Sarah Bardwell has been the Managing Director of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra since September 2024. She was the Executive Director of Britten Pears Arts - the music, arts and heritage charity based in Aldeburgh and Snape Maltings in Suffolk. Her portfolio included income generation, strategic planning, marketing, and diversity lead. Previously she was the CEO of the Britten Pears Foundation where her achievements included leading the merger with Snape Maltings to create Britten Pears Arts.

Prior to that Sarah led Handel House in London for over a decade during which time she transformed it into Handel Hendrix House. A music graduate, she undertook a mid-career, year-long arts leaders fellowship at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC and has worked at the Royal Albert Hall and English National Opera as a fundraiser.

Sarah joined the ABO Board in 2025.