Jonathan Williams read Classics at University College Oxford and wrote a doctorate on ancient Roman history, which made extensive use of Greek literary sources. He was Roman coin curator, head of the Prehistory and Europe department and, lastly, Deputy Director at the British Museum. He is a fellow of the Learned Society of Wales, the Society of Antiquaries of London, and the Royal Historical Society, holds an honorary doctorate from Kingston University, and is currently reading through the Septuagint. He has been the Runciman Administrator since October 2024.