Keynote: Conversation between Arts SU Executives: Yemi Gbajobi and Christina Kennedy

11 July, 09:30 - 10:10. Online @ Collective space

Photo of Yemi Gbajobi
Yemi Gbajobi - Chief Executive Officer Arts SU

Yemi (she/her) is currently Chief Executive at Arts Students' Union, a role she has held for the last 5 and half years. Prior to this, she has held Chief Executive roles at LSE Students' Union and City, University London Students' Union. She has worked in the Student Union Sector for the last 18 years, starting as an Activities Officer at Brunel University followed by roles in the National Union of Students (NUS). She also currently holds roles with the Association of College Union's International (ACUI) as well as a Council Member of the Rugby Football Union (RFU). Yemi's career has focused on developing the student experience both nationally and internationally, with a focus on student feedback, democratic models of governance, sustainable student unions, partnership working between students and institutions and supporting student leadership.

Photo of Christina Kennedy
Christina Kennedy - Deputy Chief Executive Officer Arts SU

Christina has been the Deputy Chief Executive at Arts SU since March 2020 following different roles supporting students in four higher education students' unions in the UK throughout her career. In her current role Christina has oversight of all member facing services within the students' union ranging from clubs and societies, academic representation, advice, student campaigning, democracy, artistic professional development programmes and the delivery of commercial services offering community building spaces for students whilst generating additional income for Arts SU. As part of the senior leadership team at Arts SU Christina works closely with key university stakeholders, has responsibility for the development

Workshop: Considering the dye garden as an environment to enhance students learning

11 July, 15:00 - 15:45. In-person @ CSM Roof Terrace, Kings Cross. (Booking Only)

Photo of Dye Garden
Dye Garden

An introduction to the dye gardens at UAL and how they enhance students' learning and well-being. The session will start with an introduction to the dye gardens and the activities they provide to students engaging with them. We will look at some of the challenges of setting up a dye garden and presents some of the dye plants we chose to grow. This will be explored through a demonstration and conversation in which participants are invited to take part. Through examples of naturally dyed fabrics and prints, we will consider the possibilities of creating more opportunity for sustainability design practices.

Keynote: Arts SU Presentation: Freelancing as an International Student at UAL

12 July, 09:30 - 10:10. Online @ Collective space

International students face many roadblocks within UK higher education, curtailing the development of their practice. As the representative body for students, ArtsSU acknowledges the need for an equitable student experience for our international cohort in order to create better learning communities. One of these barriers is the inability to freelance due to visa restrictions, including selling artwork and self-employment in the creative industry. In this session, we explore the effect of these restrictions on our students, co-create best practice on international student creative career development, and think of the ways in which we can lobby for their rights to freelance.

Closing Keynote: Conversation between Roni Brown and Chris Condron

12 July, 15:00 - 15:45. In-person @ RHS space, JPS, Oxford Circus, LCF, & Online Via Teams Live

Photo of Chris Condron
Chris Condron - Chief Digital Officer

Chris Condron is Chief Digital Officer. Chris Condron is Chief Digital Officer. Chris joined UAL from his role as Director of Digital Products at the BBC, where he was responsible for the product strategy, development and delivery of 6 of the BBC’s 8 digital services, including News, Sport, Education and Children’s services. Chris led multidisciplinary teams of 400 product, delivery and engineering professionals based all around the UK. Chris played a key role in the development of the BBC’s hugely successful digital capability and expertise in the North at Media City UK, where he was responsible for the product management discipline and sponsored the successful software engineering graduate scheme within the BBC’s Design + Engineering division. With over 20 years’ experience in the digital industries, prior to joining the BBC Chris was successful in a range of strategic, product, leadership and operational roles at Press Association, ITV and AOL UK. Outside of work Chris is a trustee of the Edinburgh International Festival. Outside of work Chris is a trustee of the Edinburgh International Festival.

Photo of Roni Brown
Roni Brown - Deputy Vice Chancellor Education

Roni is Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) at University of the Arts London (UAL), previously Head of UAL’s London College of Fashion. Roni holds the title Professor of Visual and Educational Cultures. Roni’s role at UAL is to support the development and co-ordination of creative education across all six UAL Colleges, implementing the University’s vision, “the World Needs Creativity”. Roni’s portfolio includes responsibility for Teaching and Learning, Further Education, Access and Outreach, International Development, Library and Student Support Services and the University Central Planning Unit. Roni has worked in Higher Education for over 25 years holding senior positions at the University for the Creative Arts, University of Chichester and University of the Arts London. She has a PhD in the History of Architecture and Design and has work published in the fields of design history, pedagogy and quality assurance in creative arts higher education. Roni has been a Trustee of the Open College of the Arts and Deputy Chair of Artswork, the South East Bridge Organisation of Arts Council England. Roni is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts.