Trustees

Company No. 07817519
Charity No. 1144708

Andrew Allen KC Andrew is an employment and discrimination barrister with a practice based in London at Outer Temple Chambers. He is a former Deputy Director of the Centre of Islamic and Middle Eastern Law at SOAS, University of London; and a former Research Professor of the University of Utah Law School.

Laurence Benson (Deputy Chair) Laurence has over 20 years’ experience leading professional and administrative services in higher education, having held senior positions in the multi-faculty, world–leading universities of Oxford and King’s College London, and more specialist institutions such as the University of Roehampton and St. George’s, University of London.

Jamie Bill (Chair) Having spent over 30 years in publishing at the Hearst Corporation and Condé Nast, both in Europe and the US, Jamie went on to work as a director of the London Design Festival and Design Biennale. He has previously been a Governor at the University of the Arts London.

Dr Virginia Brooke Virginia’s professional career was spent as a management consultant providing board-level advice on business strategy, business transformation, and digital/IT strategy for clients in the finance and central government sectors. Virginia has now retired and is a non-executive director and mentor. She has a doctorate in systems engineering from Somerville College, Oxford. Virginia is a Governor of the Central School of Ballet and has also been a member of Council of Goldsmiths College, University of London. She is passionate about the arts and keen to ensure that today’s young talent has the opportunity to realise their potential and so champions higher education in the performing and visual arts. She is herself a practising artist.

Dr Caroline Campbell Caroline was appointed a Trustee of the Art School in January 2018. She is Director of the National Gallery of Ireland. Born and educated in Northern Ireland, she has lived in Kennington for over a decade. In her museum career, Caroline has curated exhibitions across the range of Western art, from the Middle Ages to the late 20th century, with a particular focus on Renaissance Italy; and was until recently Director of Collections and Research at the National Gallery, London.

Edward Campbell-Johnston Edward has worked in the investment management profession for some 30 years, and is a Partner at Sarasin & Partners LLP. He is a Trustee of the Oundle School Foundation and the British Humane Association, and is Fourth Warden for the Grocers’ Company. Edward is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments, and holds an MA in Management and International Relations from the University of St Andrews.

Laura Carey (Staff Trustee) Since graduating from the Art School’s MA Fine Art programme in 2023, Laura has been working as a Registry Administrator, focusing on admissions and bursaries. She is also a practising artist with a studio space in South Bermondsey. Her painting I’ll never not miss you was selected for the 2024 Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award and accompanying exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. She is also exhibiting as part of the 2024 RWA Annual Open exhibition in Bristol.

Sokari Douglas Camp CBE Sokari was born in Buguma, Nigeria, in 1958, and lives and works in London. She first exhibited at October Gallery in 1985 and has since had more than 40 solo shows worldwide. In 2005 she was awarded a CBE in recognition of her services to art. Her work is in the permanent collections of the National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.; Setagaya Art Museum, Tokyo; and the British Museum, London. In 2012, her large sculpture, All the World is Now Richer, a memorial to commemorate the abolition of slavery, was exhibited in The House of Commons and then, in 2014, at St Paul’s Cathedral, London.

Paul Farmiloe (Student Trustee & Chair of Students) is in his final year studying for a BA in Architectural Stone Carving at the Art School, and is based in London. He is also a watercolourist, with a long-standing active interest in buildings and restoration, while having spent most of his previous working life in IT and telecoms. He is a passionate advocate for the ethos and teaching methods of the school, with its practical, craft-oriented and historically based approach to developing specialised process skills, all learned within the context of their historical and architectural heritage and being taught by leading practitioner-tutors. He is keen to bring more cross-departmental interaction within the school and to grow external engagement with organisations and individuals in areas such as architecture, heritage, conservation and the decorative arts.

Martin Hatfull Martin is a former British diplomat (Minister to Japan; Ambassador to Indonesia and ASEAN) and Director of International Public Affairs at Diageo plc. He served on board of UK-India and UK-ASEAN Business Councils; and is currently advisor to a global public affairs company, Chair of Anglo-Indonesian Society, and Deputy Chair of the Japan Society.

James Kelly James has a long association with business and the arts. Prior to his semi–retirement he was a director of Science Limited, which managed the affairs and business activities of contemporary artist Damien Hirst. During his time at Science, he played a key role in projects such as the creation of Newport Street, Hirst’s gallery, which won the 2016 Stirling Prize for UK’s best building. He also was involved in significant elements of the artist’s epic Treasures exhibition that opened to acclaim in 2016. James retired from full time employment with Science and now provides commercial and strategic advice to businesses within the art world through his consultancy. He acts as a Non-Executive Director to a number of businesses including Bonhams auction house. Previously, he spent more than 20 years as a partner at the international chartered accountants, Rawlinson & Hunter, where his clients included a number of artists, galleries, auction houses and other art related businesses.

Tabish Khan Tabish is an art critic specialising in London’s art scene, and he believes passionately in making art accessible to everyone. He visits and writes about hundreds of exhibitions a year covering everything from the major blockbusters to the emerging art scene. Tabish has been visual arts editor for Londonist since 2013, reviews regularly for Culture Whisper and has a weekly top 5 and a column for FAD. He is also a trustee of ArtCan, a non-profit arts organisation that supports artists through profile raising activities and exhibitions, the annual Discerning Eye exhibition and a critical friend of UP projects who curate and commission public art.

Michael Osbaldeston Michael is currently the Senior Adviser at City & Guilds Institute and has a background in branding and corporate identity, stakeholder engagement and partnership development.

Professor Jane Rapley OBE Jane was formerly the Head of the College of Art and Design at Central Saint Martins, during which time she orchestrated the development and relocation to the new campus at Kings Cross. She also served as Head of Fashion and Textiles for nearly two decades, helping to launch designers such as Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney, and is now Professor Emerita. She was made an Honorary Fellow of Musashino University, Tokyo in 2009 and was awarded an OBE for services to Higher Education in 2001. She is widely respected for her expertise in art higher education.

Professor Elizabeth Rouse OBE Elizabeth is Professor Emerita at the University of the Arts London following her retirement from the role of Deputy Vice Chancellor. She is currently Chair of the Board of Directors of the Fashion and Retail Awards, Vice Chair of Governors at the Fashion Retail Academy, and a governor at the Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts. Elizabeth was awarded an OBE in 2014 after a thirty-five year career in arts education.

Dr Lois Rowe (Ex Officio Trustee & Principal) Lois is a practicing artist and creative researcher whose interests combine both Fine Art and Applied Art contexts. Her art practice was shaped by an early career in theatrical costume design in Canada and Japan and later turned to producing and exhibiting film, video and VR internationally. Her academic career has led her to initiate active research partnerships with arts and educational organisations around the world and her research has prompted her to lead on projects in Austria, Ireland and most recently, a conference in Toronto with OCADU. She completed her MFA at Glasgow School of Art and a PhD at Goldsmiths College London. She joined the Art School in 2022.

Alex Stitt Alex is Director of Commercial, Digital & Exhibitions at Victoria and Albert Museum, having joined the V&A in April 2014 to lead the newly formed Commercial & Digital Development Department. He has a track record as a successful entrepreneur in the publishing and digital industries. In 2007 he founded iAnnounce, which went on to lead a digital revolution in family notices throughout the European local and regional press. He sold this business in 2013. Prior to that he held senior management positions at Telegraph Media Group, News UK Ltd and Bertelsmann. He has an MBA from INSEAD, an English Literature degree from Oxford University, and an Arsenal season ticket.

Helen Sunderland-Cohen Helen is a corporate-commercial lawyer specialising in cross-border investments and the creative industries. She has an international background including over 15 years in China, where she was a partner in a local firm. Helen holds a BA from Bryn Mawr College, a JD from the University of Washington School of Law, and a Masters in Museum Studies from the Harvard Extension School. Today, she splits her time among freelance strategic and legal consulting, helping young businesses, and pro bono projects. She works with the Anne Frank Trust and is on the advisory council of The Toucan Project. Helen adores art, music, food and wine, travel, stories, and living in London. She manages a private collection of antique maps and atlases, and hopes one day to own a dog.

Carol Taylor Carol has substantial experience of employment and discrimination law and is a champion of diversity. She has over a decade of experience as a leadership judge, managing a busy London Employment Tribunal. Recently retired from her full-time role, Carol sits part-time as an employment judge. She was Governor of a school in Greater London for many years and looks forward to contributing to the Art School achieving its aims of greater diversity.

Company Secretary: Harriet Lam (Librarian)

Company No. 992490
Charity No. 312871

John Taylor MBE (Chair)
Humphrey Carey
Aidan Crawshaw
Brendan Finucane
Heather Hilburn
Timothy Schroder
Sir Alan Yarrow

Company Secretary: Nick Rampley (Director of Resources & Operations)

Anne Beckwith-Smith LVO Anne retired at the end of 2014 from Tate, having worked as Head of Campaigns in the Development Office since late 1990, with particular responsibility for Tate’s capital campaigns.  After the opening of Tate Modern in May 2000, Anne undertook a part-time joint honours BA degree in History and History of Art at University College London. Prior to joining Tate, Anne was Assistant Private Secretary and Lady in Waiting to Diana, Princess of Wales from 1981-1990, but continuing in a part time capacity until the summer of 1997. Anne has also worked at the Arts Council (Exhibitions Department) and Sothebys (British Paintings Department). Anne is also Chair of Roche Court Educational Trust, a Trustee of Salisbury Museum, a Trustee of The Foundling Museum and is on the Advisory Board to the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. 

Dr Caroline Campbell Caroline was appointed a Trustee of the Art School in January 2018. She is Director of Collections and Research at the National Gallery. Born and educated in Northern Ireland, she has lived in Kennington for over a decade. In her museum career, Caroline has curated exhibitions across the range of Western art, from the Middle Ages to the late 20th century, with a particular focus on Renaissance Italy.

Patricia Castanha (Advisor) Patricia is a fundraising management consultant with a wealth of experience in both revenue and capital fundraising, primarily in the arts and heritage sectors. She had ten years in the fundraising teams of English National Opera, Aldeburgh Festival (now Snape Maltings), Tate and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, followed by a move into consultancy. Her clients since then comprise national and regional performing and visual arts organisations, as well as heritage institutions. In addition to the Art School, clients have included: Yorkshire Sculpture Park, The Royal Academy of Arts, London Symphony Orchestra, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Lambeth Palace Library, Chelsea Physic Garden, Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery Trust, the Illuminated River Foundation, YCAT (Young Concert Artists Trust) and St John’s Smith Square. 

Brendan Finucane (Chair) Brendan was a Trustee of Tate Members and the Council of British Museum Friends for over a decade. He was also a Trustee of Paintings in Hospitals. He was a Director of Artlaw Services, an organisation giving free legal advice to artists, a Director of Fine Art Journals Ltd which published Modern Painters, and a director of the East 73rd Gallery Ltd, a gallery set up to show the work of young contemporary artists. Brendan was a DACS Board Member from 2010 until 2016. He was a Trustee of Pallant House Gallery, a Member of the Council of the Royal Academy and Chair of the Ethics Advisory Group of the Royal Academy. He is a member of the Finance Committee of the Art Fund, Chair of the Art Fund Art Partners, a member of the Development Boards of Somerset House and Pallant House Gallery, a Member of the RA Schools Committee, a Trustee of the Warburg Charitable Trust of the Warburg Institute, a Trustee of Barts Heritage Trust and the 900th Anniversary Committee, and a Trustee of the Art 360 Foundation. 

James Kelly James has a long association with business and the arts. Prior to his semi–retirement he was a director of Science Limited, which managed the affairs and business activities of contemporary artist Damien Hirst. During his time at Science, he played a key role in projects such as the creation of Newport Street, Hirst’s gallery, which won the 2016 Stirling Prize for UK’s best building. He also was involved in significant elements of the artist’s epic Treasures exhibition that opened to acclaim in 2016. James retired from full time employment with Science and now provides commercial and strategic advice to businesses within the art world through his consultancy. He acts as a Non-Executive Director to a number of businesses including Bonhams auction house. Previously, he spent more than 20 years as a partner at the international chartered accountants, Rawlinson & Hunter, where his clients included a number of artists, galleries, auction houses and other art related businesses.

Alex Stitt Alex is Director of Commercial, Digital & Exhibitions at Victoria and Albert Museum, having joined the V&A in April 2014 to lead the newly formed Commercial & Digital Development Department. He has a track record as a successful entrepreneur in the publishing and digital industries. In 2007 he founded iAnnounce, which went on to lead a digital revolution in family notices throughout the European local and regional press. He sold this business in 2013. Prior to that he held senior management positions at Telegraph Media Group, News UK Ltd and Bertelsmann. He has an MBA from INSEAD, an English Literature degree from Oxford University, and an Arsenal season ticket.

Wilf Weeks OBE Wilf was a Public Affairs Consultant and co-founder of GJW Government Relations. Before that he was Private Secretary to the Rt Hon Edward Heath. Wilf has held a number of voluntary positions including Chairman of the Friends of the Tate, Trustee and Chair of the Dulwich Picture Gallery, Trustee of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, Trustee of the Trust for London. He is currently a Trustee of the Prison Advice and Care Trust, Gainsborough House, Chair of Spitalfield’s Music, Trustee of the Buccleuch Living Heritage Trust and Governor of The Charterhouse, London.