Member biographies

Dinah is Chair of Goldsmiths Governing Council.  She served on the Creative Industries Council from its inception in 2011 until 2023, leading its work on Skills and Education.
 
She was the founding and long-serving CEO of Creative Skillset, the Sector Skills Council and served as its Chair from 2015 to 2017.
 
She has Chaired Chairs Camden’s STEAM Commission since 2016 bringing together a multi-stakeholder partnership to support schools offer pupils in and out of curriculum experience of both Creative and STEM subjects.
 
In 2018/19 she served as a member of the UUP's Civic Universities Commission and has recently been invited to join the UUP Foundations Advisory Board. She also sits  on NESTAs Policy and Evidence Centre for the Creative Industries .
 
She is a member of the Skills Commission, an independent body which works alongside the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Skills & Employment ,has previously served under two Mayors as an Advisor on the London Skills and Employment Board and  held other Board positions on Creative organisations .
 
She is a member he British Academy of Film & Television Arts (BAFTA) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and was awarded Fellowship of the Royal Television Society for her outstanding contribution to the Television Industry in 2002.
 
Dinah was awarded the OBE for her services to the Media Industries in 2002 and was awarded the CBE for her services to the Creative Industries in 2013.

Monika is a successful business woman specialising in organisational change. In her early career, she worked for the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 in a variety of training and development roles. She then set up her own consulting practice, delivering a range of pragmatic leadership and transformational change solutions to a client list, which she built up by word-of-mouth reputation, across the commercial and not for profit sectors.

Monika has advised global film studios, media and communications agencies, visual effects and animation studios, broadcasters, independent production companies, theatres, scriptwriters, entrepreneurs, luxury brands, legal firms, engineering design specialists, unions, universities, political parties amongst many more.

In 2008, Monika created a separate brand to her business and launched Career Savvy Women to offer specific support to increase the numbers of women in senior roles. Over 500 women and counting have benefitted from this unique development model.  In 2020, Monika handed over the reins of CSW to her associates but is still active behind the scenes in a support and advisory role.  

Monika is a board member of AECC University College, which specialises in health sciences and a board member of Lighthouse, the largest regional venue for performing arts outside of London.  Previously Monika sat on the board of FT2, Film and Television Freelance Training and the ITV Training Association.

Monika has a MSc in Organisational Development from Birkbeck, a post graduate Diploma in Management Studies from Kingston University and is a History graduate from the University of Manchester. She has spent over 40 years living in the Lewisham area.

Susan qualified as a Doctor at UCL and specialised in histopathology. Throughout her career she has combined clinical work, undergraduate teaching, postgraduate training, senior management and academic leadership. She was first a senior executive and University Council member at St. George's Hospital Medical School before moving to Keele University as Dean of the Faculty of Health and Head of the new Medical School. At Queen Mary, University of London, she was initially Director of the Institute of Health Sciences Education and then (2010-15) Vice Principal for Teaching and Learning with overall responsibility for taught programmes and student experience across the three faculties (Humanities and Social Sciences, Science and Engineering, Medicine and Dentistry). In addition, she had oversight of the QMUL Students’ Union, was a Governor at Draper’s Academy (secondary school) and a Trustee for the educational charity, Centre of the Cell. Susan retired in July 2015.

Separate from her main employment, she was a Board Member of the Human Tissue Authority until April 2016, an auditor for the Quality Assurance Agency, and a member of the Quality Assurance Sub-Committee of the Solicitors’ Regulatory Authority. She has enjoyed living in the Borough of Lewisham since 1979.

Andrew is a marketing and public relations specialist and board level advisor on corporate communications, reputation management and transformation.

During a thirty-year consulting career, mostly with WPP’s Hill & Knowlton Strategies, Andrew has advised governments and major companies in the energy, technology, consumer goods and financial and professional services industries, not-for-profit organisations and academic institutions. He has also advised numerous cities and regional authorities on the use of branding and communications to support economic development.

Andrew’s leadership roles have included Chairman & CEO of Hill & Knowlton Europe, Middle East and Africa from 2004-2009 and he was a peer group member of the Cabinet Office’s 2013-15 review of government communications. He is an MA alumnus of Goldsmiths, a graduate of Reading University, the Inns of Court School of Law and the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. He lives in South London. 

Aaron Porter has a portfolio of roles across the higher education sector. He is Associate Director (Governance) for Advance HE, leading a national development programme for governors in the higher education sector as well as providing tailored support to improve governing body effectiveness. He is also the Associate Director of Policy and Engagement for IDP Connect, the largest global student research site. He is the non-executive Chair of the Board of Governance at Nelson College London, a specialist Hospitality and Business College based in East London and non-executive member of the BPP University board. 

Outside of higher education, he serves as a member of the statutory education committee of the General Chiropractic Council (GCC), and the governor of a Church of England state primary school and Whitgift School both in the London Borough of Croydon. A previous President of the National Union of Students (NUS), he has served on a number of boards including UCAS, HEFCE, the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA), the Higher Education Academy (HEA) and the Council of the University of Leicester. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts and has a Honorary Doctorate from the University of Leicester for his contribution to the student experience and higher education policy. 

Pam Raynor has a background in finance with experience across several commercial sectors including retail, FMCG, financial services, and media, most recently as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial officer of Conde Nast Publications Ltd.

Originally from Yorkshire, she studied mathematics at University College, London before qualifying as an accountant in the City, with Deloitte.

She left Deloitte to join one of her client companies Harrods as CFO, and has since held senior finance roles in several companies, including Diageo Plc, Legal & General Plc and the HMV Media Group.

As well as her roles in finance, she has experience as COO for IT, legal affairs including contracts, copyright and trademarks, HR, and property, and has for many years acted as a trustee of a number of pension funds.

Pam also played a major role in the setting up of the Conde Nast College of Fashion and Design, which offers both BA and MA degrees as well as short courses.

She is a trustee of the Henry Moore Foundation.

pending appointment of new Member.

Irene Adeyinka has several years’ experience across the health and social care fields, ranging from children and families to adult community mental health services. Irene currently oversees commissioned based recovery services and advises on mental health initiatives in the workplace for a leading Housing Association.

Irene is passionate about helping graduates to succeed in their careers; this led to her setting up The Lost Graduate group, a career service that provides personalised career coaching and workshops for all types of graduates. Irene has a successful track record of coaching graduates into employment, career progression and career changes. Irene predominantly works with graduates from the protected characteristic groups and works closely with organisations and corporate companies to challenge barriers to employment for diverse graduates.

Irene has led and delivered many successful diversity initiatives and campaigns to challenge mental health inequalities and promote diverse recruitment and inclusive practice in organisations.

Philip Stoltzfus is CEO and founder of Thayer Brook, a London based quantitative research company developing systematic trading strategies. He has 38 years’ experience in finance, beginning in banking in 1981 before switching to trading in 1987, then running a major institutional trading department for many years, and finally establishing his own investment management firm in 2005.

Over this period of time he has been an active participant in the evolution of the financial markets in terms of the nature and range of instruments traded, the scale of regulation, and the impact of technology and digitisation on the way in which information is disseminated, the way transactions are executed, and the way investment decisions are actually made.

Outside of finance, he has been deeply involved in higher education through his board memberships at Lebanese American University, based in Beirut, where he has served in multiple functions including Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and was awarded a Doctorate in Humane Letters in June 2019. He serves on the boards of two performing arts companies in the UK, Cheek by Jowl and The Peace and Prosperity Trust.  He graduated from Princeton University in 1979.

Ben Morton Wright was born and raised in South East London, and at the age of eight he was diagnosed as dyslexic. Founding Global Philanthropic in 2002 in Hong Kong, he has supervised the establishment of operations in the UK, Australia, USA and Canada growing the company to the largest of its kind. As Group CEO, Ben has gained recognition as a major gift strategist, an expert in brand and organisational development and structuring international campaigns. He is a specialist in higher education and Asian philanthropy.

Ben has served as senior strategy consultant to many organisations around the world, including the United Nations, and some of the world’s top Universities. He advises a number of private individuals and philanthropists to develop meaningful philanthropic strategies; establishing a range of new organisations and initiatives across the world.

Ben started his career in the new university fundraising sector, at Liverpool John Moores University and then Robert Gordon University. He was later Director of Development for Aberdeen University, undertaking his MBA at the Aberdeen Business School.  He regularly speaks on philanthropic issues and trends around the world and co-authored ‘Talking Philanthropy, Volume 1’  which was published in 2017.  Since 2019, Ben has been a Board Member at DanceEast, an international Dance House based in Suffolk. 

Ronke is a leader and seasoned professional in the healthcare sector.

She has spent the past eight years as a Board Executive Director across various NHS Trusts leading culture change, innovation, quality improvement and business transformation functions that has resulted in improved service outcomes for service users and families.

Prior to her executive director roles, Ronke spent thirteen years of her career in management consultancy working on roles in strategy execution, information technology, performance management, change and programme management within the private and public sector organisations.

She has held senior positions in Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation Trust, Imperial College Health Partners, BUPA, Career Quality Commission (UK), NHS Croydon, NHS Westminster, Barking, Havering, Redbridge NHS Trust, Accenture, PWC and HealthGravitas.

Ronke has a Doctorate in Organisational Change, MBA, MSc in Information Technology and BSc in Economics degrees.

Fiona is an experienced lawyer with over 25 years’ experience with FTSE 100 companies, combining this with roles as professional disciplinary panel member, chair of governors and charity trustee, reflecting her interest in education, open justice, and commitment to public service. Fiona worked as Director of Legal for Sky UK for 17 years, focusing primarily on employment issues, but latterly was responsible for the delivery of legal advice across a range of areas from news and ad sales to property and construction, all contributing to the broadcasting and creation of content.

Following an executive career in the media sector, most of it spent at Guardian News & Media, Stella now works as a Non-Executive Director and Trustee, undertakes strategy consulting assignments and continues to pursue her academic interest in the History of Art, having completed a master’s degree at the Courtauld Institute in 2019.

At Guardian News & Media, Stella held Executive Board positions as Strategy Director, General Manager of The Observer and International and Business Development Director; gaining experience of working in the UK, South Africa and the United States through a period of disruptive change and opportunity across the sector.

Stella is currently a Non- Executive Director of the Medical Defence Union, where she sits on the Audit and Risk Committee.

Until July 2022 she served as a Trustee of the University of London where she sat on the Audit and Risk, Remuneration and Equality and Diversity Committees. She was also a Non-Executive Director of Nabarro LLP prior to their merger with CMS Cameron McKenna LLP and Olswang LLP in May 2017.

Professor Frances Corner OBE is Warden of Goldsmiths, University of London. The first woman to take on the role, Professor Corner is the academic and administrative leader of the College.

She leads the Senior Management Team, which considers major policy issues and oversees the submission of business to Council, Academic Board and Finance and Resources Committee.

The title of Warden is unique in British universities, where the equivalent role is normally known as a Vice-Chancellor. It is a reminder of the founding of the College by the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, one of the City of London’s ancient Livery Companies.

Previously Head of the London College of Fashion and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Arts London, Professor Corner has more than 25 years’ experience in higher education. She was Head of the Sir John Cass Department of Art, Media and Design at London Metropolitan University (2001-2005) and Associate Dean in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Gloucestershire (1998-2001).

Professor Corner has championed sustainability throughout her career and currently chairs the London Higher Sustainability Network, as well as the Green New Deal Group at Goldsmiths. She is also a Co-Chair of the College’s Race Justice Strategy Board.

Professor Corner was awarded an OBE in 2009 for services to widening participation in arts education. She is a Trustee at Centrepoint, the youth homelessness charity.

This post is currently vacant

Michael Guggenheim has studied in Zürich and Berlin, and obtained a PhD in Sociology in 2005 from the University of Zürich.  Prior to coming to the UK, Michael worked and researched in Budapest, Vienna, Montreal, and Berlin. Michael has taught both artists at art schools and natural scientists at technical universities, which has informed his understanding of how to teach sociology and how it can be used to intervene in the world. He has always found it important to work and experiment with different media and produce both theoretical texts but also visual and sensory works.

Michael's work thus far has been defined by different yet connected themes relating to the relationship between experts and lay people, the role of objects for this relationship and on methodical and theoretical innovation derived from the combination of science studies with sociological theory. Michael was the lead PI on the ERC-funded project "Organising Disaster: Civil Protection and the Population", which looked at how disaster experts conceive of the population.

Prior to Organising Disaster, Michael worked on change of use of buildings and how materiality and use interrelate. For a PhD, Michael studied environmental experts and how they produce the environment at the intersection of science, politics and the economy. Michael also worked with colleagues Bernd Kräftner and Judith Kröll on an approach that they called “incubation” that combines sociology and art. Currently, they are working on a project "In the Event of... Anticipatory and Participatory Politics of Emergency Provision". Previously, Michael was a co-curator of "die wahr/falsch inc.", an exhibition on science and the public in Vienna.

Pending Member's submission

David Oswell is Professor of Sociology. Since January 2017, he has been Pro-Warden for Research and Enterprise. He joined Goldsmiths in 2001 and from 2013 to 2016 was Head of the Department of Sociology.

His publications include Television, Childhood and the Home: A History of the Making of the Child Television Audience in Britain ((Oxford, 2002), Culture and Society (Sage, 2006), Cultural Theory: Volumes 1-4 (Sage, 2010), The Agency of Children: From Family to Global Human Rights (Cambridge, 2013), and various journal articles and book chapters.

His current research interests concern the social life and history of children, childhood and children’s rights.

Kiran is a Reader in Human Rights in the Department of Sociology. A qualified lawyer, Kiran has worked as a scholar, practitioner and activist in the areas of refugee law, sexual and gender-based violence, torture prevention, policing and international criminal law in Australia, Sierra Leone, Kosovo, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Kiran’s research is particularly concerned with the interactions between legal frameworks and social justice struggles of marginalized and/or subaltern groups. She is also generally interested in postcolonial, subaltern and feminist approaches to human rights, law, sexual and gender-based violence and transitional justice. She is the author of two books: The Socio-Political Practice of Human Rights (Routledge 2016) and Racialised Gang Rape and the Reinforcement of Dominant Order: Discourses of Gender, Race and Nation (Routledge 2017).

Kiran is currently working on a project entitled, ‘The Everyday Life of Human Rights’ focused on subaltern engagements with the language and institutions of human rights in post-war Sri Lanka.

Kelly is a Legal Advisor in Governance and Legal Services, having joined the department in January 2022. Kelly has worked in the legal profession for over 20 years, in the city and as a consultant, specialising in employment and litigation.  In 2018 Kelly decided to take a career break and joined Goldsmiths as a mature student to study Sociology and Criminology.

Kelly is an Accredited Workplace Mediator and has previously held an elected Governor post within a local primary school. 

Dr Clare McConnell is a privacy and data protection professional with 13+ years’ experience of success in delivering privacy solutions that drive and support business growth and increase consumers’ trust in the use of their personal data. She has particular expertise in leading and scaling global privacy programmes ensuring a privacy by design approach to data processing and compliance with regional, sectoral and jurisdictional regulations.

She has a long-standing commitment to the higher education sector having been an academic at the universities of Bristol and Lancaster, a Trustee and Non-Executive Director of Regent’s University, London, and a member of the University of Bristol’s Ethics of Research Committee. Clare is a qualified solicitor.

Victoria is the current President at Goldsmiths Students' Union, re-elected after serving as Education Officer in the 2022/23 Academic Year. She holds an MA in Gender, Media, and Culture.

Elsabet Yaikob Genti is Union Chair of the Goldsmiths Students' Union (2023-2024) and was previously Student Trustee (2022). She is a current student of International Relations (BA) and is in her final year.

She has previously worked with Migrants Organise as part of a casework internship, helping to organise and assist people undergoing the U.K. asylum process. She was an active civil rights campaigner in Ethiopia and continues to advocate for improved human rights and economic conditions for marginalised Ethiopians.