THE PLACE APPOINTS PROFESSOR RONI BROWN AS NEW CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS

The Place, one of Europe’s most influential centres for contemporary dance, is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Roni Brown as Chair of the Board of Governors from 1 March 2026. Roni will succeed the current chair Alan Bishop, who is retiring at the end of his seven-year tenure next year; Alan will continue his relationship with The Place in the role of Patron.

Roni joins The Place at an exciting moment in time as the organisation approaches its 60th anniversary in 2030. Focused on shaping a future that honours its legacy of innovation while embracing bold new possibilities, the new Chair will work closely alongside incoming Vice-Chair Professor Helen Bailey, The Place Board of Governors, and Chief Executive Clare Connor to lead The Place into the future.

Clare Connor, Chief Executive of The Place, says about the appointment:

At the core of Roni’s distinguished career lies an unwavering dedication to both access and excellence. Her lifelong commitment to creative arts education has been marked by visionary leadership, deep integrity, and a tireless pursuit of equity. As we enter a bold new chapter for The Place - one defined by ambition, transformation, and sector-wide accountability in both Higher Education and dance - we are thrilled to welcome Roni as our new Chair. Her appointment signals a powerful alignment of values and a renewed momentum for change.

Roni Brown is Professor Emeritus of University of the Arts London. Her career has spanned three decades, serving in senior leadership positions in creative Higher Education institutions. Prior to her retirement, Roni was Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), driving innovation in teaching, research, and knowledge exchange to help creativity and curiosity flourish at UAL. Roni has also held senior roles including Pro Vice-Chancellor and Head of London College of Fashion, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University for the Creative Arts where she led the academic strategy.

Previously Roni has served the arts sector through a number of non-executive roles including South-East Area Chair for Arts Council England and member of its National Council between 2017-2023. Roni is now serving the Creative Higher Education sector in non-executive, advisory and consultancy roles, including as member of the Board of Governors at Arts University Bournemouth as well as her new role as Chair of The Place.

Roni Brown says:

The ambition of The Place to make the world better through contemporary dance is truly inspiring. The Place fully occupies, owns and takes accountability for the artform, its continuous development of purpose, access and diversity, research and innovation. In challenging times for the arts and education, The Place grows in ambition which is evidenced by the quality of its outputs. The opportunity to chair the Board of Governors is a huge responsibility and comes at a time of profound uncertainty in the world and for organisations; at a time when Boards must understand a new level of ownership and accountability.

Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair of Arts Council England says:

Roni is a natural consensus-builder: a thoughtful, imaginative and inclusive leader who ensures every voice is heard. She has consistently shown the wisdom and leadership needed to guide an organisation through complex decisions; her grasp of charitable governance is truly exceptional.

Dr Brooke Storer-Church, Chief Executive Officer of GuildHE says:

Professor Brown is widely regarded as an influential figure in creative higher education, whose impressive professional journey has been defined by an unyielding focus on championing academic excellence and sectoral innovation. She brings a remarkable combination of forward-thinking strategy, integrity, and a dedication to equality within the arts.

The Place would also like to take this opportunity to thank our departing Chair Alan Bishop, who has been an exceptionally dedicated Chair, offering not only his time and expertise but also personal support over many years. Alan has been a passionate and persuasive advocate for The Place in wider peer and policy circles, and we thank him for his deep understanding of our mission and values, combined with his credibility and influence. Alan will continue leading the Board until spring 2026 allowing for a period of manged transition. We look forward to continuing our work with Alan after this date in the honorary role of Patron.

Finally, we thank our outgoing Vice-Chair and Chair of Nominations Committee Jane Alexander, who will retire this December after nine years as a Governor, for her many years of service to The Place Board of Governors and for leading this recruitment process. Helen Bailey will succeed Jane as Vice-Chair from January 2026.