Biography
Fiona Gillespie is a Preventive Conservator specialising in the long-term care, preservation, and accessibility of museum collections. She holds a BA (Hons) in Art History and History from the University of Lincoln and an MSc in Museum Studies from the University of Leicester, where her research focused on sustainable preventive conservation and the integration of environmental and ethical considerations into heritage management.
Fiona has worked across national and regional museums, including the Fitzwilliam Museum and the Royal Air Force Museum, as well as for National Trust and English Heritage sites. She has led on environmental monitoring, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and emergency planning. Her work encompasses the development and implementation of preventive conservation policies, risk assessment, and staff training to ensure best practice in collections care.
She is particularly experienced in cross-departmental collaboration, working closely with facilities, curatorial, and conservation teams to maintain stable environments and plan for the long-term sustainability of collections. Fiona is currently pursuing professional accreditation with the Institute of Conservation (ICON) and is an advocate for inclusive, sustainable, and data-driven approaches to preventive conservation.
Research
Fiona’s research interests focus on sustainable preventive conservation, particularly the relationship between environmental control, energy efficiency, and collections risk management in historic buildings and museum contexts. Her postgraduate research examined the use of innovative, eco-friendly approaches to preventive care and how they can be implemented without compromising preservation standards.
Current areas of professional interest include:
- Long-term lighting strategies and mitigation for semi-permanent displays
- Air handling unit (AHU) maintenance and life-cycle planning for collection spaces
- The environmental and operational sustainability of museum monitoring systems
- Risk-based prioritisation in preventive conservation decision-making
- Collaborative preventive conservation training and public engagement
