Professor Randall Whittaker

South African-born, Professor Whittaker studied music at conservatoires in South Africa, the Netherlands and Czechia, where he was a student of the renowned conductor Vladimír Válek. He has more than 20 years of experience in specialist creative higher education, leading significant organisational change and transformation projects, has worked closely with the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education to advance leadership in specialist institutions., and has held positions at specialist institutions in South Africa, the Netherlands, and the UK. He is known for his work on representation and frequently writes and presents on the topic.

Professor Whittaker is a Board member of AdvanceHE, where he serves as a member of the AdvanceHE Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee. He is also a Board member of London Higher and a member of the Guild of Freemen of the City of London. In addition, he has supported a number of specialist institutions in external and non-executive director roles, most recently including the Utrecht School of the Arts, the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Christie’s Education, and BIMM Music Institute.

Before joining Rose Bruford College, Professor Whittaker was Pro-Vice-Chancellor Academic at Leeds Arts University, where he led on research, postgraduate development, and internationalisation.