Thalia Kennedy is Creative Director of the conservation body Turquoise Mountain. After starting her career in the London art world, Thalia completed her doctorate in Islamic art and architectural history in 2006. She joined Turquoise Mountain in Afghanistan as founding director for the charity's Institute for Afghan Arts and Architecture in 2007. Leaving Kabul in 2011, she undertook visiting scholarships at the Getty Conservation Institute and Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art, before being appointed Deputy Director at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha. She rejoined Turquoise Mountain in 2015 as Country Director for the program in Saudi Arabia and became international Creative Director in 2017. She is also currently an advisor to The Royal Institute for Traditional Arts in Riyadh. Kennedy’s work focuses on supporting master artisans in developing professional opportunities and preserving traditional heritage and practice. She has published her research-derived practice in a range of peer-review publications.