Library, London. Wellcome Images
Donne Robertson. Photo: Wellcome Library

Tell us a bit about your organisation’s history, goals and recent work.
The Wellcome Trust is a global charitable foundation dedicated to improving health. It was founded by Sir Henry Wellcome, a pharmacist, philanthropist and collector, whose vision for medical research and engaged curiosity still informs our ambitions.

We provide more than £700 million a year to support bright minds in science, the humanities and the social sciences, as well as education, public engagement and the application of research to medicine. Our £18 billion investment portfolio gives us the independence to support such transformative work such as the sequencing and understanding of the human genome, research that established front-line drugs for malaria, and Wellcome Collection, our free venue for the incurably curious that explores medicine, life and art.

Tell us about your own role there.
I’m like a CEO (Chief Encouragement Officer) looking after the visitor experience, commercial and operational side of things which includes communications and marketing and the operational activities of the world-renowned Wellcome Library.

Welcome to the Wellcome: the imposing Euston Rd building
Welcome to the Wellcome: the imposing Euston Rd building

What hopes do you have for the Knowledge Quarter?
Our hopes are that with increasing communication across over almost 50 dynamic organisations, new conversations, collaborations and connections will amplify the role of knowledge, curiosity and wonder within this corner of London. Working together, KQ organisations will be able to sharpen their tools for engaging with those and who live, work, study and visit this area and explore the potential for new, perhaps as yet unimagined partnerships and opportunities to create and share knowledge. It is exciting to be part of this from the beginning as it unfolds.


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Which artefact, institution or cultural space in the area do you enjoy most and why?
New Horizon is an inspiration. It’s the youth centre based on Chalton Street, with an open door policy for vulnerable 16 – 21 year olds. It offers daily advice, training, food, accommodation and support services. Wellcome Collection has worked in partnership with the team there on a number of projects because we share their passion for supporting local young people.

Knowledge is….?
For me, knowledge is opportunity.

Read our story on the Institute of Sexology this year’s big exhibition at the Wellcome Collection.

Look out for news of the first public Knowledge Quarter event, a free festival called Curious? coming soon.


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