Delia Barker

Delia Barker is an experienced UK cultural leader, consultant and strategist with over 20 years of leadership spanning the performing arts, youth development and governance. She joined The Royal Ballet School’s Board of Governors in 2022.

Delia was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Brixton House in June 2024, and since taking up this post has led the organisation through a significant period of transition, strengthening leadership structures and supporting greater organisational resilience.

Prior to this, Delia held senior roles at the Roundhouse, overseeing Producing, Youth Engagement and Commercial Music, as Director of English National Ballet School, where she led organisational turnaround and strategic change, and at Arts Council England, where she was responsible for regional and national strategy and investment for dance. Alongside her executive roles, she has worked widely as a consultant and mentor, supporting organisations across the cultural, education and civic sectors.

Alongside executive leadership, Delia brings non-executive experience as Chair of Phoenix Dance Theatre and previously as a Trustee, and later Chair, of Studio Wayne McGregor for over 10 years. She has also served member of a muliti-academy trust. She is currently studying for an MBA in Senior Leadership in Arts and Culture and is committed to supporting talent development and creating opportunities for young people.

In 2023, Delia joined forces with Jamie Tapper to support Christopher Powney, then Artistic Director and CEO of The Royal Ballet School, in delivering the aDvANCE conference. Bringing together 17 Directors, Principals and CEOs from prestigious ballet schools and junior companies worldwide at White Lodge, the conference explored students’ experience of elite training and how schools can work together to create nurturing studio environments and organisational cultures.