Principal and Senior Team

Professor John Last, Principal

John Last was appointed Principal of Norwich University College of the Arts in 2008, having previously been Deputy Principal at the Arts University College, Bournemouth. After taking a degree in English with Philosophy he took postgraduate awards in Education and Film Theory. John was awarded a Chair in Art, Design & Media Education in 2008.

John's academic experience includes external examinership at undergraduate and postgraduate level and a range of conference papers, articles and presentations. Recent work includes leadership development for middle managers in art and design and on student satisfaction, upon which he has delivered conference papers and seminars having been a member of the HEFCE Steering Group for the National Student Survey. Current consultancy includes work for the Open University on Institutional and Subject Audit. John was a Quality Assurance Agency Institutional Auditor from 2003 – 2008 and a member of the Finch review of External Examining in UK HE in 2010/11. He is currently a member of the Burgess group for the implementation of the Higher Education Achievement Record (HEAR).

National work includes Board membership of the Higher Education Statistical Agency and the Art, Design and Media Higher Education Academy Subject Centre. He is an elected member of the Executive of GuildHE, on the Executive committee of the Council for Higher Education in Art and Design and Deputy Chair of the Executive Committee for the United Kingdom Arts and Design Institutions Association (UKADIA). John is also Chair of GLAD, the Group for Learning in Art and Design.

Within the eastern region external roles include Directorships of the Norwich Heritage Economic & Regeneration Trust (HEART) and of the Forum Trust and membership of the East Anglia Art Fund Executive Committee.

Interests outside of the visual arts include listening to opera and jazz and watching cricket.

Senior Team

John is joined on the management team of the University College by Angela Robson, Deputy Principal with responsibility for finance, human resources, estates and business development; Keith Bartlett, Assistant Principal (Quality & Research) and Dean of Media; Neil Powell, Assistant Principal (Student Experience); Angela Tubb, Academic Registrar; and Dr Hilary Carlisle, Dean of Arts & Design.