Penny Egan joined the US-UK Fulbright Commission as its Executive Director in February 2007.

Penny Egan’s role in public service is a distinguished one. She joined the Fullbright Commission after stepping down as the Executive Director of the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) where she was the first woman to have led the RSA in its 250-year history.

Prior to taking on the top job at the RSA in 1998, she was Programme Development Director (1994 – 1998) and RSA Lecture Secretary (1984 – 1994).  Her early career includes the posts of Press and Publicity Officer at the Crafts Council (1978 – 82), Press Officer to the Prime Minister at No 10 Downing Street (1975 – 1978), and Press Officer at the Victoria and Albert Museum (1972 – 1975).

Penny is currently a Board member of the Geffrye Museum; a Trustee of Sing London and a Member of the Council of the University of Warwick. She recently stepped down from the Design Council after serving for 9 years. She is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Art and the RSA.