Goldsmiths has welcomed experts from the worlds of education, culture and strategic leadership as new independent members of Council, the governing body.
The five new members bring a wealth of skills and experience from sectors which align with the institution’s values and mission. They joined on 1 September 2025 on three-year terms, following an external recruitment process, to replace outgoing members whose terms on Council had concluded.
Council’s role is to act in the best interests of the University as a whole, ensuring it strategically delivers its mission to high standards with the necessary financial stability and sustainability.
Council also needs to make sure Goldsmiths meets the requirements and performance levels expected by the sector regulator, the Office for Students, and achieves the necessary support to deliver its world-class research.
Tom Sleigh, Chair of Goldsmiths Council, said:
“As we welcome new Council members to take Goldsmiths forward I would like to sincerely thank those stepping down for all their service to the University, during what has been a difficulties time for our sector. Their commitment and experience have proven invaluable as we have addressed and overcome challenges. I am truly excited to be working alongside our new Council members who I know will use their expertise to bring fresh energy and ideas to the oversight of the University. I look forward to developing and realising new opportunities alongside them.”
New members and their responsibilities
New Goldsmith’s Council members, from L-R: Oliver Zeffman (credit Sebastian Nevols), Rose Dixon, Sophie Brendel, Liyun Ye, Angela Mitten
Sophie Brendel
Sophie is the founder of Sophie Brendel Consulting, a global consultancy for arts, culture, media and heritage. Sophie specialises in strategy, brand, audience and impact, working with organisations including the National Trust, Somerset House, Royal Shakespeare Company and RADA. Over the past 25 years, Sophie has held senior leadership roles at the Reuters, the BBC, and most recently the V&A, where she was the Director of Audiences, Commercial & Digital until 2024. Sophie is also the Managing Director of Thornfalcon Winery & Press, and a Trustee and Board Advisor for organisations including Bristol Old Vic and Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration. Sophie is a member of the Audit and Risk Committee.
Rose Dixon
Rose is Director of Strategy at Ark, a multi-academy trust and education charity. She started her career in academia with a PhD at Queen Mary, University of London and subsequently worked as a lecturer in the English department at King’s College London, before changing direction to become a strategy consultant at Bain & Company. She has spent the last decade working in a range of strategy roles in the charity sector, including six years as Head of Strategy at Cancer Research UK. Rose is a member of the Audit and Risk Committee.
Angela Mitten
Ang is a programme, project and property professional specialising in delivering estates master planning, infrastructure and facilities projects to support organisational change and transformation. She has over 25 years’ experience in property and facilities management across the public, private and voluntary/not-for-profit sectors in the UK and internationally. Ang is currently Director of the Science Transformation Programme at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, where she is leading a research infrastructure programme to enable Kew Science to achieve the ambitions of its Science Strategy. With extensive experience working in Higher Education, Ang is a Goldsmiths graduate having studied BA English. Ang is a member of the Finance and Resources Committee.
Liyun Ye
Liyun is Chief Financial Officer at the Design Museum, having joined this organisation in 2024. Prior to this she was Finance Director at Met Media group, a private equity-backed business that includes one of Europe’s leading film schools. Liyun started her career as a research scientist and has been a qualified Chartered Accountant for over a decade, with experience in audit and transaction services across Europe and the US. She is passionate about helping artistic organisations balance finance sustainability while focusing on their artistic and creative strategies. Liyun is also a non-executive director on the board of dance company Rambert. Liyun is a member of the Finance and Resources Committee.
Oliver Zeffman
Oliver is a conductor and cultural entrepreneur from London who has led concerts and recordings with the likes of the London Symphony Orchestra, LA Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra and Academy of St Martin in the Fields. His projects include Classical Pride – a major celebration of LGBTQ+ composers and performers in classical music presented at venues from the Barbican to the Hollywood Bowl; a partnership with the podcast The Rest is History, presenting a series of sold-out concerts at the Royal Albert Hall exploring the lives of history’s greatest composers; and Music x Museums, a concert series staged in leading museums including the V&A and British Library, filmed for Apple Music. Oliver is also a trustee of the Rio Cinema in East London. Oliver is a member of the Finance and Resources Committee.