Professor George Caird Appointed as Central’s New Interim Principal
The Board of Governors is pleased to announce that Professor George Caird has been appointed as the new Interim Principal of The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Professor Caird will join Central on 14 September and will serve while the Board undertakes the selection of a permanent Principal, who is expected to take up post in 2021.
Professor Caird was most recently Interim Principal at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (2017- 2018). Before this, he was Principal of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (1993-2010), bringing the Birmingham School of Acting into Birmingham City University and ultimately as part of the Conservatoire, and the Artistic Director of the Classical Music Academy in Rotterdam (2011-2016).
The board is also pleased to announce the interim appointment of Danielle Chavrimootoo who will be joining Professor Caird as a part-time member of the team. Together with Professor Caird, she co-led a review into the Contemporary Performance Practice programme and the complaints system in relation to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Ms Chavrimootoo is a senior lecturer in Learning and Teaching at Kingston University and Director of the Dorcas Inclusive Consultancy. Her consultancy services and role at Kingston involve her in supporting students and advising staff on how to develop inclusive teaching and learning practices with a particular focus on enhancing staff competencies and knowledge around developing racial literacy, anti-racist pedagogy and culturally responsive pedagogy. Prior to this, Danielle was EDI Partner at the University of Manchester.
Of his appointment, Professor George Caird said:
“I am very excited to be joining a world- renowned institution with brilliant students and staff. There are enormous external challenges for Central and the whole sector, particularly the pedagogical and economic consequences of the unprecedented global pandemic. However, this is not the only priority and I therefore look forward to working with Danielle Chavrimootoo, with a specific brief to ensure that Central delivers on its Anti-Racism Action Plan. Danielle will support me, whilst allowing the existing staff and structures at Central to continue to deliver this critical agenda.”
John Willis, Chair of Governors at Central said:
“With the announcement that Professor Ross Brown is retiring as Dean of School, on top of the vacancy for Principal, it became clear to the Governors that we urgently needed additional leadership capacity if we are to successfully meet the huge challenges facing us. We are lucky to have someone of George’s experience, including interim leadership, keen to join us. George has a great reputation not just as an academic but as a leader with strategic vision and a set of values that echo those on which Central was founded.”
Read Professor Caird’s message to students and staff.