Governance

Registered as a Higher Education Provider under the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (HESA). The Academic Board is responsible for the maintenance of academic standards in accordance with accreditation requirements. 

Registered under the Australian Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) to provide courses to non-Australian citizens studying in Australia on student visas (CRICOS Code 03197B). 

A public company limited by guarantee (ACN 140 179 111), with two members, the NSW Ministers for Education and for the Arts. The members appoint a Board of Directors with responsibility for the School and oversight of the leadership of the School. 

Registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC) as a charity (ABN 89 140 179 111). 

Entered on the Register of Cultural Organisations and is recognised by the Australian Taxation Office as a Charitable Institution, endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient under Item 1 for the following funds: 

• National Art School General Fund
• National Art School Gallery
• National Art School Library 
• National Art School Archive and Collection

The Annual Report and Financial Statement provide selected information about NAS’s financial performance, as required by the Higher Education Standards Framework (2021). As an independent State Significant Organisation, NAS is committed to maintaining strong financial sustainability to support our mission, vision and values. 

We continue to strengthen our financial position by diversifying revenue sources and deepening relationships with strategic partners. This approach ensures that NAS has the institutional resources necessary to deliver high-quality fine art education, invest in our heritage campus, and support the creative communities we serve. Our financial stewardship underpins our long-term resilience and independence, enabling us to remain focused on art, artists and the culture they shape. 

Note: The 2025 Annual Report and Financial Statement are currently under development and will be published in April – May 2026. 

Annual Reports & Financial Statements:  2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 

Aligned with the Higher Education Standards Framework (HESF) 2021 and relevant Commonwealth and State legislation, NAS’s interconnected boards, committees and leadership groups provide rigorous institutional and academic oversight. Through defined Terms of Reference, structured reporting and regular review cycles, these bodies collectively uphold regulatory obligations and drive continuous improvement. They also ensure robust quality‑assurance and risk‑management practices that safeguard NAS’s academic standards, long‑term sustainability, and mission to deliver excellence in fine art education. 

NAS Board of Directors 

The NAS Board of Directors meets five times a year. Members are appointed by the NSW Minister for the Arts. 

The board’s professional experience across diverse areas and passion for the arts provides invaluable support and encouragement.  

Jeff Weeden (Chair, 1 June 2025 – 31 December 2025) 

Jeff is the former CEO of Forager Funds Management and has held roles with Bankers Trust and Macquarie Bank, including as executive director. He is a Cornerstone supporter of the Pinnacle Foundation, an organisation that supports disadvantaged LGBTI students. He has a long-held interest in the visual arts, and as a long-term community member he is passionate about the National Art School site. 

Wendy Sharpe AM  

Wendy is a winner of the Archibald Prize. She has also won the Sulman Prize, The Portia Geach Memorial Award, The Gold Award and many more. She was the first woman since World War II to be awarded a commission as an Australian Official War Artist from the Australian War Memorial. She taught in different roles at the National Art School from 1990 to 2005 and has held more than 70 solo exhibitions around Australia and internationally. 

Christina Slade   

Christina is Emeritus Professor at Bath Spa University and has held leadership roles at City University London, Macquarie University, University of Utrecht and University of Canberra. Christina is President of the Royal Society of NSW, Chair of PIA Higher Education and is on the Board of the Media Centre for Education Research Australia and QS Rankings. 

Bruce Solomon  

Bruce is the founder and Director of Solotel Hospitality Management. He is a Trustee of the Lady Mary Fairfax Estate and a director of the Bundanon Trust Board. Bruce has supported the National Art School since 2018. Through the Lift Off Award, he supports the career development of emerging artists. He has collected art for more than 40 years. 

Jess Miller  

Jess is an independent councillor and Deputy Lord Mayor for the City of Sydney, the Deputy Chair of the Transport, Heritage and Planning Committee and a member of the Central Sydney Planning Panel and the City’s Cycling Committee. Jess has designed and implemented strategic collective impact projects that promote sustainability, increase urban greening. She has worked with agencies such as the Republic of Everyone, The Bravery and Finding Infinity on A New Normal Sydney. She has served on the TEDxSydney and Newtown Neighbourhood Centre. 

John Mitchell  

John is a commercial litigation partner and a partner of Arnold Bloch Leibler. He has acted in a variety of matters in the NSW and Victorian supreme courts, the Federal Court and the High Court. He is a former board member of Carriageworks and the Australian representative member of ICC FraudNet. 

Emilya Colliver 

Emilya is the Founder and Director of Art Pharmacy & Sugar Glider Digital, the world’s first B‑Corp certified cultural business. With over 20 years in art strategy, placemaking and cultural development, she has delivered multimillion-dollar projects for governments, corporations and cultural institutions, including serving as Deloitte’s Art Curator. Author of The Art Project and Making Art Matter, and creator of the upcoming Conscious Leadership Wisdom Deck (launching soon). Emilya is also a Board member of Create NSW. She is expanding her consultancy into the Middle East, advancing cultural diplomacy and digital innovation, and is the founder of Flourish Women’s Networking. 

Helen Lochhead AO  

Helen is an emeritus professor of architecture and urbanism at UNSW Sydney, an architect and urbanist with broad experience in government, industry, and higher education in influential roles including Dean, Faculty of Built Environment and Pro Vice-Chancellor Precincts at UNSW Sydney, Deputy NSW Government Architect and President of the Australian Institute of Architects. Her career has focused on urban projects ranging from city-wide improvements programs, educational and cultural precincts, to major urban regeneration projects in Australia and internationally. She now combines advisory roles with professional practice. Helen also serves on the National Capital Authority, the Sydney Harbour Trust, NSW Architects Registration Board, Sydney Opera House Design Advisory Panel and various Planning and Design Panels across Australia 

Lucy Keeler 

Lucy Keeler is the former Head of Strategy & Experiences at Luna Park Sydney, where she steered growth and transformation for the heritage site, in parallel with design and production of Netflix immersive experience attractions. As Curator of the Vivid Sydney Light Festival, she developed multiple light art collections and mentored artists from 19 countries. Committed to fostering emerging talent, Lucy is an Artform Board Member at Create NSW (Digital, Experimental, Immersive and Light Art). Lucy is a Master of Business Administration (Executive) candidate at the Australian Graduate School of Management, a graduate of the National Art School (MFA Painting) and the National Institute of Dramatic Art (BDA Design). 

Susan Rothwell AM (Chair, 1 January 2025 – 31 May 2025)   

Susan is a practising registered architect, visual artist and horticulturalist. She is a former board member of the MCA, Art Gallery of NSW, Historic Houses Trust and North Foundations. Susan holds a Bachelor of Architecture and an Honorary Doctorate of Architecture from the University of Sydney. She is a Life Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects. 

Ross McDiven  

As the former Chairman of Multiplex Group, Ross worked on projects such as Sydney Olympics Stadium, Chifley Tower, King Street Wharf, Luna Park and Jones Bay Wharf. He holds several advisory positions in the property and construction sectors and is a former Trustee of the Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences. 

Jennifer Byrne  

Jennifer is a journalist, broadcaster and patron of Coastrek. She is a long-term ambassador for the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation and Chair of the Create NSW Artform Advisory Board for Literature/​NSW Literature Board. Jennifer is on the Board of Bowral’s Ngununggula Gallery. 

Academic Board 

Dr Kristen Sharp, Director & CEO (Chair) 

Simon Cooper, Head of Studies & Deputy Director 

Dr Yolunda Hickman, Head of Learning & Teaching 

John Waight, Head of First Peoples Programs 

Dr Alexander Kershaw, Head of Photomedia 

Dr Georgina Cole, Lecturer, Art History & Theory 

Dr Elizabeth Bradshaw, Sessional Lecturer, Sculpture 

Eleni Pape, Undergraduate Student Representative 

Postgraduate Student Representative (TBC)

Benedict Griffin, Head of Student Services & Registrar (In Attendance) 

Ashanti Fogden, Academic Governance Officer (Secretary) 

Tesha Malott, External Professional Member 

Tesha Malott is an experienced arts professional with over 12 years working across experimental and contemporary visual arts in Australia. Her practice is grounded in supporting artists at all career stages, with a sustained focus on accessibility, audience engagement, and inclusive programming. She is currently Arts & Culture Manager at the University of Sydney Union (USU), where she oversees strategic cultural programming across the University, including Verge Gallery, PULP Magazine, and major campus festivals. She has directed Verge Gallery since 2018. From 2013 to 2018, she was General Manager of Firstdraft, Australia’s longest-running artist-led initiative, contributing significantly to its development and the support of emerging artists. 

Andrew Comrie, External Academic Member

Andrew Comrie is an experienced academic and educational manager, with a career in education spanning 40 years, in tertiary education in both further education/​college (Scottish equivalent of TAFE) and higher education in Scotland. He has held academic, management, and senior management positions. Over the last ten years, he has been a senior manager at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, which is listed in the top ten performing arts institutions in the world in the QS world ranking and Director of Learning and Innovation at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney, Australia. 

The National Art School’s policies and procedures provide a clear, structured framework that supports effective teaching, learning, operations and institutional management. They set out the standards, expectations and responsibilities that guide our community, ensuring compliance with legislation, regulatory requirements and sector best practice. Together, these documents enable consistent decision‑making, transparent accountability and a culture of continuous improvement across the School. We encourage you to familiarise yourself with these policies and refer to them as needed. 

Academic Policy Library