Chair of BAFTA Anne Morrison and former Universities UK President Sir Eric Thomas have been appointed to the Court of Governors at University of the Arts London (UAL).

Anne and Sir Eric will join the UAL Court of Governors, who are also the University’s trustees, and will help determine and promote the educational character and mission of the University among other duties.

Sir Eric Thomas and Anne Morrison have joined UAL as Governors (Image credit: courtesy of Sir Eric Thomas & BAFTA/Rich Hardcastle)

Anne commented: “Throughout my career I have been committed to nurturing the next generation of creative talent from all backgrounds and ensuring that higher education and employers work together effectively. UAL is one of the most important artistic and educational institutions in the country and a vital component in the UK’s high reputation worldwide in the creative industries, so I am delighted to be able to contribute to its future development.”

Sir Eric commented: “I am delighted to be joining University of the Arts London. It is a unique institution which leads in academic and cultural aspects of the arts nationally and internationally. I hope my input following my experience in universities will help, in some small way, to continue on its pursuit of excellence.”

About Anne

Anne is the Chair of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), the leading charity in the UK supporting, developing and promoting the art forms of the moving image.

Until 2014 she was Director of the BBC Academy, the BBC’s centre for training, which she launched in 2009. Anne’s background is principally in television production, working as a producer/director and rising to become Controller, Documentaries and Contemporary Factual at the BBC.

She is a frequent speaker on issues in the arts and education such as diversity, employability, talent development and creativity. She is a trustee of the Charleston Trust, a Board member of London & Partners and a trained executive coach and consultant.

About Sir Eric

Sir Eric was knighted for services to Higher Education in 2013 and was Vice-Chancellor of theUniversity of Bristol from 2001 to 2015. He was President of Universities UK from 2001 to 2013 and Chair of the Worldwide University Network from 2003 to 2007. He also chaired the Government Taskforce into Increasing Voluntary Donations to Higher Education which reported in 2004, the so called Thomas Report.

He graduated in Medicine from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1976 becoming a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in 1987 until 2001. He was Head of the School of Medicine and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Biological Sciences at the University of Southampton from 1995 to 2000. He is married with two grown up children.