Phil Smith – Director of Operations & Deputy CEO  

As part of the executive team at Bristol Dockyards, Phil supports the CEO as his deputy and leads the day‑to‑day operations of the Trust. His teams look after both our estate and our visitors, making sure everything across the site runs smoothly, safely and to the highest standard. He also oversees our commercial operations, including managing our catering partner and our dockyard tenant. 

Phil’s spent his entire career in operational and commercial roles. He began his career as a retail management trainee before moving into the cultural sector, where he’s spent the past 21 years. Phil’s journey has taken him from WH Smith to Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales, Te Papa in New Zealand, and later to the independent museum sector at Ironbridge before joining SS Great Britain. 

Some of his biggest career highlights come from those early years in retail, where he learned the fundamentals of leadership, management and financial responsibility. In the cultural sector, Phil has had the privilege of helping care for and share extraordinary stories across art, natural history, language, industrial heritage, social history and so much more. 

At heart, Phil is an operator who loves problem‑solving and supporting teams to find practical, effective solutions. He has also previously held several non‑executive and trustee roles in the cultural sector.