Professor Sir Nasser D. Khalili is a Member of The Chancellor’s Court of Benefactors. He is a scholar, collector and philanthropist with some of the world’s finest art collections: The Arts of the Islamic World (700-1900), Japanese Art of the Meiji Period (1868-1912), Swedish Textiles (1700-1900), Spanish Damascened Metalwork (1850-1900) and Enamels of the World (1700-2000). Over 25,000 works, documented in over 40 volumes, exhibited over the past 30 years in over 35 world-class museums. Larger endowments include the Chair of Islamic Art and Archaeology at SOAS, University of London; The Khalili Research Centre for the Art and Material Culture of the Middle East at the University of Oxford (opened in 2005 by Lord Patten).
Khalili is also an Honorary Fellow at the University of London. He holds an Honorary Doctorate from the University of the Arts, London; Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Boston University; the High Sheriff of London Award (cultural contribution to London); he is a Knight Commander of the Royal Order of St Francis I (KCFO); and a Knight Commander of the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St Sylvester (KCSS) (pursuit of peace and culture amongst nations).