Taverne is the daughter of Dick Taverne, a former Labour MP.[1] She studied Modern History at the University of Oxford.[2] Prior to her role at the British Museum she worked as director of finance for the Financial Times, as a consultant at Saatchi & Saatchi and as finance director of The Independent.[2]
Taverne was appointed Managing Director of the British Museum in 1999 and left the role in 2001.[3][4] During her tenure she worked in tandem with Robert Anderson.[1] Taverne was the first person from outside the museum sector to be appointed to this kind of senior role in the organisation.[1] During her tenure, the Great Court redevelopment was delivered.[5][6]
In 2002 she was appointed Director of Operations at Imperial College, a role she held until 2005.[3] On 1 January 2012 she was appointed a member of the BBC Trust.[7] She was reappointed in 2015.[8] In 2023 she was Chair of the Board of Directors of openDemocracy.[9] As of 2024 she was Deputy Chair of the Council of the British School at Rome.[10]